1. Landfills

2. Municipal solid waste (MSW)
Any waste produced by the community (homes, business, schools)
Does not include waste from construction, industry or agriculture

3. MSW Facts 4.5 lbs of trash produced/ person/ day
Americans produce 2x as much trash compared to the world average
USA produced 250 million tons of trash in 2010.
Since 1960, MSW has continued to increase. More trash produced now than ever.

4. How do we handle solid waste?
We burn it, bury it or recycle it.
EPA 2013 Waste Breakdown
32.5% recycled
12.5% burned
55% goes to landfills

5. What happens in our area? Data from the EPA 2013.
State
Recycled
Combusted
Landfill
Est. Total
Recycle % PA
4,465,949
3,084,639
5,902,677
14,249,335
32% NJ
4,346,256
2,129,852
4,384,975
10,880,082
40% NY
2,246,064
3,686,097
10,263,710
17,525,006
13% OH
2,461,594
9,126,809
12,729,405
19% DE
152,919
672,761
1,022,328
15%

6. Waste classification Controlled= regulated
Inert= does not decompose (sand, concrete)
Non-hazardous= not dangerous for public or environment
Hazardous= radioactive waste, medical wastes, explosive, oils, chemicals
Agriculture= pesticides, fertilizers, animal waste
Mines= Iron sulfides from acid mine drainage

7. Landfills vs Dumps
Landfill= structured area for trash deposit with regulations
Dump= hole where trash is dumped

8. 1. Unsanitary Open Dumps Rarely used in the U.S. Not regulated
Area where anyone can come and dump their waste (any sort of waste)
Smelly & a health hazard
Pests and animals found here
Contaminates water/soil
Fire hazard from methane release

9. 2. Sanitary Landills
Regulated area where communities pay to have trash taken care of
Precautions in place to stop contamination of water & soil
Contains a liner to protect from contamination
Supposed to allow only certain materials into landfills

11. Anatomy of a Working Landfill Bottom up…
Daily Cover
At the end of each day, waste is covered with 6-12 inches of soil.
reduces odors
keeps litter from blowing away
deters scavengers/animals/rodents
Waste
Waste is compacted in layers to reduce its volume.
Sand/Gravel Layer
Collects leachate (liquid produced from waste) and funnels it to leachate pip system below.
Leachate Pipe System
Pipes collect leachate and pump it out of the landfill and to a water treatment plant, retention pond, or another proper method of disposal.
Geomembrane – Plastic Layer
A thick plastic layer lines the landfills and prevents leachate from entering the ground. The plastic is made from high-density polyethylene which is tough and impermeable.
Clay Layer
Compacted Clay is first laid in the landfill space to form a barrier to prevent leachate leaks to protect the soil and hold the trash in place. Clay is used due to its moldable and impermeability qualities.

12. Clay Layer

13. Geomembrane liner

14. Refuse cell

15. Leachate Collection/ Sand & gravel

16. Methane Collection/Flare

17. Daily Cover (soil or alternatives)

18. Final Cap (closed landfill)

19. Turn closed landfills into parks or golf courses

21. Concerns about landfills
Contamination of water/soil
Methane production  lead to fires or explosions
Sinking  over time, trash settles and sinks; makes landfills hard to build on
Communities do not want landfills near their homes
Consider location when building
Height of water table, is it near any faults, is the area prone to landslides or sinkholes?