FAQs
Do landfills pollute the air? What toxins are being emitted?
What gases are being emitted and are they harmful?
With the use of proper engineering controls and a well-thought-out operating plan, a modern landfill does not contribute significant air pollution to the environment. Landfill gas—roughly half carbon dioxide and half methane—is naturally generated as waste decomposes. Landfill gas accumulating within the waste mass can sometimes escape through cover soil and the exposed working face. An active landfill gas extraction system is designed and constructed to collect the gas and minimize migration of gas into the atmosphere. Currently, the collected gas is burned off at Conestoga’s two enclosed flares. Provisions are being made to utilize a portion of this gas as an alternative energy source.