Landfills regulated by Subtitle D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) are referred to as “Subtitle D” landfills. Subtitle D regulations require that the post-closure care period be 30 years. Some have claimed that closed Subtitle D landfills constitute major environmental risks and that the post-closure care period should never end. Without federal guidance, state governments are hard-pressed to ensure funds are available for post-closure care.

This report compiles and summarizes what is known about the risks associated with Subtitle D landfills, and introduces long-term care alternatives to manage and minimize these risks. This is the peer-reviewed version.