3 Questions
When did New York City close Fresh Kills landfill?
New York City closed Fresh Kills landfill in 2001.
What is the estimated timeline of the Fresh Kills eco-park transformation?
The Fresh Kills eco-park transformation is expected to open in phases over the next 30 years.
What is the composition of landfill gas?
Landfill gas is composed of approximately half methane, half carbon dioxide, and a small amount of water vapor.
Study Notes
- The city of New York closed its largest landfill, Fresh Kills, in 2001.
- The landfill is being transformed into a state-of-the-art eco-park, and will open in phases over the next 30 years.
- The landfill produces enough methane gas each day to heat 30,000 homes, and will quite likely continue to do so for the next 10 years.
- The garbage stored at Fresh Kills falls into the category of “municipal solid waste.”
- It contains both organic material, like food waste and paper products, and inorganic material, like plastics and electronics.
- As the organic material breaks down over time, anaerobic micro-organisms helping the process along create what is known as landfill gas: about half methane and half carbon dioxide, along with a small amount of water vapor.
- The city processes the landfill gas on site at the Landfill Gas Purification Plant, and then sells the resulting four million cubic feet of refined, “pipeline-quality” gas to the local utility, National Grid, for distribution to residential and commercial customers throughout Staten Island.
Learn about the transformation of New York City's largest landfill, Fresh Kills, into a state-of-the-art eco-park. Discover how the landfill gas produced is processed and utilized for residential and commercial purposes, and explore the different types of waste stored at the landfill.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
