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Author: Ann Zata

Can landfills be used to improve biodiversity?

Updated Thursday, 4 June 2026

Could we transform our relationship with landfills as forgotten spaces and use these to help biodiversity by giving nature a home?  

Find out more about The Open University's Environment courses and qualifications.

Prioritising nature

According to the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (2026), ‘From the air we breathe, to the food we eat, nature is the backbone of life on our planet.’ However, with many species under threat of extinction globally, the loss of biodiversity has consequences for our food security, ecosystem functions and human wellbeing. In the UK, it is estimated that there has been a 19% decline in biodiversity since 1970.

Recent efforts have focused on restoring habitats especially those lost to development, while TV programmes like the OU-BBC co-production Wild Isles have helped to raise awareness of the variety of species across the UK. With nature playing such a vital role, should more be done to safeguard it? 

Connections to landfills

Each day through our consumption, we generate waste, but we rarely think about where this goes once it leaves us. In last few decades, the UK has focused on reducing the volume of waste that is sent to landfills through various recycling schemes, but the challenge of landfill space and sustainable management persists. Existing UK landfill regulations prioritise public health and safety alongside environmental compliance. It includes acquiring planning permission and an environmental permit linked to a proposed landfill restoration plan. At the landfill restoration phase, operators place an even layer of material on top of the landfill to create a soil profile, but there is no specific guidance on restoring biodiversity. 

The challenge of sustainable management also extends to approximately 21,000 historical sites which have stopped accepting waste. Also known as closed landfills, these offer opportunities for remediation with some initiatives seeing sites transformed into green spaces like nature reserves or mixed uses like solar farms. Here, too, there are no overarching guidelines geared towards biodiversity. Exploring this potential and evaluating the extent to which closed landfills can help to restore biodiversity is an active research area. Additionally, evaluating the role of stakeholders in landfill restoration could complement this research effort by widening our understanding of these unique spaces. 

Potential benefits

The UN Sustainable Development Goal 15 highlights the importance of protecting and restoring habitats, including halting, and reversing, biodiversity loss. Instead of adding to a growing problem, landfills could form part of the wider solution. Creating a variety of habitats like scrubland, grasslands, meadows, marshes and forests on closed landfills could encourage a range of native species. Having a diverse range of species is beneficial in supporting ecosystems and building resilience especially from the threats posed by climate change. We benefit indirectly through ecosystem services like pollination and carbon capture and directly by having access to some of these spaces for our own recreation and wellbeing. Understanding what shapes successful outcomes may also play a role in our future decision making.

What can you do to help?

A few minor changes could help to make a difference in the future of landfills and how we create spaces for nature. 

  • Support local organisations which promote biodiversity at a community level such as neighbourhood groups and local wildlife trusts. Volunteer your time or expertise to help with projects that can make a difference for biodiversity. 
  • Recycle more through the various schemes available such as separating food waste, ensuring recyclables are not contaminated or taking plastic packaging to larger supermarkets. These will continue to reduce the volume sent to landfills.   
  • Want to learn more? Check out the OpenLearn course Introducing the environment: Ecology and ecosystems
  • Considering a qualification? Find out more about The Open University's Environment courses and qualifications and the different options available. 

References

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (2026) The ICUN Red List of Threatened Species. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org/  (Accessed: 27/03/2026) 

The State of Nature Partnership (2023) The state of nature report. Available at: https://stateofnature.org.uk/ (Accessed 15/10/2025). 

World Wildlife Fund for Nature (2026) Why we need nature. Available at: https://www.wwf.org.uk/learn/world-days/environment-day  (Accessed 27/03/2026).

 

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