SWANA supports the following policy positions related to the long-term management (LTM) of municipal solid waste landfills:
Following termination of regulatory post-closure care (PCC) period, as recommended in T-9.3 Termination of Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Post-Closure Care Requirements, there should be provisions or institutional controls satisfactory to state, provincial or local regulatory agencies to provide LTM for closed landfills to ensure the final landfill cover system and other environmental control systems are effective in continuing to be protective of human health and the environment. These provisions may be developed through instruments, such as deed restrictions, environmental covenants (such as those in compliance with the Unified Environmental Covenants Act), and/or a maximum of standard landfill regulatory oversight, to be determined on a case-by-case basis, based in part on the risk potential of the landfill.
Regulatory agencies and landfill owner/operator should recognize that there are potential costs associated with facilities in LTM, including but not limited to inspections to verify the integrity of the landfill cover system and other environmental control systems, and/or corrective actions. Provisions identifying responsible parties for these costs should exist on a case-by-case basis as determined by the regulatory agency, landfill owner /operator, and/or host community, as applicable.
The LTM of a landfill facility may cease provided all parties involved (owner, municipality and state and provincial regulatory agencies) agree that based on site-specific data, that the organic or functionally stabilized waste mass poses an acceptable level of risk to potential receptors
