Solid Waste Disposal Practices:--0pen Dumps not Identified--States Face Funding Problems.
Abstract
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated that in 1976 residential, commercial, and industrial sources generated 130 million metric tons of municipal solid waste. By 1985, EPA projected the yearly total to increase to 180 million tons. This estimate did not include the millions of tons of industrial wastes, sewage sludges, junk automobiles, and construction and demolition wastes. If all wastes were considered, the total volume would be about 3 to 4 billion tons annually. According to EPA there are nearly 20,000 municipal waste land disposal facilities. In addition to receiving the usual household wastes, the facilities may receive medical wastes, paints, pesticides, dead animals, metals, plastics, and liquid chemical wastes. Many facilities are located on land that is considered to have little or no value for other uses, such as marshes and sand and gravel pits, and it is such siting which poses the greatest potential for environmental damage--surface water and ground water contamination. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 23, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA106537
Entities
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office