UK and Europe's hidden landfills at risk of leaking toxic waste into water supplies

"Thousands of landfills across the UK and Europe sit in floodplains, posing a potential threat to drinking water and conservation areas if toxic waste is released into rivers, soils and ecosystems, it can be revealed. The findings are the result of the first continent-wide mapping of landfills, conducted by the Guardian, Watershed Investigations and Investigate Europe. Patrick Byrne, of Liverpool John Moores University, said: With increasing frequency and magnitudes of floods and erosion from climate change, there's a greater risk of these wastes washing into our environment. This includes physical waste like plastics and building materials, but also toxic metals and chemicals such as Pfas [forever chemicals'] and PCBs [polychlorinated biphenyls]."

"Kate Spencer, professor of environmental geochemistry at Queen Mary University, said: We've identified wide-ranging wastes at an eroding coastal landfill [in Tilbury] including what looked like hospital blood bags, and we are talking about tens of thousands of sites that if they aren't lined and are at flood risk, then there's multiple ways for it to get into groundwater, surface water and the food chain."

"Across the EU there are estimated to be up to 500,000 landfills. Roughly 90% of them, including 22,000 sites in the UK, predate pollution control regulations such as landfill linings to prevent leaching. Modern landfills which are well managed are likely to pose a low risk. More than 61,000 landfills have been identified across Europe, with 28% located in areas vulnerable to flooding. Modelling indicates the true number of floodrisk sites could be as high as 140,000."

Thousands of landfills across the UK and Europe are located in floodplains, creating substantial risk that toxic waste will enter rivers, groundwater, soils and ecosystems during floods and coastal erosion. Up to 500,000 landfills are estimated across the EU, with roughly 90% predating pollution-control measures like engineered linings; around 22,000 of those sites are in the UK. Mapping identified more than 61,000 landfills, 28% of which lie in flood-vulnerable areas, and modelling suggests the number at risk could reach 140,000. Data on landfill locations remain fragmented across member states, lacking a centralised EU record; modern, well-managed landfills pose lower risk.

Read at www.theguardian.com