I bought a house and it is next to a closed landfill. Will I be able to grow a garden? Will it explode,? I,ve heard they can. Does it make people sick? How do I find out how long it has been closed? Need help!
2007-03-22 02:10:04 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Environment
It will depend on who operated the landfill and when it was closed. In the USA, new landfills are closed in accordance with EPA protocols. They have post monitoring activities and methane traps to capture the gases from the cells.
Landfills will vent, capture or sell the methane and use it for secondary fuel.
If you are living next to a municipal or an old landfill, they may not have these measures in place.
In order to find out the operational history of the landfill, contact your state department of environmental quality and request a file review of the landfill. The file will show what kind of monitoring they are performing as well as the results.
I would not think that a properly decommisionned landfill will explode.
Will you grow sick? I do not have enough data to be able to answer that question. Do you drink from municipal well or a water well on your property. If you have a well on your property, review the file and see if the state detected any contaminants of concern and analyze your water for the same.
WIll you be able to grow a garden. Yes, as the buffer zone between your home and the landfill cells would likely prohibit any local migration of contaminants or gases.
2007-03-22 06:32:36 · answer #1 · answered by Christmas Light Guy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Are you in the UK. If so, two things.
1. Your solicitor should have raised enquiries about such things, so ask for more details
2. Go to your local authority office and get more info from them
You should have found out what kind of landfill it was before buying
2007-03-22 09:14:34 · answer #2 · answered by Ya-sai 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would bring these questions to your town office to begin with....
2007-03-22 09:13:08 · answer #3 · answered by Stacy M 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