The fate of heavy metals in co‐disposed refuse

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Abstract
In the U.K. industrial wastes are often disposed by mixing with domestic refuse in landfill sites. The U.K. is almost unique in this respect and its disposal methods are coming under increasing environmental pressure at both a national and international level. This paper reviews the results of a major research programme to look at the behaviour of heavy metals and other contaminants in landfill sites. Work has included laboratory investigations and field studies at co‐disposal sites in the U.K. and assesses the fate of heavy metals through an examination of their availability, binding processes, speciation and accumulation in vegetation and food chains. Whilst each metal is individual in character, results show that co‐disposal, if properly carried out, is not as unsound environmentally as commonly portrayed.

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