Unregulated Landfill Research Articles

Municipal Waste Management in Republic of Srpska: Current and Future Challenges

Waste is a by-product of human activities and living. With the increase in the number of inhabitants, the standard of living and urbanization, the quantities of municipal waste are increasing day by day. Every segment of waste management starting from generation, through collection, storage, transport, treatment and disposal can pose a potential hazard to human health and the environment. Waste management in Republic of Srpska is organized at the regional level. Since only waste disposal is still present in the Republic of Srpska, the regional approach implies that there is a landfill on the territory of one of the local self-government units, where all local self-government units in the region dispose of waste. In addition, waste disposal in illegal and unregulated landfills is still evident. LGUs or utility companies often face a lack of money to organize waste collection, with the result that not all households are covered by waste collection. In recent years, a lot has been invested in infrastructure, such as the filling of containers and containers and the purchase of new or newer used waste collection vehicles. Future directions of improving the waste management system in Republic of Srpska must go in the direction of sustainable waste management, ie waste management in a way to reduce the negative impact on human health and the environment, as well as avoiding leaving this problem to future generations.

From Urban Vulnerabilities to Resilience: Lessons from Messina's Integrated Risk Approach

In the city of Messina, the multiplicity of vulnerable situations is a distinctive feature and is representative of the pervasiveness of the risk conditions present in the Italian territory. The critical residential tissues are part of an extended geography in which, to the conditions of seismic and hydro geomorphological vulnerability, are added additional criticalities including altered natural resources, abandoned infrastructure, brownfields, quarries, and unregulated landfills, etc. Despite this, for Messina, there is still no urban planning tool capable of interpreting in an integrated way the risks present, which instead continue to be addressed on an emergency basis and individually, without considering the interactions that are generated and of further damage. For these reasons, Messina was chosen as a prototypical case study, at the national level, to start an experimentation aimed at developing an urban planning tool capable of a new integrated approach to risk interpretation and management. In this process, a decisive role was aimed at building an updated knowledge of the territory through the identification of widespread critical conditions using multiple GIS tools and thanks to the interaction of some analytical-specialist readings from different sources. The results of this process are represented in a system of maps that are strongly integrated with each other and constitute a working document for the interdisciplinary group drafting the General Urban Plan.

Chemical characteristics with attention on toxic metals content in sediments of the urban tropical ecosystem Río Almendares, Havana, Cuba: Pollution risk assessment

Anthropogenic disturbances have dramatically impacted surface water quality worldwide. There is no restriction placed on waste disposal in developing countries, so micropollutants, including metals, are of major concern to soil and water. A tropical river ecosystem was selected as a model for this study: Almendares River (Havana, Cuba). We investigated the occurrence of 15 toxic metals in surface sediment for ecological risk analysis. Results indicated that sediments of a silty loam type had higher concentrations of four metals (Cr concentration range: 3.59–7.35 mg kg−1, Cu: 6.23–14.82 mg kg−1, Zn: 22.64–27.40 mg kg−1, and Pb:3.85–6.72 mg kg−1), than Cuban norms. Further, the contamination indices including Enrichment Factor (EF), Geo-accumulation, Contamination Factor, Contamination Degree, Ecological Risk Factor and Potential Ecological Risk were calculated. 10 elements presented significant enrichment at the sampling stations of the 15 metals examined; Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, and Ag had the highest EF values. Anthropogenic activities and polymetallic contamination could be the main source of these five heavy metals. The correlation analysis revealed that domestic, agricultural, and industrial sources were the main sources of contamination, along with an unregulated landfill. In terms of the extent of metal contamination in the urban site (Zone II) of Almendares River, this study constitutes the most comprehensive and extensive. The study contributes to the knowledge of the region and is crucial for the sustainable management of the Almendares River. There must be efforts made to control metal pollution in this river and ensure that metal levels are monitored.

Solvothermal conversion of spent aromatic waste to ethyl glucosides

On-farm extraction of commercially important essential oil from aromatic crops generates huge spent aromatic waste. This massive waste is often disposed in the unregulated landfills or burned in the open air to vacate the fields. Hence, a new method for processing of aromatic spent waste has been developed to obtain platform chemicals, such as, xylose and ethyl glucosides. The thermochemical liquefaction of acid pre-treated palmarosa (cymbopogon martini) biomass furnished a mixture of ethyl glucopyranosides in good yield (∼17 wt% relative to biomass) and selectivity (∼77%) by heating with p-cymen-2-sulphonic acid (p-CSA) in the presence of ethanol as a solvent. The detection, quantification and isolation of ethyl glucosides may provide a new application of spent aromatic biomass for use as a feed stock in the production of value added chemicals.

