Landfills: The Buried Truth

Environmental Impact of Modern Landfills

            We've all heard about them I'd imagine at one point in our lives, whether it was through pictures, videos or other forms of media. When you think of the word "landfill" I can guarantee the first image that comes to mind is that typical landfill bulldozer that has the four spiky wheels pushing trash and garbage around into big piles. Sometimes accompanied by seagulls flying around the background. Like these :

This is synonymous with environmental documentaries that show the side of landfills that disgust people in order to prove their point that landfills are bad for the environment. 

But I do not see landfills as it is portrayed in these documentaries, there is another side of things. They are not just piles of our garbage in which we bury and forget about, but it is essentially a form of energy and a process where we can make great organic compost soil. It really depends on the operator or company to be compliant with EPA and local regulations. So long as these landfills are far away from people and pose no risk to the environment around them I will support them.

In order for me to prove this to you, I will try my best in evaluating a local disposal company (that's a better way than saying trash or garbage company) by following a criteria that would impress even the most environmentally conscience people, including myself!

These criteria include: the size and duration of operations (and how long reclamation is) ; if sustainable practices are utilized (Recycling); Proximity to residential or commercial areas.

What makes a good landfill? Does it capture the methane gasses that are released during the decomposing or break-down process? These are some questions that I believe everyone should be concerned with and should be asking themselves, investigate further than what they (the companies) say they do. Don't believe everything they tell you.

Getting away from my little rant, I'd like to emphasize the impact that these facilities can have on the surrounding environments, such as accidentally polluting the ground water through leakage or releasing harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

This is potentially a huge environmental issue that could affect the surrounding landscape with consequences that may take years to clean-up. This is a costly endeavor that the federal government must take up through it's "Superfund" ran by the EPA. There's where all your tax dollars are going! Being used to clean up other people's messes!

Here's a scenario, in case you don't think is an issue:

Imagine if a landfill was planning to be developed right near your house, what would be you initial reaction? 

I can answer that for you, you would be morally pissed and immediately be on the defensive! You would contact your state representative (or find out who he/she is) and complain until their ears started bleeding! You would immediately argue that with the construction of the landfill nearby, it will significantly reduce your property value. You would be concerned with the toxic fumes that smell literally, like a dump. You would be greatly afraid for your safety, not only for yourself but for your kids. Your kids are everything to you, and here you would have something that could in reality, affect their longtime heath and future.

You can play every card and speak out to the media but it will be to no avail. When they want to build a dump it's because they need to and there is hardly anything yo can do about it. I believe the two words are "eminent domain" where you will more than likely be forced to move on your behalf with no compensation and with a outrageous amount of lawyer fees to pay. Sucks doesn't it.

I will update this blog once I have thoroughly concluded with my research.

Until then.

-Jerry Sharp III