Outside the Gates, Calumet Waste Management Facility, Chicago
Landfill: Lake Calumet, Chicago, 1988-1989
11, 8x10 Gelatin Silver Contact Prints
Within the city limits, landfills opened only in the sparsely populated region of Lake Calumet. Hundreds of acres of Lake Calumet itself were filled with Chicago refuse and by the 1990’s, the Southeast Side’s Tenth Ward had over 16,000 acres of landfill. The city tried to protect its Lake Michigan water supply, but paid little heed to the effect of landfilling on Calumet-area birds, fish and groundwater. This dumping ground was one of the few suitable sites for the city, and as it filled, a sense of crisis ensued. The two major landfills at Calumet were Paxton I and Paxton II. Unlike the first landfill, the Paxton II Landfill was above ground and eventually spread out over 58 acres. Typical landfills stand about 40 feet tall, Paxton II grew to 170 feet and racked up numerous violations. A U.S. Supreme Court decision paved the way for the city’s shutdown of the landfill in 1992. Paxton’s most serious problem was steep, eroded and unstable slopes that progressively became weaker due to continued erosion and the buildup of landfill leachate (rain water and melted snow that percolated through the wastes.) The states’s successful stabilization efforts at Paxton II Landfill reduced the threat of a catastrophic slope failure.Close in proximity to Paxton II was the immense open air municipal sludge drying facility. The drying sludge, or semi-solid material is comprised of industrial waste water and sewage. It contains high levels of PCBs.
Landfill Mountain, Paxton II
Landfill: Lake Calumet, Chicago, 1988-1989
11, 8x10 Gelatin Silver Contact Prints
Within the city limits, landfills opened only in the sparsely populated region of Lake Calumet. Hundreds of acres of Lake Calumet itself were filled with Chicago refuse and by the 1990’s, the Southeast Side’s Tenth Ward had over 16,000 acres of landfill. The city tried to protect its Lake Michigan water supply, but paid little heed to the effect of landfilling on Calumet-area birds, fish and groundwater. This dumping ground was one of the few suitable sites for the city, and as it filled, a sense of crisis ensued. The two major landfills at Calumet were Paxton I and Paxton II. Unlike the first landfill, the Paxton II Landfill was above ground and eventually spread out over 58 acres. Typical landfills stand about 40 feet tall, Paxton II grew to 170 feet and racked up numerous violations. A U.S. Supreme Court decision paved the way for the city’s shutdown of the landfill in 1992. Paxton’s most serious problem was steep, eroded and unstable slopes that progressively became weaker due to continued erosion and the buildup of landfill leachate (rain water and melted snow that percolated through the wastes.) The states’s successful stabilization efforts at Paxton II Landfill reduced the threat of a catastrophic slope failure.Close in proximity to Paxton II was the immense open air municipal sludge drying facility. The drying sludge, or semi-solid material is comprised of industrial waste water and sewage. It contains high levels of PCBs.
Sludge Drying, Phase 1
Landfill: Lake Calumet, Chicago, 1988-1989
11, 8x10 Gelatin Silver Contact Prints
Within the city limits, landfills opened only in the sparsely populated region of Lake Calumet. Hundreds of acres of Lake Calumet itself were filled with Chicago refuse and by the 1990’s, the Southeast Side’s Tenth Ward had over 16,000 acres of landfill. The city tried to protect its Lake Michigan water supply, but paid little heed to the effect of landfilling on Calumet-area birds, fish and groundwater. This dumping ground was one of the few suitable sites for the city, and as it filled, a sense of crisis ensued. The two major landfills at Calumet were Paxton I and Paxton II. Unlike the first landfill, the Paxton II Landfill was above ground and eventually spread out over 58 acres. Typical landfills stand about 40 feet tall, Paxton II grew to 170 feet and racked up numerous violations. A U.S. Supreme Court decision paved the way for the city’s shutdown of the landfill in 1992. Paxton’s most serious problem was steep, eroded and unstable slopes that progressively became weaker due to continued erosion and the buildup of landfill leachate (rain water and melted snow that percolated through the wastes.) The states’s successful stabilization efforts at Paxton II Landfill reduced the threat of a catastrophic slope failure.Close in proximity to Paxton II was the immense open air municipal sludge drying facility. The drying sludge, or semi-solid material is comprised of industrial waste water and sewage. It contains high levels of PCBs.
