The External Costs of Sanitary Landfills

Eui-Gak Hwang
Gundars Rudzitis


DOI: 10.2190/RMWC-8VDF-0DJ7-2A67

Abstract

The problem of disposing of solid waste is an issue of increasing concern. The primary method of disposal is at landfill sites. This paper estimates the external costs of solid waste disposal in sanitary landfills in the Chicago Metropolitan Areas. The results of the study indicate that negative externalities do exist. However, they are small, almost insignificant. Given the negligible size of the externalities there appears to be little rationale for discouraging the disposal of solid wastes in sanitary landfills.

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