What if we dump our trash into volcanoes?

Now the only advantage here as compared to existing garbage incinerators would be conservation of fuel required for burning However there will be quite a number of disadvantages.




  • In order to burn trash we will have to locate a currently active volcano which also have lava lake. Such volcanoes are quite rare.
  • Transporting the garbage will cost time, money and a whole lot of fuel
  • Modern  garbage incinerator plants are more efficient. In controlling harmful emission into the atmosphere as compared to volcanoes

  • Although lava is extremely hot, it can't melt everything. Hence the remaining trash would float and when the volcano would erupt. The trash would spread to surrounding areas, contaminating the soil.
  • Water in the trash trapped in lava expands hundreds of times it’s original volume to form steam. This expanding steam which puts extreme pressure on the lava may burst out, thus creating mini explosions.


  • An active volcano can be unpredictable.hence if it erupts while one is dumping some garbage. The explosion will be fatal