municpal solid waste

An open dump is defined as abandoned piles of household garbage, bags of yard waste, appliances, old barrels, used tires, and demolition debris such as lumber, shingles, pipes and asbestos can threaten the health of humans, wildlife, and the environment. (Epa.state.il.us, 2014)
Open dumps pose the following health, safety, and environmental threats:
• Fire and explosion
• Inhalation of toxic gases
• Injury to children playing on or around the dump site
• Disease carried by mosquitoes, flies, and rodents
• Contamination of streams, rivers and lakes
• Contamination of soil and groundwater
• Contamination of drinking water
• Damage to plant and wildlife habitats
• Decrease in the quality of life to nearby residents and the local community
Open dumps create a public nuisance, divert land from more productive uses, and depress the value of surrounding land. (Epa.state.il.us, 2014) Early landfills were made in were made in wetlands, which were thought to be wasteland back then. Early landfills leaked into rivers and lakes and built up gases, like methane. Garbage dumps used to catch fire and even explode, because as garbage rots, it gives off methane, a flammable gas. (Exploringnature.org, 2014) Early landfills have significant problems with the Leachate organization because it was an unconstrained contaminant release, the methane organization did not exist, and incomplete decomposition as well as settle was so high because 8% of waste was secondhand. Modern landfills are carefully designed to contain waste and protect the environmental integrity of the surrounding area – including the air, water and soil. Our landfill incorporates advanced design features, including multi-layer liner construction, gas extraction and leachate removal systems. (Millseatlandfill.wm.com, 2014) This is completely different from early landfill because there was no way to contain the waste. Modern landfills include engineered protective liners, leachate group systems, groundwater nursing and much more.
Altamont Landfill and Resource Recovery Facility in Livermore, CA has implemented a special program to protect the endangered San Joaquin Kit Fox. The protection program includes many projects to protect the San Joaquin Kit Fox. Exclusion zones are placed around dens. Limited disturbance of areas adjacent to construction and storage areas must be maintained. Escape ramps are constructed in all holes or trenches greater than 2 feet deep, and sides must have a slope no greater than 45 degrees. (Environmentalchemistry.com, 2014) The Altamont landfill is making steps to having less pollution by promoting the recycle, reduce, reuse slogan. This is a positive outcome because having a controlled Landfill serves for those around to be able to live in a little less trash.

References

Epa.state.il.us, (2014). Illinois EPA - Open Dumps. [online] Available at: http://www.epa.state.il.us/land/illegal-dumping/open-dumps.html [Accessed 25 May. 2014].

Exploringnature.org, (2014). Too Much Trash -- Exploring Nature Educational Resource. [online] Available at: http://www.exploringnature.org/db/detail.php?dbID=7&detID=2502 [Accessed 25 May. 2014].

Millseatlandfill.wm.com, (2014). Modern Landfill Design | Waste Management. [online] Available at: http://millseatlandfill.wm.com/environmental-protection/modern-landfill-design.jsp [Accessed 25 May. 2014].

Environmentalchemistry.com, (2014). Protecting Wildlife from Trash (EnvironmentalChemistry.com). [online] Available at: http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/hazmat/articles/trash.html [Accessed 25 May. 2014].

References: Epa.state.il.us, (2014). Illinois EPA - Open Dumps. [online] Available at: http://www.epa.state.il.us/land/illegal-dumping/open-dumps.html [Accessed 25 May. 2014]. Exploringnature.org, (2014). Too Much Trash -- Exploring Nature Educational Resource. [online] Available at: http://www.exploringnature.org/db/detail.php?dbID=7&detID=2502 [Accessed 25 May. 2014]. Millseatlandfill.wm.com, (2014). Modern Landfill Design | Waste Management. [online] Available at: http://millseatlandfill.wm.com/environmental-protection/modern-landfill-design.jsp [Accessed 25 May. 2014]. Environmentalchemistry.com, (2014). Protecting Wildlife from Trash (EnvironmentalChemistry.com). [online] Available at: http://environmentalchemistry.com/yogi/hazmat/articles/trash.html [Accessed 25 May. 2014].