D18Explain the short-and long-term impacts of landfills and incineration of waste materials on the quality of the environment.

Learning TargetsLearning Targets

• I can explain how a sanitary landfill is constructed.

• I can explain the short term environmental effects of a sanitary landfill.

• I can explain the long term environmental effects of a sanitary landfill.

Sanitary LandfillsSanitary Landfills

What comes to mind when your hear the words “sanitary landfill”?

How many landfills are in the US?• 3,091 active sanitary landfills in the U.S.

How many landfills are in the US?• 3,091 active sanitary landfills in the U.S.

What is the difference between What is the difference between the 2 pictures?the 2 pictures?

Modern sanitary landfills are carefully engineered structures designed to isolate garbage from nearby water, soil, wildlife, and people.

Anatomy of a Sanitary LandfillAnatomy of a Sanitary Landfill

HowHow isis a Sanitarya Sanitary LandfillLandfill ConstructedConstructed?

HowHow isis a Sanitarya Sanitary LandfillLandfill ConstructedConstructed?

1) A huge hole is dug out of the ground

2) The walls are sealed with layers of clay and coated with plastic to prevent groundwater contamination from wastewater that accumulates.

1) A huge hole is dug out of the ground

2) The walls are sealed with layers of clay and coated with plastic to prevent groundwater contamination from wastewater that accumulates.

The LinerThe Liner

Note the overlapping seams!

Today's landfills are designed to stay dry inside, except for liquids that ooze from some garbage, and rainwater that trickles through. As water trickles through a landfill, it dissolves chemicals and other particles.What is the name of the resultant liquid?Leachate

3) The contained leachate is run through pipes to above-ground storage tanks and hauled for treatment and disposal at a large regional wastewater treatment plant.

3) The contained leachate is run through pipes to above-ground storage tanks and hauled for treatment and disposal at a large regional wastewater treatment plant.

WhatWhat isis donedone withwith thethe LeachateLeachate?WhatWhat isis donedone withwith thethe LeachateLeachate?

4) Garbage trucks dump garbage 5) Large machines compact the garbage4) Garbage trucks dump garbage 5) Large machines compact the garbage

WhatWhat isis nextnext?WhatWhat isis nextnext?

6) Garbage covered dailyWhy?6) Garbage covered dailyWhy?

What happens nextWhat happens next?What happens nextWhat happens next?

CrossCross-SectionSection ofof a LandfillLandfillCrossCross-SectionSection ofof a LandfillLandfill

7) Methane gas recovery system installed8) Landfill covered with dirt9) Vegetation planted

7) Methane gas recovery system installed8) Landfill covered with dirt9) Vegetation planted

What happens when a landfill is fullWhat happens when a landfill is full?What happens when a landfill is fullWhat happens when a landfill is full?

The Capping of a FULL LandfillThe Capping of a FULL Landfill

Hartford Landfill

Not really. Landfills are mostly anaerobic. Without the oxygen and water needed to break down organic materials, all garbage decays very slowly in a landfill. This means our garbage will probably be around for a very long time.

So...landfill garbage degrades, rightright?So...landfill garbage degrades, rightright?

40 Yr-old Newspaper found in Landfill40 Yr-old Newspaper found in Landfill

Even food does NOT degrade

AmountAmount ofof TrashTrash ThrownThrown inin LandfillsLandfills (byby massmass)

AmountAmount ofof TrashTrash ThrownThrown inin LandfillsLandfills (byby massmass)

MetalMetalMetalMetal

Recycling aluminum cans, metal recycling locations, and recycling bins at town dumping stations.

GlassGlassGlassGlass

Glass was one of the first to be recycled and continues to lead all others in % recycled. It is the easiest recycled material to use and is the most cost efficient.

FoodFood WasteWasteFoodFood WasteWaste

Can be composted.

PlasticsPlastics PlasticsPlastics

Plastics can take between 200-400 years to degrade. Use the recycling bin for all your plastics 1-7

YardYard WasteWasteYardYard WasteWaste

“Green Waste” (leaves, twigs, Christmas trees) can be shredded and used as mulch or composted.

PaperPaper & CardboardCardboardPaperPaper & CardboardCardboard

Recycle paper and cardboard.

Landfill Issues

1. Leakage through plastic membrane2. Water contamination from leachate3. Air Emissions (methane & other gases)4. Toxins in landfills5. Hazardous waste in landfills6. Location of old landfills needing remediation close to large bodies of water7. Landfill cover usually is ash from incinerators, not dirt

8. Monitoring of closed landfills will not be kept up

WhatWhat willwill bebe YourYour futurefuture?WhatWhat willwill bebe YourYour futurefuture?

Learning Target CheckpointLearning Target Checkpoint

• How is a sanitary landfill constructed?

• What are the short term environmental effects of a sanitary landfill?

• What are the long term environmental effects of a sanitary landfill?