ILLEGAL DUMPERS FACE HEAVY FINES



We've all seen the countryside spoiled by the sight of appliances abandoned by the side of the road or the serenity of a river disrupted by old tires sitting on its bank.

Illegal dumping, despite heavy fines imposed on transgressors, is still a common practice by those who either don't realize it's a civil violation or don't understand the environmental impact it can have.

Illegal disposal of solid wastes, through burning and dumping, is a major environmental problem throughout the state. Not only are these practices detrimental to the environment and human health, they compromise the aesthetics of Indiana's landscape.

Open dumping is the disposal of regulated solid waste in improper locations-such as illegal dumps or non-permitted facilities-that creates a threat to human health or the environment. Regulated solid waste includes household building debris, construction and demolition waste, household garbage, appliances, furniture and tires. Old tires, large appliances and other items commonly not accepted at landfills are often disposed of illegally.

Open dumping, which is most common in rural areas, typically occurs in abandoned or wooded areas, where there is less likelihood of being seen. While the reasons for illegal dumping are typically cited as cost or convenience, the repercussions can be far more damaging.

Run-off from illegally dumped debris can contaminate wells and surface water.

Children can get hurt while playing on piles of debris as well as get trapped in old appliances.

Illegal dumping can impact proper drainage, making areas more susceptible to flooding when waste blocks drainage basins.

Old tires, when filled with water after rain, are a prime breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rethink

How Does a Landfill Work?

Although usually considered a last resort, the modern sanitary landfill is still recognized as a vital component in the solid waste management system. Despite recent advances in recycling, composting, and waste reduction, a significant amount of waste remains and needs to be safely managed in a landfill.

Modern landfills are not simply "dumps" as they used to be coined. Todays facilities must adhere to strict siting and operating regulations for the protection of our environment. They are equipped with synthetic liners, leachate collection and monitoring systems, methane gas controls and must follow stringent record keeping practices.

At one time most household waste was thrown into giant open pits called dumps. Most cities and towns had their own open dump. From time to time the heaping pile of stinking garbage was covered with a layer of soil. Today, such dumps are against the law because they pose serious health hazards. Because of this pollution problem, most dumps have been closed. Trash is now buried in sanitary landfills. Landfills are so named because a hole in the land is dug, filled with trash, and then covered with earth. They are called sanitary, because this is a clean way of getting rid of garbage.

The modern sanitary landfill begins as a hole in the ground that has clay soil barriers, plastic liners and gravel on the bottom and sides to keep leachate from leaking into the soil and groundwater. Leachate is polluted rainwater that lies on the landfill floor after it passes through the solid waste. Once full, the landfill is capped with a clay soil and a final layer of earth six (6) feet deep. Grass and bushes are planted on top to enable the area to be used as a park or parking lot.

This lesson covers how a landfill works and what is being done to make new landfills safer for the environment.