Ashley Chi
Landfills
Trash. It’s there in our lives, useless and odor-empowering. Our escape from this inescapable factor comes once a week in the form of large trucks. These trucks transfer our junk into their hull and whisk it away. 30 seconds later, it’s gone, and we never have to worry about it again. As we all know, buried deep in our minds, this is not the case.
Before sunrise each day, 60-ton bulldozers are already in formation, ready to turn piles of untouched edibles, plastic packaging, and all sorts of unwanted into a mush. This is the Puente Hills Landfill, a man-made mountain, sitting on a stretch land along the 60 Freeway, that contains one-third of Los Angeles’ trash. Storing garbage is a complicated process, not as easy as many of us think. Garbage isn’t simply just dumped on the ground, left to decompose by itself, as many of us would like to think. First, dirt is excavated, then sealed off using liners. Laser-equipped surveying devices are used to level off the trash, making sure that it blends into the surrounding environment. Finally, green waste is used to cover the trash, with the methane collected and converted into energy on-site. The entire process is actually more complex and eco-friendly than we usually give it credit for, and that’s only one of the illusions proved wrong.
Many people don’t consider the enormity and magnificence of the situation. When looked at from a different angle, the mounds of unwanted objects actually tell an engrossing tale. On the top of the pile, you’ll see beer cans and the remnants of TV dinners. Burrowed underneath are black-and-white console televisions resting beside tie-dyed shirts. Dare to go even further, and you’ll be rewarded with the pieces of shattered Thighmasters and disco records. What may look like piles of junk are actually reminders of Los Angeles’ past, an everlasting time capsule.
The landfill also serves as a reminder of our ignorance and laziness. Ten percent of all recyclables received are deemed invalid and end up being dumped, because people won’t bother to wash off leftover food from polystyrene foam containers. Additionally, some people throw away entire Christmas trees- lights, ornaments and plastic tree stands included. Ordinarily, the trees would be reused, but trees with non-recyclable material still attached have to be tossed.
In essence, the Puente Hills Landfill is not a dump. It’s a green, eco-friendly site that serves as a reminder of Los Angeles’ past, never to be forgotten, and a shout-out to the fact that our own laziness is just adding trash to the Earth.
Landfills: In A New Light
Engross Yourself In This
Landfills
Trash. It’s there in our lives, useless and odor-empowering. Our escape from this inescapable factor comes once a week in the form of large trucks. These trucks transfer our junk into their hull and whisk it away. 30 seconds later, it’s gone, and we never have to worry about it again. As we all know, buried deep in our minds, this is not the case.
Before sunrise each day, 60-ton bulldozers are already in formation, ready to turn piles of untouched edibles, plastic packaging, and all sorts of unwanted into a mush. This is the Puente Hills Landfill, a man-made mountain, sitting on a stretch land along the 60 Freeway, that contains one-third of Los Angeles’ trash. Storing garbage is a complicated process, not as easy as many of us think. Garbage isn’t simply just dumped on the ground, left to decompose by itself, as many of us would like to think. First, dirt is excavated, then sealed off using liners. Laser-equipped surveying devices are used to level off the trash, making sure that it blends into the surrounding environment. Finally, green waste is used to cover the trash, with the methane collected and converted into energy on-site. The entire process is actually more complex and eco-friendly than we usually give it credit for, and that’s only one of the illusions proved wrong.
Many people don’t consider the enormity and magnificence of the situation. When looked at from a different angle, the mounds of unwanted objects actually tell an engrossing tale. On the top of the pile, you’ll see beer cans and the remnants of TV dinners. Burrowed underneath are black-and-white console televisions resting beside tie-dyed shirts. Dare to go even further, and you’ll be rewarded with the pieces of shattered Thighmasters and disco records. What may look like piles of junk are actually reminders of Los Angeles’ past, an everlasting time capsule.
The landfill also serves as a reminder of our ignorance and laziness. Ten percent of all recyclables received are deemed invalid and end up being dumped, because people won’t bother to wash off leftover food from polystyrene foam containers. Additionally, some people throw away entire Christmas trees- lights, ornaments and plastic tree stands included. Ordinarily, the trees would be reused, but trees with non-recyclable material still attached have to be tossed.
In essence, the Puente Hills Landfill is not a dump. It’s a green, eco-friendly site that serves as a reminder of Los Angeles’ past, never to be forgotten, and a shout-out to the fact that our own laziness is just adding trash to the Earth.
Landfills: In A New Light
Engross Yourself In This