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Landfills - Not in My Backyard!
The nation's operating municipal landfills are declining in total numbers. In 2002, the United States produced 369 million tons of solid waste of all types. Only about a quarter of that total was recycled or recovered.
In 2002, the United States produced 369 million tons of solid waste of all types, according to unofficial industry estimates. This included municipal solid waste (MSW) that was generated by households, businesses, construction sites, and other sources.[1]
Of the 369 million tons of solid waste generated in 2002, 98.7 million tons (26%) were recycled or composted, 28.5 million tons (8%) were burned in waste-to-energy (WTE) plants, and 242 million tons (66%) went to landfill.[2]
In 1986, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) counted 7,683 municipal solid waste landfills in the United States. In October 1991, the EPA adopted stringent new federal regulations for landfill design and operation. By 1992, the number of U.S. landfills had declined to 5,345 facilities. By 1995, the EPA landfill census recorded only 3,581 facilities. In 2001, the agency counted 1,858 landfills--a decline of 78% in 15 years.
Nationally, states have disposal capacity for another 19-20 years, according to the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA). Nevertheless, a number of states are nearing the end of their ability to manage MSW within their borders. In 2000, five states reported that they had less than 10 years of landfill capacity. Two other large states--Massachusetts and New York--had 5-10 years of capacity remaining.
The closing of thousands of landfills, and the construction of regional mega-landfills, have contributed to the increased shipment of municipal wastes across state lines for disposal. In 2003, states shipped 39 million tons of MSW to other states. Pennsylvania was the largest importer of MSW in 2003; New York, the largest exporter.
Landfills have another problem: Emissions to air and water
Emissions are the major problem of a landfill. There are others, such as property value loss, but this is not truly an environmental problem. Local landfill problems can also exist, mostly exacerbated by poor regulation, due to vermin, and scavenging bird populations. Globally, landfills contribute to the “greenhouse effect”, due to landfill gas emissions.
Kaufman, Scott M., et al., "The State of Garbage in America," 45 BioCycle 31, January 2004
Environmental Protection Agency, Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 2001 Final Report, October 2003
Environmental Protection Agency, EPA-530-R-02-001, June 2002
National Solid Wastes Management Association, Landfill Capacity: How Much is Left in the United States? October 2000
[1] In 2001, the last year for which official government data are available, approximately 229 million tons of MSW were produced in the United States, according to the EPA, a decrease from 2000. The industry estimates are greater because they include a larger universe of wastes, such as construction debris, agricultural wastes, wastes from overseas, industrial wastes, and other non-hazardous wastes.
[2] A growing contributor to the waste stream is consumer electronics. Approximately 20.6 million personal computers became obsolete in the United States in 1998. Of those, only 11%--about 2.3 million units--were recycled, according to the National Safety Council. The EPA has begun a nationwide program to address the issue.
