Why did the Fresh Kills landfill close?
Closing. As a result of intense community pressure, a state law was passed in 1996 requiring that the landfill cease accepting solid waste by the end of 2001. By 1997, two of the four landfill mounds were closed and covered with a thick, impermeable cap.
How is each part of a landfill closed off?
When a section of the landfill is finished, it is covered permanently with a polyethylene cap (40 mil). The cap is then covered with a 2-foot layer of compacted soil. The soil is then planted with vegetation to prevent erosion of the soil by rainfall and wind.
Why called Fresh Kills?
The name “Fresh Kills” comes from the Middle Dutch word kille, meaning “riverbed” or “water channel.” Before the landfill opened in 1948, the Fresh Kills site was primarily tidal creeks and coastal marsh.
What happens when a landfill closes?
Even after a landfill is closed, the trash buried there will remain. Trash put in a landfill will stay there for a very long time. Landfills are not designed to break down trash, merely to bury it. When a landfill closes, the site, especially the groundwater, must be monitored and maintained for up to 30 years!
What happens when we run out of landfill space?
More landfills also means more climate change. As food waste and other types of garbage decompose, they release methane and other greenhouse gas emissions that are contributing to climate change.
How are landfills maintained?
Once a landfill is full, it is capped with another liner made of synthetic plastic. That liner is then covered with at least 2 feet of soil and vegetation is planted. The site continues to be monitored for at least 30 years to ensure the surrounding environment is safe from contamination.
When did Fresh Kills Landfill become a park?
Introduction From 2001 to 2006, the City of New York, led by the Department of City Planning, conducted a master planning process to turn the now-closed Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island into a world class park. The resulting Draft Master Plan will guide the site’s evolution over the next thirty years.
Where to take a tour of Fresh Kills?
To sign up for a tour of Fresh Kills go to the Department of Parks & Recreation’s Fresh Kills website. Introduction From 2001 to 2006, the City of New York, led by the Department of City Planning, conducted a master planning process to turn the now-closed Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island into a world class park.
How tall is the Fresh Kills Landfill in Maine?
At its peak of operation in 1986-87, Fresh Kills received as much as 29,000 tons of trash per day. It was estimated that, if kept open, the landfill would have eventually reached a height of 600 feet, surpassing Todt Hill to become the highest point on the East Coast south of Mount Desert Island in Maine.
What was the subsoil of the Fresh Kills Landfill made of?
The subsoil was made up of clay, with sand and silt as the top layer of soil. The tidal marsh, which helped to clean and oxygenate the water that passed through it, was destroyed by the dump. The fauna were largely replaced by herring gulls.