Introduction
Municipal solid waste (MSW) includes a varied form of garbage or refuse consisting of solid everyday items that the public usually discard. Such items include newspapers, food scraps, bottles, furniture, product packaging, batteries, grass clippings, and electronics used by consumers. Throughout the history of civilization, humans have produced waste, but dealing with it was a completely different task. The simplest means of keeping the environment clean were used including covering up with fresh clay or ignoring it in low population densities. However, as time passed, the populations increased and covering up gradually led to raised floor levels and huge heaps of garbage. There was also an improvement of the technology ensuring that organic wastes were fewer and the non-biodegradable waste could not be dealt with using these methods.
Open Dump & Environmental Problems
An open dump refers to an illegal waste disposal site including household garbage, yard waste, appliances, used tires, demolition debris, and asbestos usually in abandoned piles. Despite prohibition of such disposal practices in major cities and municipalities in the US, there are various areas where open dumps are found ( Open Dumps , 2015). The solid wastes disposed in these illegal sites could threaten the health of the environment, wildlife and human beings. The site of an open dump eradicates the beauty of the environment as the garbage is neglected and does not experience proper cleaning measures ( Open Dumps , 2015). The dumpsite is also prone to fires and explosion due to reckless disposal of flammable substances. Chemical substances disposed from manufacturing industries may release toxic gases that can affect the health of the people in the surrounding (Powell, Townsend, & Zimmerman, 2016). These chemicals may also be integral to the contamination of streams, lakes, rivers, groundwater, and drinking water depending on the proximity of the site to these sources. The effect of such an occurrence may be unknown until it is too late and people have already been infected ( Open Dumps , 2015).
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Early Landfill
An early landfill represents the earliest form of measures that civilizations made to manage solid waste disposed in the environment. The practices in the ancient Athens of 500BC would require garbage dumps at least a mile outside of the town. Large pits would also be made to dispose this garbage and eventually covered with dirt. Unlike the open dumps, the early landfills were covered with soil and organized using the laws of the land as a guide ( Municipal Solid Waste , 2016). One of the problems arising from these landfills is the presence of leachates as there was little knowledge on the effects of the solid waste. Though most of the early landfills involved disposal of organic foods that are biodegradable, the rotting and decay led to the production of dangerous gases like methane and carbon dioxide. These two are potent greenhouse gases that accelerate the occurrence of climate change. These early landfills also prevented the complete decomposition of solid substances. Chemical bonds that hold substances together could not be broken into simpler substances. As a result, the land where the landfill is located becomes inhabitable after its closure an occurrence known as settling.
Modern Landfill
The modern landfill is a created structure from land dumping usually on a high ground to limit contamination of water drinking system. It is a structure where the base has a tile-leachate collection system and a pyramid shape of the waste to prevent infiltration of water ( Municipal Solid Waste , 2016). A well system may also be built near the landfill site to identify the influence on groundwater and if it has become contaminated. Unlike the early landfills, the modern dumpsite is not merely covered-up as the collection of garbage is regular and over a long duration of time. The modern landfill also attempts to mitigate the problems faced in the earlier structure. Methane is collected from the trash site and used as a renewable energy. The design itself helps monitor the impact of the garbage on the environment. However, incomplete decomposition and settling are problems that continue to affect this waste management system.
Altamont Landfill
Altamont Landfill located in the city of Oakland and Alameda County in California. It has received international recognition for its waste management practices and characterized as one of the safest and convenient disposal of solid waste. Altamont incorporates the use of the latest advancements in landfill technology including composite liner and leachate collection system (Waste Management, 2014). The latter is designed to detect any leachate generated, which is pumped into a nearby wastewater storage facility for later use. There is the presence of 127 vertical wells, two horizontal trench collectors and one leachate cleanout riser used for effective control and collection of gas (Waste Management, 2014). Gas generated from the landfill is used to produce electricity, providing power to 8,500 homes in its surrounding. Altamont generates 13,000 gallons a day in carbon fuel eliminating nearly 30,000 gallons of emissions annually (Waste Management, 2014). An additional 10 wells are used to monitor groundwater using the procedures of groundwater sampling and analysis.
Conclusion
Municipal solid waste includes numerous garbage and refuse forms disposed by the households, businesses and industries. It is important for the leaders with the compliance of the public to incorporate effective measures of solid waste disposal. Since the industrialization period the human population has increased and the garbage discarded became a major threat to the environment. The early landfills cannot effectively ensure proper disposal of solid waste, as there are numerous risks to take into consideration. The innovations of Altamont in California have become a source of pride for the state and country as they spark recognition from the EPA and other international organizations seeking to emulate the practice.
References
Municipal Solid Waste (2016) US Environmental Protection Agency, Retrieved from https://cfpub.epa.gov/roe/indicator_pdf.cfm?i=53
Open Dumps (2015) Illinois EPA, Retrieved from http://www.epa.illinois.gov/topics/waste-management/illegal-dumping/open-dumping/index
Powell, J. T., Townsend, T. G., & Zimmerman, J. B. (2016). Estimates of solid waste disposal rates and reduction targets for landfill gas emissions. Nature Climate Change , 6(2), 162-165.
Waste Management (2014) Altamont Landfill and Resource Recovery Facility . Retrieved from https://www.wmsolutions.com/pdf/factsheet/Altamont_Landfill.pdf