Quantitative appraisal of naturalistic/anthropic shoreline shifts for hurghada: Egypt

This investigation aims to establish a system to test the identification of shoreline changes along the coast of Hurghada. Besides, the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) studies the shoreline shift rate analysis. Multi-temporal satellite images have revealed accretion and erosion patterns in the areas of concern. Landsat images with different periods were geometrically and radiometrically corrected, then classified through assigning 8 different classes for the quantitative coastline delineation analysis from 1987 to 2019: (Landsat 5–TM, Thematic Mapper (TM)), Landsat7 ETM+, worldview 2, and Sentinel 2). To detect both land use and land cover change (LULCC) and shoreline growth, a maximum controlled classification tool is used. The DSAS was used to measure the coastal changing rate as a powerful statistical analysis tool, and thus to predict the behavior of the coastal shift over a long time. DSAS used two separate methods: EPR and LRR. The results concluded that, primarily as a consequence of unregulated landfill practices before tourist facilities, Hurghada's coastal region experienced an average accretion rate of 1.38 m/y. Moreover, the El-Gouna study revealed drastic modifications because of the development of its coastal zone's closed inland lagoons. Finally, the creation of the decision matrix reveals the evolution of the shorelines in the three last decades and the statistical projection for the three next decades. This study highlights the problem of extreme erosion in the Southern part (which is still not completely developed).

Research, Mapping and Subsequent Control of Waste in Water Bodies

In recent decades, there has been a sharp increase in waste that pollutes the environment. The largest share in them is nondegradable plastic waste. Most of them are located in the water bodies of the continents or in the ocean. Mankind faces the challenge of saving the world or destroying it. Only this year in Bulgaria along the rivers Iskar, Mesta, Danube, Yantra and others was observed accumulation of huge amounts of household and plastic waste. It was even necessary to organize the raking and transportation of these floating masses to the legal landfills. These events prompted the representatives of the Curious Club to propose the creation of a prototype, which on its own floating on water bodies to capture the state of the environment, the presence of unregulated landfills and waste, as well as the discharge of wastewater from illegal sewers. This device will collect and transmit information that club members will map and systematize. We are also proposing the introduction of a method imposed last year in Australia for the use of wastewater netting. We will also use our knowledge after the equipment of the astronomical club both for monitoring space debris and for the growing areas of floating islands of plastic waste in the world's oceans. Technologies that are innovative and have a future to solve these global problems are used. These things can be solved with our enthusiasm and financial support of economic entities interested in the cleanliness of the environment.

Challenges in current construction and demolition waste recycling: A China study

China produced a large amount of construction and demolition (C&D) waste, owing to the rapid development of construction industry. Although a set of policies and regulations are being drafted in China for promoting C&D waste recycling, execution of these policies in practice seems to be far from effective. Currently, approximately 75% of Chinese cities are still surrounded by large volumes of C&D waste. Therefore, identification of challenges in the development of C&D waste management, specially recycling, is essential. This paper employs site visits to 10 recycling plants in 10 Chinese cities (Shanghai, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Chongqing, Chengdu, Xi’an, Changsha, Shenzhen, Nanjing, and Zhoukou) and interviews with 25 industry practitioners for examining the challenges. Eight challenges are identified: (1) unstable source of C&D waste for recycling, (2) absence of subsidies for recycling activities and high cost for land use, (3) insufficient attention paid to design for waste minimisation, (4) absence of regulations on on-site sorting, (5) unregulated landfill activities, (6) a lack of coordination among different government administration departments, (7) a lack of accurate estimation of waste quantity and distribution, and (8) a lack of an effective waste tracing system. Recommendations to address these challenges are presented. The results of this study are expected to aid policy makers in formulation of proper C&D waste management in China and provide a useful reference for researchers who are interested in C&D waste recycling industry.

