HEALTH EFFECTS OF LANDFILLS

This report presents a review of the information available pertinent to public health and environmental quality protection issues for proposed and existing Subtitle D landfills. Based on this review it is concluded that this type of landfill will at most locations cause groundwater pollution by landfill leachate and be adverse to the health, welfare and interests of nearby residents and property owners/users. As discussed, there is normally significant justification for those near a proposed Subtitle D landfill to oppose the development of the landfill and the existence of an operating Subtitle D landfill.   
G. Fred Lee, PhD, PE, BCEE, F.ASCE and Anne Jones-Lee, PhD  Updated June 2010

www.gfredlee.com/Landfills/SubtitleDFlawedTechnPap.pdf

The typical approach followed in developing a new municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill for urban areas is to attempt to locate the new landfill for the municipal solid wastes in a rural area where there is limited population and financial resources to conduct a comprehensive review of the proposed impacts of the landfill. While it is possible to develop truly protective landfills, federal, state and local landfilling regulations do not require that a landfill be located, designed, operated, closed and receive post closure monitoring and maintenance to protect those within the potential impact zone of the landfill for as long as the wastes will be a threat to public health and the environment.

Typically, the proposed landfill is of minimum (or near-minimum) allowed siting and design in order to reduce the cost of landfilling to those who generate the wastes, thereby imposing the impacts of the landfill on those who live/work/use the area near the landfill.
G. Fred Lee, PhD, PE, BCEE, F.ASCE and Anne Jones-Lee, PhD  October 2008

http://www.gfredlee.com/Landfills/EvaluationImpactLF.pdf
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