Ditch the Dump: Why We Fight

It's not just stinky. It's unhealthy!

Landfill Gas contains about 50 percent Methane, 50 percent carbon dioxide and a various small percent of (NMOC) nonmethane organic compounds. Methane is a potentially explosive gas, a major contributor to climate change and similar to carbon dioxide, in high concentrations it poses a potential asphyxiation risk. NMOCs contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs); benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and vinyl chloride. Potential risk to these organic compounds can range anywhere from eye and skin irritation, cancer, nervous system disorders, birth defects or worse.

map of landfill and affected areas — Map showing the affected area, the original landfill boundary and the expanded landfill boundary. The 5-mile radius is the distance at which people will be able to smell the landfill.

aerial map of landfill by man mapping — Map by MAN Mapping showing the old boundary and new boundary of the landfill, along with the new entrance on Sand Run Road that Rumpke is building to access their landfill.

Landfills pose both short and long-term health risk. When it comes to your health any exposure is too much. As for our communities most vulnerable such as the elderly and children, it's a risk not worth taking.

You deserve to know what your exposed to with easily accessible information and long-term health studies. Until then it's up to us to do the research and advocate on behalf of our community.

Diagram showig how rain in a landfill can cause pollution — Illustration showing how rain can cause a landfill to leak hazardous pollution into the ground and water.

Environment - wildlife and water quality

Disrupt animal behavior and social structure
Interfere with reproduction
Create easy meals for birds, rodents, raccoons and coyotes etc.
Wildlife may become reliant on landfills for food
Disrupts the natural ecosystem, predator - prey relationship
Wildlife may ingest plastic
Landfill gases and/or leaks could threaten both flora and fauna and our water quality
Diseased animals consumed by local hunters
Humans and wildlife may consume polluted fish
Our local waters are used by both locals and visitors for canoeing and many children and their families enjoying hiking and creeking

drawing showing the dangers of leachate leaking from landfill — Illustration showing how rain can cause a landfill to leak leachate and other hazardous pollutants into aquifers.

Social Justice-

Minority and low-income communities bear the burden of the waste industry. These communities are targeted by landfills because they often lack resources to raise awareness, access information and obtain representation. Further, policy making, regulation and enforcement as well as loopholes that benefit the waste industry are yet another injustice to these communities.