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Americans generate a lot of trash and most of it is picked up at the curb and then dumped in municipal solid waste landfills (MSWL). Landfills receive common household garbage, including our stinky food scraps and worn-out personal belongings, such as beds and clothes, as well as nonhazardous wastes. There were 1,908 municipal landfills in the U.S. in 2009, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The EPA regulates municipal solid waste landfills under Title IX of the Federal Resources Conservation and Recovery Act, and states and local government agencies also have responsibilities, especially in initial site selection and when it comes time to close one that is full.
MSWLs are an average 600 acres in size and have specific requirements set by the EPA, including:
They must be built on land away from earthquake fault lines, wetlands, and floodplains.
To prevent leakage, they are lined in plastic or clay.
Wastes are regularly compacted to reduce their volume and covered with several inches of clay soil.
Leachate collection and run-off control systems are also integral to the landfill design.
Common household items, including paint, batteries, and pesticides, are considered household hazardous wastes and are not supposed to be disposed of in landfills.
EPA estimates that about 50 percent of the waste generated in the U.S. in 2008 ended up in a landfill. As of 2021, two companies, Waste Management, Inc., and Republic Service, managed about half the landfill volume in the U.S. at 30 and 19 percent respectively. Municipalities handle 27 percent of landfill volume, and smaller companies pick up the rest, according to Statista.
Landfills built on wildlife habitat can negatively impact flora and fauna. Landfills also can emit odors and dust, and generate smoke, noise, flies and even rodents, especially poorly managed sites.
However, the release of methane gas – generated by decomposing organic materials -- is the most pressing environmental concern associated with landfills accounting for approximately 14.5 percent of all methane emissions in the U.S., according to the EPA. A potent greenhouse gas with a shorter half-life than carbon dioxide, methane significantly contributes to climate change.
Landfills also generate carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen and non-methane organic compounds that can cause air pollution and create smog. In some instances, landfills can release hydrogen sulfide, a colorless gas known for its rotten egg smell that is highly flammable and toxic.
Landfills store waste either in an excavated pit or atop the land. Well-built landfills are engineered so that the garbage remains isolated from groundwater and stays dry with limited contact with air to prevent rotting.
But even lined landfills can leak liquids, known as leachate, especially after rainfall. Leachate can contaminate nearby water sources, including wells, rivers, and lakes, with toxic metals, organic matter, pathogenic organisms, and/or forever chemicals harmful to people and the environment.
A 2015 study conducted by the U.S. Geological Survey analyzed leachate samples collected at 22 landfills in 12 states for pharmaceuticals and other contaminants of emerging concern. Of the samples collected, 91 percent had lidocaine (local anesthetic), 86 percent had cotinine (a nicotine byproduct), bisphenol A (a plastic component) was detected in 77 percent, and the insect repellant (DEET) was found in 68 percent of the samples collected.
In 2023, the EPA announced plans to develop new limitations on liquid wastes discharged into waters after discovering that leachate effluent from 200 landfills in 2021 contained polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAs. Exposure to these synthetic chemicals used in carpets, nonstick cookware, firefighting foams, and other products are associated with cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility, and increased risk of asthma and thyroid disease.
Landfill emissions principally pose a threat to those who live and work around them due to the gases released, including sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. These gases have been associated with respiratory problems, including asthma and infections, as well as lung cancer. Inhaling the gasses can irritate the throat and mouth. But risks to health from landfills are hard to quantify.
“A general problem in studies of cancer incidence is the long latency period between exposure and clinical manifestation of the cancer,” noted a 2000 study in Environmental Health Perspectives. The same study found that residents living near a landfill reported increases in low birth rate, birth defects, and certain cancers, but noted respondents may be biased.
A study published in 2019 described nearby residents – those living ⅓ mile or less from the landfill – self-reporting an increased prevalence of flu, fatigue, eye irritation, and headaches. Neighbors also complained about bad odors.
A 2016 study in the International Journal of Epidemiology showed a strong association between hydrogen sulfide emissions from landfills and hospitalizations for respiratory diseases and lung cancer deaths, especially in children, living within 3.1 miles of the landfill. Hydrogen sulfide emissions smell like rotten eggs and are not a concern at most landfills, but as landfills take in more drywall with gypsum, or sewage sludge, problems can arise.
A 2015 Pennsylvania State University study looking at landfills in Pennsylvania found that on average landfills decrease the value of adjacent land by 2.5-12 percent. The highest property value decline – 12.9 percent -- was associated with landfills accepting more than 500 tons per day compared to a 2.5 percent decrease in properties adjacent to lower-volume landfills. The study showed that all high-volume landfills impacted adjacent property values, but 20-28 percent of low-volume landfills had no effect on property values.
A 2000 study examined how the size, operating status, and history of contamination at six landfills affected the price of nearby homes in semi-rural areas in central and western Massachusetts. The study did not find that large landfills affect home prices more than smaller landfills. Nor did the study show that open landfills affect price more than closed landfills. In fact, the study found that broad generalizations cannot be made, except that questions of landfills and property values should be studied on a case-by-case basis.
If you are concerned that a nearby landfill may be releasing toxic substances, there are several steps to take, including testing your air quality with an air monitor or checking if EPA or other agencies have identified toxic releases in your area. Also, you could test your water quality for contaminants, especially if you rely on well water.
The easiest way to reduce dependence on landfills is to consume less, recycle more, avoid single-use plastic, eat food purchased, and compost food scraps and yard waste. Advocate for your workplace to take similar steps to reduce waste. Use compostable products. If landfills concern you, spread the word about the need to transition away from landfills.
If you have concerns, you could consult with others in your neighborhood as well as your physician to see if they have similar concerns about your findings. You could also request a meeting with state legislators as well as state and local health and environmental authorities to discuss the issue.
AreaHub’s Knowledge Center is updated regularly and provides information drawing upon scientific studies and sources.
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