Approximately 150 million tons of residential waste lie beneath the grass on Staten Island’s western border. Records from NYC Parks indicate that the four mounds contain around 150 million tons of solid refuse.
It wasn’t removed. It still exists. The refuse generated by New York City for over fifty years didn’t vanish when the trucks and barges ceased operations. Instead, it was buried, encapsulated, and formed into undulating hills, now serving as the foundation of a park.
This park is Freshkills, and its creation prompts several clear inquiries. What lies beneath the grass? Why is methane still extracted from underneath? And how can one convert a landfill into public park space without ignoring that the landfill was never truly eliminated?
What was buried at Fresh Kills, and in what quantity
The landfill commenced operations in 1948 on land that was previously tidal marsh, expanding rapidly. By the mid-1950s, it had become the world’s largest landfill, accepting residential waste from all five boroughs. At its peak in 1986-87, the site processed up to 29,000 tons of trash daily. This continued in various forms for many years.
A state regulation mandated the closure, and Fresh Kills took in its final barge of waste on March 22, 2001. It reopened briefly post-September 11 to sort through debris from the World Trade Center. What remained were four massive mounds containing approximately 150 million tons of solid waste. These mounds are the foundational material for the park. The refuse was never excavated. The intention was always to cover it securely and maintain that coverage.
What lies beneath the grass now
The mounds you walk over are not merely dirt piles concealing trash. They are constructed in layers, engineered to keep the waste isolated from the air, water, and individuals above. According to Freshkills Park, “these layers stabilize landfilled waste, keep it apart from the environment and park visitors, and stop the emission of landfill gas into the atmosphere.” This is the intended design. Whether it will function flawlessly forever hinges on maintenance, which is precisely the focus of this discussion.
The complete cap extends between 3 and 12 feet in depth. It features a soil barrier that is at least two feet thick, and atop it lies a final layer of clean planting soil that is at least six inches.