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Landfill sites: Is the gas actively pumped from the landfill?

As long as gas is actively pumped from the refuse, landfill gases (primarily methane and carbon dioxide) should not enter the soil cover. If the gas recovery system is turned off, even for a short period, landfill gas could enter the soil cover and cause poor growth and plant mortality.

Vent pipes that are not connected to an active pumping system do not reduce landfill gas contamination of the cover soil and will not aid in plant establishment. If gas is not pumped from the landfille, trees with shallow root systems will perform best.

Tolerance to low soil oxygen and wet soil might also provide some measure of tolerance to landfill sites.