Are landfills safe?

PIMENTO, Ind (WTHI) - Americans generate almost five pounds of trash per day per person. That's 251 million tons a year.

Do you ever wonder where it goes?

Officials will soon remove at least 10 feet of contaminated soil from a lot in Terre Haute. That contaminated soil is heading to a landfill. 

Landfills are carefully constructed areas used to dispose or isolate waste from the surrounding environment.

But how do we know after it's in the landfill it's keeping our environment safe?

Kenny Depasse from Republic Services, Governmental Affairs said they spend a lot of time and money making sure they follow specific regulations to make our city as safe as possible.

Modern landfills are designed specifically to keep the community and environment safe.

“Material will arrive at the landfill. It’s manifested. It’s GPS’ed where it’s put in the landfill,” said Depasse.

Landfills have to follow very strict criteria to make sure the community doesn’t have to worry.

The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) said it only accepts specific waste designed for each facility.

Landfills are required to use liners and safeguards to ensure it doesn't contaminate any water, air or soil.

Landfill operators must monitor gas emissions, test ground water and compact and cover waste daily.

The Sycamore Ridge Landfill in Pimento, Indiana has cells built underground to hold waste.

Each cell is equipped with GPS tracking and is buried dozens of feet underground.

“This site is environmentally safe as anyone in the country. We’re proud of that fact. The community should be proud of that also,” said Depasse.    

So the community living next door doesn't have to worry about the safety of their family or their environment.

For more information about landfills, head to the IDEM website .