MoversAtlas

Everybody needs to get rid of their trash, but the ways that we do it have very real impacts on the environment and our bodies. Fortunately, most waste disposal facilities are properly operated and maintained to minimize pollution problems. However, by their very nature all of these facilities deal with things we no longer want and can be a source of environmental and health problems.

This map feature displays the locations of solid waste treatment facilities throughout Florida that are known to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The facilities shown might be used as landfills, dumps, recycling centers, incineration plants, bio-medical waste processing centers, etc. Unauthorized (impromptu) dump sites that the state knows about are also shown. Where information is available, facilities are labeled by type and status (i.e. active, closed, etc). Homebuyers are typically interested in where solid waste treatment facilities are located because property values tend to be lower around them. Additionally, people living near some of these centers may experience higher truck traffic, aversive odors and other problems. Occasionally groundwater and soil contamination from leaking treatment/disposal facilities can occur.

Unfortunately, people put lots of things in the trash that shouldn't end up in an ordinary waste disposal facility. Items such as batteries can contain toxic heavy metals like as cadmium and lead. Ordinary non-toxic household items can also release harmful chemicals as a result of the decomposition processes they undergo while in the dump. Finally, pathogenic bacteria are often present in landfills since many thrive on decomposing material. None of these points are worth worrying about if the waste stays where it's supposed to. Unfortunately, dumps and other facilities can sometimes leak their contents into the groundwater. This occurs when rainwater naturally soaks into the landfill and percolates down through it. If the landfill isn't properly maintained, or doesn't have a liner along its bottom, the percolating rainwater can seep right through and contaminate the ground water. Trash incineration plants and recycling centers pose their own set of problems including air pollution and spillage.

On the brighter side, it's important to note that not all landfills and other solid waste treatment facilities cause pollution. Moreover, modern, well maintained facilities of any type are far less likely to cause environmental and human health problems. You might be able to live down the road from a dump for years without ever having a problem. However, accidents can always occur and older facilities typically are associated with a higher risk of environmental contamination. This is why homeowners living near a dump who rely on well water are typically advised to conduct routine water quality testing to ensure that their water supply has not become contaminated.

As a final note, remember that this map feature only displays dumps and other disposal facilities that the state knows about. People illegally dispose of things all the time; and in rare cases the wastes that they dump might be hazardous. Since this activity is illegal (and the guys who do it don't hold permits) it's always possible that dumping grounds exist that are not shown on this map. So keep in mind that seeing an area devoid of solid waste treatment centers does not mean your potential residence is free and clear dumping activities or the associated pollution. Pollution can get into the environment around your home in a variety of ways besides being released from a solid waste treatment center. Therefore, seeing that your area is not home to any dumps, incineration plants, etc does not mean that your residence will be free from chemical or biological contamination.