![]() Groundwater Monitoring Requirements - testing of groundwater wells must be done to determine whether waste materials have escaped from the landfill.Operating Practices - including the compacting and covering of waste frequently with several inches of soil to help reduce odor control litter, insects and rodents and protect public health.Leachate Collection and Removal Systems - sit on top of the composite liner and removes leachate from the landfill for treatment and disposal.Composite Liners Requirements - include a flexible membrane ( geomembrane) overlaying two feet of compacted clay soil lining the bottom and sides of the landfill, protect groundwater and the underlying soil from leachate releases.Location Restrictions - landfills must be built in suitable geological areas away from faults, wetlands, flood plains or other restricted areas. ![]() Some of the federal regulations in 40 CFR part 258 include: All MSWLF must comply with the federal regulations in 40 CFR Part 258, or equivalent state regulations. Modern landfills are specifically designed to protect human health and the environment by controlling water and air emissions. such as for a landfill in Hawaii that was fined $2.8 million in 2006 for operating violations, but this is not common. There are some notably recorded violations in the U.S. If state agencies are not aggressive, violations can worsen, multiplying negative environmental impacts exponentially. The EPA generally relies on the states to enforce their own operating permits and federal laws. In 1991, the EPA established new federal standards for municipal solid waste landfills that updated location and operation standards, added design standards, groundwater monitoring requirements, corrective action requirements for known environmental releases, closure and post-closure requirements, and financial assurances to pay for landfill future care and maintenance. In 1979, the EPA developed criteria for sanitary landfills that included siting restrictions in floodplains endangered species protection surface water protection groundwater protection disease and vector (rodents, birds, insects) control opening burning prohibitions explosive gas ( methane) control fire prevention through the use of cover materials and prevention of bird hazards to aircraft. RCRA divided wastes into hazardous and non-hazardous categories, and directed the EPA to develop the design and operational standards for sanitary landfills and close or upgrade existing open dumps that did not meet the sanitary landfill standards. House of Representatives passed the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) that dramatically expanded the federal government's role in managing waste disposal. By the mid-1970s, all states had some type of solid waste management regulations. The first federal legislation addressing solid waste management was the Solid Waste Disposal Act of 1965 (SWDA) that created a national office of solid waste. It has been designated a National Historic Landmark, underlining the significance of waste disposal in urban society. The Fresno Municipal Sanitary Landfill, opened in Fresno, California in 1937, is considered to have been the first modern, sanitary landfill in the United States, innovating the techniques of trenching, compacting, and the daily covering of waste with soil. ![]() ![]() Safe management of solid waste through guidance, technical assistance, regulations, permitting, environmental monitoring, compliance evaluation and enforcement is the goal of the EPA and state environmental agencies. These products, if mishandled, can be dangerous to health and the environment, creating leachate into water bodies and groundwater, and landfill gas contributes to air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. Some materials may be banned from disposal in municipal solid waste landfills including common household items such as paints, cleaners/ chemicals, motor oil, batteries, pesticides, and electronics. Municipal solid waste landfills (MSWLF) are required to be designed to protect the environment from contaminants that may be present in the solid waste stream. In the United States, landfills are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the states' environmental agencies. ![]() In 2018, Americans generated about 292.4 million short tons (265.3 Mt) of trash. Municipal solid waste (MSW) – more commonly known as trash or garbage – consists of everyday items people use and then throw away, such as product packaging, grass clippings, furniture, clothing, bottles, food scraps and papers. A small local landfill facility in Homer, Alaska ![]()
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