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WPD | Solid Waste Compliance Assistance - Municipal Solid Waste Landfill

Solid Waste Compliance Assistance

Municipal Solid Waste Landfill

Revised On: Jan. 24, 2024 - 3:07 p.m.

Common Violations & How to Prevent Them

Proactively managing solid waste at your facility not only protects public health and the environment, it prevents violations and can save owners and operators sizable costs related to enforcement. Following are the most common violations and requirements and best practices to prevent them.

Solid waste not adequately covered at the end of each operating day1

At the end of each operating day, municipal solid waste landfills must cover waste with a minimum of 6 inches of earthen material, such as soil or dirt. Coverage may also be applied more frequently as needed but varies by site. Applying coverage helps control and decrease the likelihood of disease vector breeding, fires, odors, blowing litter and scavenging.

Operation of, or discharge from, a solid waste facility without an Aquifer Protection Permit (APP)2

Unless otherwise determined, any person who discharges or who owns or operates a facility that discharges must obtain an Aquifer Protection Permit (APP) from ADEQ. This includes solid waste disposal facilities, such as a municipal solid waste landfills | Visit APP Page for More Information >

Lack of controls for wind and other surface dispersion of solid waste3

Facilities need to operate in a manner that controls for wind and surface dispersion of solid wastes from a facility's property. When solid waste is scattered around, it is not only a public nuisance, but can pose as a threat to public health and the environment. Visible solid waste that is beyond the property line of a facility must be collected by an operator on at least a daily basis.

Visit the landfills page for more information | Learn More >


140 C.F.R. § 258.21(a) | View > and A.R.S. § 49-761 (B) | View >
2A.R.S. § 49-241(A) | View > and A.R.S. § 49-241(B)(2) | View >
3A.R.S. § 49-762.07(F)(1) | View >