|
|
|
|
|
|
Two common misconceptions about landfills are that they are unsightly and harmful to the environment. However, The Hilltop staff at Mars Hill College recently learned from a trip to the Madison County landfill that this is not always true. The Madison County landfill is designated “sanitary,” which means the waste on site is not simply dumped onto the ground, but rather into a heavy-duty, plastic-lined pit, which is known as a cell. The cell is essentially a hole in the ground with a thick, plastic lining designed to protect the land and water underneath so the byproduct of buried trash, leachate, does not pollute the environment. The Madison County landfill is full and no longer accepts trash. In fact, at the site of the landfill near Marshall there is really no visible sign of trash. Where the cell containing waste sits, there are now several hills covered in grass. Because Madison County’s landfill is full, the waste produced in the county is now trucked to Morristown, Tenn., at the cost of $30,000 a month. Now the landfill is only used to process recycling. Unfortunately, not all landfills are designated sanitary with plastic liners, according to the county. Many, in fact, are simply massive holes dug into the ground without any form of protection between the trash and the soil, according to staff who work at the county site. According to one government study, these landfills have been found to cause cancer and other illnesses in the past due to the lack of protection between the waste and the environment. Because of these affects, unsanitary landfills around the country are now being dug up to save surrounding areas from further damage. The landfill recycles plastic containers (#1 and #2), clear, green and amber glass, aluminum and steel cans, mixed paper, corrugated cardboard, tires, white goods, such as metal and appliances, batteries and used motor oil. Last year alone, Madison County recycled just under 1,300 tons of material, according to county statistics. Even though this landfill is closed, it continues to be monitored with routine methane gas tests, which it will undergo for the next 20 years. Afterward, the land could be used for other purposes, such as a sports complex or golf course. A 4-H club in Marshall has already reused an old landfill by turning it into a baseball field. Give us your feedback. We value your opinions. Write us at hilltop@mhc.edu. Be sure to include your full name and the story you reference. See our letters policy. The Hilltop reserves the right not to post anonymous comments, personal attacks, or any comments that could be judged slanderous, that make unverifiable allegations of fact, or use language we consider in bad taste. | HOME | ARCHIVE | OPINIONS | EMAIL US |
|
 
|