Waste Crime and the Global Transference of Hazardous Substances: A Southern Green Perspective

The production of global solid waste has reached an all-time high with over two billion tons discarded each year—much of it burned, illegally dumped at sea, or buried in unregulated landfills (The World Bank 2019). The United Nations Environment Assembly has declared the current waste problem a “global crisis” (Parker 2019), with estimates predicting that the present rate will worsen threefold by 2050 based on existing consumption and disposal rates (Ellis 2018). The international community has responded with expanding laws and regulations that seek to ensure that waste is disposed of in safe, sustainable and renewable ways. Such measures, however, have increased the costs of disposal and have inadvertently enlarged illegal markets in dumping and transference (European Commission 2019). This article examines the ways in which transnational corporations have avoided the rising costs of lawful disposal by shipping their waste to poor countries in the Global South—often with devastating social and environmental impacts. This article draws on world systems theory (Wallerstein 2004) and political ecology (Bedford et al. 2019; Forsyth 2008) in order to embellish discourses in green criminology and southern criminology (Brisman et al. 2018; Carrington et al. 2018; Goyes 2019) and to examine critically the contemporary social and environmental harms generated by the illegal transference of solid and hazardous waste.

Use of ordinary cokriging with magnetic susceptibility for mapping lead concentrations in soils of an urban contaminated site

Lead contamination is a prevalent issue affecting cities worldwide. Traditional fieldwork and laboratory analysis techniques can be time-consuming and costly. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of ordinary cokriging (CK) when volume magnetic susceptibility (κ) is used as a co-variable for spatial interpolation of Pb in contaminated urban soils. The study was conducted in contaminated urban soils of a former unregulated landfill site. A total of 76 surface samples (0–10 cm) were collected using a systematic sampling grid separated by 20-m intervals. Magnetic susceptibility measurements were taken at a higher density of 10-m intervals with 288 measurements. Thus, it was used as an auxiliary variable to predict Pb concentrations by the CK procedure with an aim to improve spatial interpolation of Pb. To determine the effectiveness of CK over the ordinary kriging (OK) procedure, the spatial density of samples was reduced prior to interpolation. A total of ~ 15%, 25%, 35%, and 50% of the Pb samples were randomly selected and reserved for validation. Omnidirectional semivariograms and covariograms were fitted using log-transformed data prior to interpolation. Measurements of κ shared a significant relationship with Pb concentrations by the Spearman’s Rho correlation analysis (rs = 0.676, p < 0.01). The effectiveness of the CK procedure over OK was determined using validation datasets. Statistically, the results showed that lnPb when its auxiliary relations with lnκ were used in CK had overall lower “root mean square error” (RMSE) and predicted lnPb values from the CK procedure had a higher r2 value with measured lnPb than OK. A model produced by the CK procedure with a reduced spatial density of 49 Pb points provided the more accurate map with a RMSE of 0.550 and an r2 value of 0.730, p < 0.01 level. This technique can potentially reduce fieldwork and soil analysis costs considerably. Measurements of Pb and κ must share a substantial level of spatial continuity to implement CK effectively. Where applicable, it can be used in the site-specific evaluation of hazard posed by Pb exposure to ecosystems, human health or water bodies in urban green spaces, roadside soils, allotments or brownfield sites.

Characterizing the generation and environmental impacts of subway-related excavated soil and rock in China

With rapid urban expansion in China, subway construction activities have been widely promoted. Accordingly, a large amount of subway-related excavated soil and rock (ESR) are generated and disposed mainly through dumping sites every year, which threatens the natural environment and poses high landslide risks. This study is therefore designed to characterize the generation, composition, flows and potential impacts of ESR in China. The results show that with the promotion of subway and increasing public awareness of recycle ESR, the generation of ESR has increased from 0.2 million m3 in 1965 to 79 million m3 in 2018 with a cumulative CO2 mitigation of 417.2 million tonnes by 2018 and will keep increase in coming decades (e.g., approximately exceed 200 million m3 by 2030). South and East China account for 60% of the total ESR which aligns well with their growing population and economic activities. Besides backfilling and landscaping, ESR were mainly sent to dumping site or unregulated landfill sites, which accounts for 87% of total generation. It was estimated and predicted that the dumping disposal of ESR has cumulatively occupied a land area of 212 ± 25 km2 from 2004 to 2030. Moreover, this study compared the management of ESR between China and developed countries, and recommendations for environmentally sound management of ESR were proposed.

