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Landfills & Trash
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Waste over Time in Cuyahoga County
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Year
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Population
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Trash generate in tons
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Tons recycled by residential/ commercial in tons
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Tons Recycled by industry in tons
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Recycling %
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Pounds recycled per household
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2004
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1,394,123
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3,546,452
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623,223
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823,263
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41%
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2005
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1,351,152
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3,504,502
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646,644
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823,181
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42%
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2006
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1,314,241
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3,457,870
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580,867
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813,914
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41%
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2007
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1,295,958
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3,339,407
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589,640
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908,031
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45%
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763
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2008
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1,283,925
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3,302,821
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228,808
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1,190,862
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42.9%
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794
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2009
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1,275,709
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2,553,729
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260,470
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720,767
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38.4 %
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807
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As reported by the EPA
Notice:
- The population of Cuyahoga County is decreasing over time.
- Recycling rate is about the same until 2007.
- Residential and commercial recycling has decreased along with trash generation.
- In 2008, Solid Waste District initiated a new survey for industries, which can contribute to the increase in industry and overall recycling rate. One company, ArcelorMittal Steel was the main contributor to this year’s increase in tons.
- Generally, due to the economy and slow or declining population growth, trash generation in the State of Ohio has decreased.
- Pounds of recycling per housdehold is increasing, so more neighbors are recycling or recyclers are recycling more items. This could be attributed to more types of plastics being accepted by recyclers such as no. 3-7.
How Trash Gets To A Landfill
Trash is picked up in a packer truck at your curb on trash day.
The packer truck drops all the neighbors trash at the closest transfer station.
Trash is compacted and loaded onto semi trailer trucks to transport trash to the landfill.
Trash is dumped at the landfill either by trash being pushed out of the truck by walking floors or lifting the trailer bed as pictured above.
The trash is compacted by using bulldozers and compactors to make more room in the landfill. Above photo is called the working face of the landfill.
The landfill has a fence to keep people out, but also to prevent litter from blowing off site.
Because the roads are dirt ones, they have to be watered on hot, dry days.
New Landfill Under Construction
Landfills are dug out and then a layer made of clay and a second one made of plastic are layed down. Safety systems to collect leachate and methane gas have to be installed before the landfill can except any trash.
Old Landfills
This is a view on top of a mountain of trash or an old landfill in Solon, Ohio. Landfills must be monitored for 30 years after they can no longer except trash. This landfill also provides landfill gas to a near by business. The landfill gas is used to cook food.