Are municipal landfills in America running out of room for trash?

Question

Are municipal landfills in America running out of room for trash?

Answer 1

I wonder who's digging up this old scare tactic?  I first saw this scare tactic 25 years ago, and it was a bogus then as it is bogus now.

What's next?  A Killer Bee scare?

Answer 2

As a particular landfill is used up, new ones are opened.  Not to worry.

Answer 3

Yes, we have new lanfills opening all the time. On the east coast where the population is more condensed they are having a difficult time dealing with garbage and many cities burn it instead of burying it.

I know my local landfill only has a few years left before we have to locate a new site, it has been in operation for over 30 years and occupies a couple hundred acres. With so much development in the area we are going to have a huge problem locating any area in the county where we can locate another landfill. That will likely mean a huge jump in rates to ship it to another county or state.

Answer 4

Some of them are running out of their alotted space.  In truth, the garbage generated each year  by America is a cube about a kilometer on each side.  It may sound like a lot at first but you could bury that in a very small county.  La Puente Landfill here is Southern California is like building a giant mountain.  It takes much of LA's trash and piles it up and buries it.  Maybe one day in a few thousand years, it will rival Everest.

Answer 5

the new york city landfill has gotten so large that they've had to re-direct air traffic (planes).

the largest man-made structure in my county in CA is the landfill.

We throw so many perfectly good things away....and when we throw them "away" we don't really think about where they go....they just 'go away'. But in reality, they don't go away. All that trash is still here, on Earth. Our Home.

Answer 6

No, land fills take up such a tiny portion of the land. It only sucks if you live near one. I suggest moving close to a politicians. You will never have to worry about a land fill popping up in your neighbor hood.

Answer 7

I don't know about most of America, but I the last 2 areas that I have lived, I have seen landfills closed because they have reached their maximum capacity.

Answer 8

Depends on who you ask and where.

No such problem here in Texas-- we have hundreds of square millions suitable for a 500 acre land fill. I expect this to become a problem here in about 4000-8000 thousand years.  :)