Environmental health risks associated with e-waste exposure in Badplaas, Carolina and Elukwatini landfills, Republic of South Africa

A recent study identified a mixed stream of waste in Badplaas, Carolina and Elukwatini landfills. However, the risks associated with the situation in the three selected towns remains unknown. Thus, this paper fills this gap of qualitatively assessing the potential environmental health risks associated with specific waste streams identified. Secondly, there are no scientifically acceptable methods of assessing risks in unregulated landfills, given their irregular nature. This study attempts to adapt existing risk assessment methods towards standardizing a basic qualitative method that can be used to estimate potential risks that these facilities may pose to environmental health. Previous studies have found an association between human exposure to heavy metals and volatile organic compounds, and the prevalence of different cancers, birth defects and a number of mutagenic risks. This study identified e-waste as the common source of heavy metals and chlorinated organic compounds such as arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium and PCBs, which are carcinogenic, teratogenic and mutagenic. Thus, through the use of the adapted risk assessment framework, data was collected through observations and interviews. The study confirms that communities in the study areas may be at risk of cancer, birth defects and mutagens associated with exposure to unregulated landfill hazards.

Classification of unregulated landfills by waste stream analysis method, a case of Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality, South Africa

The characterisation of unregulated landfills as general landfills is misleading particularly because these landfills are used to dispose of a mixed stream of general and hazardous waste. Unregulated landfills are unlicensed on-land waste disposal facilities that are not designed, constructed or operated according to any regulatory framework. These landfills are common among non-metropolitan municipalities in South Africa. This paper tests how waste stream analysis can be useful in the pre-characterisation of unregulated landfills. Thus, it is proposed that a waste source trace method be used to pre-classify the waste streams disposed of in the landfills and ultimately for the characterisation of the landfills. Structured interviews and observations were used to trace the origin and types of waste materials disposed of in three unregulated landfills in the Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality. The results show that the landfills resorting under the Chief Albert Luthuli Municipality were used to dispose of a mixed stream of general and hazardous waste. These landfills should therefore be pre-characterised as hazardous waste landfills, and stringent management measures are recommended in this regard. This proposed method for waste stream analysis and pre-characterisation of unregulated landfills has proven to be effective.

3D electrical resistivity tomography technique for the investigation of a construction and demolition waste landfill site

We present the practical application of a 3D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) geophysical survey conducted in order to calculate the geometrical features and general structure of a construction and demolition waste layer in an old unregulated landfill prior to redevelopment. As traditional geological/geotechnical investigations comprised of cone penetration tests (CPT) failed to provide reliable results, primarily due to the nature of the underlying waste, a geophysical investigation was commissioned and found to be very effective in providing useful and accurate information to the project’s environmental and engineering team. The ERT survey data were collected in parallel equidistant lines and were subsequently merged and inverted as a single 3D dataset. The processed data depicted clearly the interface between the resistive construction waste and the conductive undisturbed host clay layer ranging at depths between 3 and 11 m. As a result of this successful geophysical investigation the total volume of the solid waste materials was calculated to be about 32500 m3. Following the complete removal of the waste it became evident that the ERT geophysical survey results were particularly accurate. As a result, the reclamation constructor was able to carefully plan the required resources for excavating, moving and disposing of the waste. Interpreted ERT data not only defined the thickness of the debris layer and the total volume with a deviation of less than 10%, but also revealed the inner structure of the solid waste layer.

Urbanization and Major Ion Hydrogeochemistry of the Shallow Aquifer at the Effurun - Warri Metropolis, Nigeria

Results from chemical analyses of forty dug well water samples in the Effurun-Warri metropolis show that mean pH is 7.1 and mean TDS is 193 mg/l. Representative mean levels of cation occurrence include Ca, Mg, Na and K at 6.13mg/l, 4.09 mg/l, 4.89 mg/l and 3.37 mg/l respectively. Mean anion concentration for bicarbonate was 8.20mg/l, 1.27mg/l for sulphate and 23.74mg/l for chloride. Physical and chemical parameters are thus well below WHO and Standard Organization of Nigeria drinking-water quality standards. Piper diagram plots of the data indicate that ground water is predominantly Ca+Mg+Na Chloride facie and that mixing and ion exchange processes control the dominant cation in space and thus at each specific locality. Leachates from the many, widely distributed and unregulated landfills and dumpsites have been identified as possibly the principal sources of major ion loading to groundwater. The ubiquitous onsite sewage treatment soak away pits also contribute major ions to groundwater. These two sources are thus accountable for any observed local spikes in groundwater chloride content rather than sea water intrusion as had been previously suggested.

