American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Practice Exam

How are cities and counties reducing the costs associated with closing landfills?

1. Stop public solid waste service and privatize.

2. Exhume old refuse, install a liner, separate the soil, and re-pack the garbage.

3. Initiate a recycling program.

4. Impose fines on companies that exceed set refuse limits.

The correct answer is: Exhume old refuse, install a liner, separate the soil, and re-pack the garbage.

The process of exhuming old refuse, installing a liner, separating the soil, and re-packing the garbage is a method employed by some cities and counties to mitigate the long-term costs associated with landfill closure. This practice is often a part of a larger strategy for landfill remediation or conversion into alternative uses, such as parks or commercial developments. By properly managing the material within the landfill, communities can minimize the environmental impact, comply with regulations, and potentially reduce the costs that would arise from improper closure methods that might require additional monitoring or remediation in the future. In contrast, measures like stopping public solid waste service and privatizing or imposing fines might not directly reduce closure costs associated with existing landfills. Initiating a recycling program is an effective waste management strategy, but it typically focuses more on diverting waste before it reaches landfills rather than directly addressing the costs of closing them. Therefore, the approach of exhuming and properly managing landfill contents stands out as a proactive strategy aimed at reducing future liabilities and costs.