US Landfills Are Overheating and Making People Sick

Buried beneath the ground in one of America’s largest municipal landfills, in Los Angeles County, waste has been overheating, sending toxic gas into the air and causing leachate (or trash juice) to bubble and shoot out like geysers. For the community in nearby Val Verde, the stench was only the beginning of their problems: Residents have reported unexpected diagnoses of autoimmune disorders, heart problems and even cancer, which many believe could be linked to the Chiquita Canyon Landfill.

Neighbors suspect the fumes are from a literal “garbage fire” underground, which could mean a violation of federal regulations. But the company Waste Connections says it’s something else. Experts say the distinction isn’t trivial, and is one way the waste industry points the finger away from their own management practices. Read more from Laura Bliss and Rachael Dottle today in Businessweek: America’s Hot Garbage Problem