ABSTRACT
A basic requirement in the design and construction of waste containment facilities in the land environment is to contain and isolate waste substances from the surrounding environment in a manner akin to a tightly sealed garbage bag embedded in the ground. The objective is to deny exposure of the contained waste substances and their reaction products to humans, other biotic receptors, and the environment – most especially if these waste substances and their leachates pose health and environmental threats. When waste substances and their reaction and/or dissolution products – such as waste streams and leachates – are threats to public health and the environment, they are generally identified as dangerous wastes. A detailed discussion of the nature and required management of these wastes is given in Chapter 2.