Analysis for remedial alternatives of unregulated municipal solid waste landfills leachate-contaminated groundwater

A groundwater flow and solute transport model was developed using Visual Modflow for forecasting contaminant transport and assessing effects of remedial alternatives based on a case study of an unregulated landfill leachate-contaminated groundwater in eastern China. The results showed that arsenic plume was to reach the pumping well in the downstream farmland after eight years, and the longest lateral and longitudinal distance of arsenic plume was to reach 200 m and 260 m, respectively. But the area of high concentration region of arsenic plume was not to obviously increase from eight years to ten years and the plume was to spread to the downstream river and the farmland region after 20 years; while the landfill’s ground was hardened, the plume was not to reach the downstream farmland region after eight years; when the pumping well was installed in the plume downstream and discharge rate was 200m3/d, the plume was to be effectively restrained; for leakage-proof barriers, it might effectively protect the groundwater of sensitive objects within an extent time range. But for the continuous point source, the plume was still to circle the leakage-proof barrier; when discharge rate of drainage ditches was 170.26 m3/d, the plume was effectively controlled; the comprehensive method combining ground-harden with drainage ditches could get the best effect in controlling contaminant diffusion, and the discharge rate was to be reduced to 111.43 m3/d. Therefore, the comprehensive remedial alternative combining ground-harden with drainage ditch will be recommended for preventing groundwater contamination when leachate leakage has happened in unregulated landfills.

Overcoming an Environmental Surprise with Innovative, Fast-Track Technology

As the Tennessee Department of Transportation (DOT) was finalizing the future route of I-69 through northwest Tennessee, a previously unknown, unregulated landfill was discovered directly beneath the proposed route near its juncture with a continuing segment into Kentucky. The Tennessee DOT, cooperating with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, implemented a rapid-response, technology-driven strategy to assess the potential costs and liabilities of crossing the landfill versus avoiding it. After a concerted site-history investigation, an electromagnetic geophysical survey mapped the land-fill boundaries, established the area of fill, and identified areas of higher metal content within the fill. A concurrent soil–gas survey showed only isolated patterns of volatile organic compounds, often a driver for environmental mitigation costs. These results were used to optimize locations for subsurface drilling that employed the waste-minimizing sonic drilling technique. Depth of fill from exploratory drilling was combined with the geophysical delineation of landfill boundaries to yield an estimated waste volume of 65,000 m3 (85,000 yd3) within the proposed I-69 footprint. Chemical analyses were done for subsurface sonic rig soil cores, surface soil samples, the contents of drums scattered across the surface, and surface water. These analyses showed relatively modest environmental risk; it was suggested that if the landfill were excavated, most of the soil could be handled as nontoxic special waste. Nevertheless, considering both design–build factors and environmental issues, the cost of excavating and building through the landfill ($33.5 million) exceeded that of rerouting slightly east of the landfill ($29.5 million), and the route was diverted to avoid the landfill.

Using slow-release permanganate candles to remove TCE from a low permeable aquifer at a former landfill

Past disposal of industrial solvents into unregulated landfills is a significant source of groundwater contamination. In 2009, we began investigating a former unregulated landfill with known trichloroethene (TCE) contamination. Our objective was to pinpoint the location of the plume and treat the TCE using in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO). We accomplished this by using electrical resistivity imaging (ERI) to survey the landfill and map the subsurface lithology. We then used the ERI survey maps to guide direct push groundwater sampling. A TCE plume (100–600μgL−1) was identified in a low permeable silty-clay aquifer (Kh=0.5md−1) that was within 6m of ground surface. To treat the TCE, we manufactured slow-release potassium permanganate candles (SRPCs) that were 91.4cm long and either 5.1cm or 7.6cm in dia. For comparison, we inserted equal masses of SRPCs (7.6-cm versus 5.1-cm dia) into the low permeable aquifer in staggered rows that intersected the TCE plume. The 5.1-cm dia candles were inserted using direct push rods while the 7.6-cm SRPCs were placed in 10 permanent wells. Pneumatic circulators that emitted small air bubbles were placed below the 7.6-cm SRPCs in the second year. Results 15months after installation showed significant TCE reductions in the 7.6-cm candle treatment zone (67–85%) and between 10% and 66% decrease in wells impacted by the direct push candles. These results support using slow-release permanganate candles as a means of treating chlorinated solvents in low permeable aquifers.

