How have landfills changed in the last 50 years?
The change in landfill technology has been dramatic over this period. In the distant past, society had little regard for waste and its impact on the environment. With the advent of solvents and other volatile organic compounds in the twentieth century, the need to protect the environment from the effects of these new man-made chemicals became evident. In North America, governments enacted legislation to control the management of waste in the latter half of the twentieth century to require better management methods than previously existed. These rules have led to the establishment of secure, engineered waste facilities that prevent improper disposal, contain the waste, provide for removal of leachate, manage gas and protect the environment.
