LEARNZ Waste not Wasted: The science of waste at Kate Valley landfill Podcast 1 of 3

The following questions from schools are answered: 1. How was the Kate Valley Landfill created? 2. What is the difference between the Kate Valley landfill and other New Zealand landfills? 3. How much rubbish goes to the landfill a day? How much rubbish has gone into the Kate Valley landfill since it was first developed? 4. What do you do at Kate Valley to make sure that recyclable waste is not transferred to the landfill? 5. Where does all the waste go once it’s in the landfill - what does the waste do? 6. What types of waste can’t decompose and why? 7. Why does the rubbish give off toxic chemicals? 8. Is all the waste at Kate Valley completely contained? Can any of it escape into the environment? 9. Why can’t the rubbish be burnt in a massive oven and turn it into something else? 10. How long is Kate Valley going to last? What will happen to Kate Valley Landfill once it is full? 11. Why don’t we send out rubbish to countries like China to be incinerated? 12. How do you collect all the toxic gases and how do you know you’ve contained them all? 13. If you incinerate the rubbish does this let off toxic gases as well? 14. Could you please explain what is leechate? 15. What would they do if there was a breach in the liner? 16. What happens if the toxic gas does escape? 17. How many metres high and wide is the landfill now? 18. Can you give examples of toxic waste that you don't accept? 19. When the landfill is full will there be another landfill made in Canterbury? 20. What is the methane gas used for? 21. Where do you get all the soil from? 22. What kinds of machines are used at Kate Valley? 23. Is there a limit to how big a landfill can get? More at https://www.learnz.org.nz/katevalley194/connect-with-experts