The Civil Guard has uncovered an illegal landfill in the Axarquía containing 167,000 tons of construction waste. Twelve people and three companies are being investigated for environmental crimes after evading legal controls to save on recycling costs. The landfill poses a high fire risk and threatens local aquifers, with asbestos found among the debris.
Technology against trash: how geolocation uncovers hidden landfills 🛰️
Operation Cover used satellite geolocation systems and drones with multispectral cameras to identify rural plots turned into landfills. Thermal image analysis made it possible to detect waste accumulations under tarps and soil. Researchers used pollutant dispersion modeling software to assess the risk to aquifers. Portable scanner technology confirmed the presence of asbestos fibers in samples taken on site.
Recycling: so expensive they preferred to create their own landfill with sea views 🏖️
It turns out paying for recycling is a hassle, so the entrepreneurs decided to invest in charming rural plots with views of the Axarquía. Quite a business plan: you save on recycling fees and in the process create a unique ecosystem where asbestos competes with debris to be the most dangerous material. All that's missing is putting up for sale signs and promoting the fire risk as a tourist attraction.