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Current Solid Waste System Issues

Recommendation SW13: Continually reduce disposal impacts on human health and the environment

Ensure that disposal facilities, including waste-to-energy facilities, do not pose threats to human health and the environment by reducing the toxicity of disposed wastes and by closely monitoring and continually improving operation, closure, and post-closure practices over time.

Specific steps include:

• Begin investigating ways to further decrease potential threats and risks from disposal facilities and practices.
• Incorporate into local plans the goal of minimizing impacts of waste disposal.
• Evaluate the potential of mining landfills to recover resource materials.
• Develop a long-term strategy to ensure that disposal fees reflect complete costs and that no costs (such as future cleanup) are passed on to future generations.
• Establish a schedule to regularly assess disposal facility requirements and propose changes, as needed, to ensure adequate public health and environmental protection.
• Evaluate effects and costs of out-of-area disposal, including incentives and disincentives for waste reduction and recycling created by long-hauling wastes.

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