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Depending on the type of waste that is buried in the soil, the impact on the surrounding environmental could be devastating. In the case presented in the "Park Sharks" issue scenario, the men were burying hazardous waste in barrels. If the barrels were to corrode and leak, the waste could leach into the soil and eventually into the streams and groundwater. This would have harmful effects on aquatic life and terrestrial wildlife all the way up the food chain. Humans would also be effected because often our drinking water comes from our local freshwater lakes, streams, and rivers.

Years ago, landfills were created without any protective boundary between the trash and the rest of the environment. The practice of collecting waste was very similar to digging a hole and burying it just as the men in the park were doing. All kinds of trash was deposited in one place and as it rained various toxins in the landfill would dissolve in water and leach into the groundwater. This type of polluted water with various toxins dissolved in it is called leachate and can be very hazardous depending on the trash in the landfill.

There are now laws that regulate the construction and management of landfills and restrict the types of materials that can be put in a landfill. Landfills must now be located on high ground well above the water table. Mandatory leachate collection systems keep toxic water from entering the groundwater. Also, the landfill is capped with clay and topsoil to prevent water inflitration and runoff, and the area around the landfill is monitored for contamination.

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Environmental Issue Scenarios