Trash Pickup Day 18 and Local Landfill Research

 Day 18 (Monday, 5/1):

morning:

-1 plastic cup

-3 pieces of metal

-7 small pieces of plastic

-3 cigarettes

afternoon:

-1 small Styrofoam cup

-2 cigarettes

-2 small pieces of paper

Today, I also did some research about where the trash in my community goes, and what happens to it.

Questions about the landfill:

Where is my local landfill? How far away from me is it?

-My local landfill is called the Cedar Hills Landfill. It is in Maple Valley, Washington, which is about 20 miles away from my house.

How big is it? What does it look like?

-The landfill is 920 acres big, which is about 1.4 square miles. It is the only landfill in King County, and it is filling up fast. In 2019, the date that the landfill would fill up, or the closing date, was in 2028. However, this date was changed to 2040 because now there is a new area to put trash in, and the compact trash is stacked 30 feet higher than it used to be permitted.

How long has it been around?

-This landfill has been around for more than 50 years.

Does it pose any dangers to local animals/people living in the area?

-In that same area, there is also a massive composting facility, and a hazardous waste site. The people who live here are feeling like they are the “dumping grounds for all things toxic and smelly”.

Sources:

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/king-countys-landfill-has-been-almost-full-for-two-decades-what-happens-next/

https://kingcounty.gov/depts/dnrp/solid-waste/facilities/landfills/cedar-hills-development.aspx