Landfills
A landfill is used to store waste materials such as household garbage which is not being recycled,
flyash from coal-fired power plants, industrial waste, and so forth. A landfill can impact the
environment through the loss of groundwater recharge caused by impermeable liners or caps,
construction phase sediment pollution, the release of the highly-contaminated leachate which forms
as water passes through decomposing waste, from the release of volatile contaminants to the
atmosphere, and from the trucks traveling to and from the facility. For further information see the
publications on the CEDS website pertaining to landfills and other solid waste facilities.