Modeling of Biodegradation in an Old Unregulated European Landfill

In this note an example of modeling of biodegradation processes of an old abandoned municipal solid waste landfill for its simulation is illustrated using the landfill dynamic simulation tool MODUELO. In this program the waste biodegradation model is based on the quantification of organic matter, its chemical composition, biodegradability, accessibility to microorganisms, and the ratio nonbiodegradable leachable organic matter to gasifiable matter. Data from a characterization campaign, presented elsewhere, were used to determine these parameters. The experimental information was completed with safety factors (to compensate for sampling uncertainty) and literature values. The degradation rates were determined, after having calibrated the hydrological model, by fitting the temporal series of pollutants’ concentration measured in the leachate and the biogas composition. The achieved fit of the simulated series compared to the measured data is reported as the result of this work. Given the limited informatio...

A new system for groundwater contamination hazard rating of landfills

In developing countries, several unregulated landfills exist adjacent to large cities, releasing harmful contaminants to the underlying aquifer. Normally, landfills are constructed to hold three types of waste, namely hazardous waste, municipal solid waste, and construction and demolition waste. Hazardous waste and municipal solid waste landfills are of greater importance as these pose greater hazard to groundwater, in comparison with landfills holding waste from construction and demolition. The polluting landfills need to be prioritized to undertake necessary control and remedial measures. This paper assesses existing site hazard rating systems and presents a new groundwater contamination hazard rating system for landfills, which can be used for site prioritization. The proposed system is based on source-pathway-receptor relationships and evaluates different sites relative to one another. The system parameters have been selected based on literature. The Delphi technique is used to derive the relative importance weights of the system parameters. The proposed system is compared with nine existing systems. The comparison shows that the site hazard scores produced by the existing systems for hazardous waste, municipal solid waste, and construction and demolition waste landfills are of the same order of magnitude and tend to overlap each other but the scores produced by the proposed system for the three types of landfills vary almost by an order of magnitude, which shows that the proposed system is more sensitive to the type of waste. The comparison further shows that the proposed system exhibits greater sensitivity also to varied site conditions. The application of different systems to six old municipal solid waste landfills shows that whereas the existing systems produce clustered scores, the proposed system produces significantly differing scores for all the six landfills, which improves decision making in site ranking. This demonstrates that the proposed system makes a better tool for prioritization of landfills for adopting control measures and remediation.

Magnetic Delineation of Buried Wastes at a Church in Normal, Illinois

Graduate students enrolled in “Problems in Environmental Geology” conducted a magnetic survey of a 3.3-acre open field and parking lot immediately south of Grace Baptist Church in Normal, Illinois. The site was previously a sand and gravel quarry, then an unregulated domestic landfill. The principle objective of the survey was to have the students gain experience in planning, conducting, and reporting environmental surveys. A second objective was to better delineate the extent of the buried wastes. The wastes had previously been found in a series of ten engineering borings, but their true lateral extent was unknown.The survey was conducted with a total-intensity, proton-precession magnetometer (Geometries Model 856). This instrument measures the intensity of the magnetic field in nanoTeslas at select locations. Analysis of the Fourier transform of a single, 264-foot-long, closely spaced (2 foot) reconnaissance profile was used to determine the maximum station spacing (10 feet) and line separation (20 feet) that would adequately define the field without aliasing the data. Pre- and post-survey quality-control measurements at a base station were used to verify that the instrument was operating correctly, that the instrument operators were magnetically “clean,” and that Earth’s ambient magnetic field was stable. The surveyed magnetic total intensity was displayed as both hand-drawn and computer-generated contour maps.The magnetic survey showed several areas of intense magnetic anomalies (−700 to +2700 nanoTeslas) and other areas having a smoother magnetic field (<20 nanoTeslas). The anomalies are assumed to occur over wastes containing refractory cinders and ferrous-metal objects, an interpretation that is consistent with the engineering borings. A magnetic model composed of six finite-length polygons and one sphere was constructed to verify the feasibility of this interpretation.Areas overlying buried wastes are prone to differential settling that can compromise building foundations, pipelines, or pavements. Future development of this site should consider the distribution of the wastes as indicated by the borings and the magnetic survey. Other concerns include rusty metal and broken glass on the surface and the possibility of hazardous chemicals that could contaminate local ground water.This deceptively simple exercise, with a standard geophysical technique, involved aspects of information theory, digital data processing, potential-field theory, and a technically sophisticated instrument. Understanding the magnetic field included consideration of electrical currents in Earth’s outer core, ionospheric currents induced by extraterrestrial particles, and the complex physics of material magnetization. Also involved were the usual problems of efficiently conducting an applied field survey. For our students, the survey was a challenging exercise that convincingly demonstrated the connection between real environmental problems and the seemingly esoteric material we had been studying in the classroom.