India’s Largest Landfill on Fire

Christina Thompson (Anchor, EarthxNews): Climate concerns were reignited in India after sections of the country’s largest landfill burst into flames for almost 24 hours.

Sections of India’s largest landfill burst into flames recently adding to the country’s growing climate challenges.

Authorities say the massive inferno burned for almost 24 hours in late April, causing a thick hazardous haze. Officials say plumes of toxic smoke continued to billow from the smoldering trash pile at the methane field site, even after the flames were brought under control. According to local news reports, residents living nearby complained of throat and eye irritation due to the lingering acrid air. Fire officials say, while the cause of the fire remains unknown, landfill fires are often triggered by combustible gases from the decaying waste.

Besides being indicators of India’s waste management issues, the landfill fires also contribute significantly to the country’s air pollution. According to local leaders, the toxic fumes the landfills sent out include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide, and furans.