Landfills

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The items that can’t be recycled are sent off to landfills, which is a place to dispose of waste material by burying it and covering it over with soil, especially as a method of filling in or extending usable land. There are three different types of landfills and they are all created to ensure compliance with federal regulations. The three types of landfills are Municipal Solid Waste Landfills (MSWLFs), Industrial Waste Landfills (IWLFs), and Hazardous Waste Landfills (HWLFs). MSWLFs are designed to receive household waste [2], IWLFs collect commercial and institutional waste, and HWLFs are specifically for the disposal of hazardous waste [1]. These locations are also designed to protect the environment from contaminants, which may be present in the waste stream. They are unable to be built in areas that are environmentally-sensitive. Special systems are in place to monitor whether there is any groundwater contamination or landfill gas. In order to ensure safe landfill practices, the Resource Conversation and Recovery Act creates the framework to properly manage and regulate waste [1]. 

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[1]“Basic Information about Landfills.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 2 Mar. 2020, www.epa.gov/landfills/basic-information-about-landfills. 

[2]“Municipal Solid Waste Landfills.” EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, 6 Jan. 2021, www.epa.gov/landfills/municipal-solid-waste-landfills.

[3]The Toledo Blade | Feb 16. “Ohio Landfill That Burned Gets OK to Stay Open.” Waste360, 5 Aug. 2016, www.waste360.com/operations/ohio-landfill-burned-gets-ok-stay-open.

[4]“Landfill Diagram.” Studylib.net, studylib.net/doc/8902810/landfill-diagram.