This Green and Toxic Land?

The Ends Report has mapped around 21,000 old landfill sites in England and Wales (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/jan/15/toxic-waste-lies-beneath-schools-and-homes-uk-landfill-map-shows). Many landfill sites in the UK were set up in the days before locations were lined, to prevent material (like industrial sludge) leaching into the surrounding soil and water courses. Around 1,300 sites are recorded as containing hazardous waste (like cyanide) but, even more scarily, there are 400 (mainly older) sites where the contents are 'unknown'. Hardly remarkably, the report notes that the sites are often not being dealt with appropriately by the Local Authorities that have responsibility for them. Worryingly, parks; schools and housing are being built on some of these old landfill sites. There is a strong possibility, that their contained toxins could damage human health. Such consequences have led to successful mass actions for compensation in some countries (e.g. the US). We really need to assess whether it is safe to build on each location, before granting permissions. In some cases, where the contents are unknown, that will mean treating the site as potentially hazardous. People doing the Environmental Impact Assessment must be protected.