Landfill Mountain North East, Paxton II
Landfill: Lake Calumet, Chicago, 1988-1989
11, 8x10 Gelatin Silver Contact Prints
Within the city limits, landfills opened only in the sparsely populated region of Lake Calumet. Hundreds of acres of Lake Calumet itself were filled with Chicago refuse and by the 1990’s, the Southeast Side’s Tenth Ward had over 16,000 acres of landfill. The city tried to protect its Lake Michigan water supply, but paid little heed to the effect of landfilling on Calumet-area birds, fish and groundwater. This dumping ground was one of the few suitable sites for the city, and as it filled, a sense of crisis ensued. The two major landfills at Calumet were Paxton I and Paxton II. Unlike the first landfill, the Paxton II Landfill was above ground and eventually spread out over 58 acres. Typical landfills stand about 40 feet tall, Paxton II grew to 170 feet and racked up numerous violations. A U.S. Supreme Court decision paved the way for the city’s shutdown of the landfill in 1992. Paxton’s most serious problem was steep, eroded and unstable slopes that progressively became weaker due to continued erosion and the buildup of landfill leachate (rain water and melted snow that percolated through the wastes.) The states’s successful stabilization efforts at Paxton II Landfill reduced the threat of a catastrophic slope failure.Close in proximity to Paxton II was the immense open air municipal sludge drying facility. The drying sludge, or semi-solid material is comprised of industrial waste water and sewage. It contains high levels of PCBs.
Sludge Drying, Phase 2
Landfill: Lake Calumet, Chicago, 1988-1989
11, 8x10 Gelatin Silver Contact Prints
Within the city limits, landfills opened only in the sparsely populated region of Lake Calumet. Hundreds of acres of Lake Calumet itself were filled with Chicago refuse and by the 1990’s, the Southeast Side’s Tenth Ward had over 16,000 acres of landfill. The city tried to protect its Lake Michigan water supply, but paid little heed to the effect of landfilling on Calumet-area birds, fish and groundwater. This dumping ground was one of the few suitable sites for the city, and as it filled, a sense of crisis ensued. The two major landfills at Calumet were Paxton I and Paxton II. Unlike the first landfill, the Paxton II Landfill was above ground and eventually spread out over 58 acres. Typical landfills stand about 40 feet tall, Paxton II grew to 170 feet and racked up numerous violations. A U.S. Supreme Court decision paved the way for the city’s shutdown of the landfill in 1992. Paxton’s most serious problem was steep, eroded and unstable slopes that progressively became weaker due to continued erosion and the buildup of landfill leachate (rain water and melted snow that percolated through the wastes.) The states’s successful stabilization efforts at Paxton II Landfill reduced the threat of a catastrophic slope failure.Close in proximity to Paxton II was the immense open air municipal sludge drying facility. The drying sludge, or semi-solid material is comprised of industrial waste water and sewage. It contains high levels of PCBs.
Landfill Surface
Landfill: Lake Calumet, Chicago, 1988-1989
11, 8x10 Gelatin Silver Contact Prints
Within the city limits, landfills opened only in the sparsely populated region of Lake Calumet. Hundreds of acres of Lake Calumet itself were filled with Chicago refuse and by the 1990’s, the Southeast Side’s Tenth Ward had over 16,000 acres of landfill. The city tried to protect its Lake Michigan water supply, but paid little heed to the effect of landfilling on Calumet-area birds, fish and groundwater. This dumping ground was one of the few suitable sites for the city, and as it filled, a sense of crisis ensued. The two major landfills at Calumet were Paxton I and Paxton II. Unlike the first landfill, the Paxton II Landfill was above ground and eventually spread out over 58 acres. Typical landfills stand about 40 feet tall, Paxton II grew to 170 feet and racked up numerous violations. A U.S. Supreme Court decision paved the way for the city’s shutdown of the landfill in 1992. Paxton’s most serious problem was steep, eroded and unstable slopes that progressively became weaker due to continued erosion and the buildup of landfill leachate (rain water and melted snow that percolated through the wastes.) The states’s successful stabilization efforts at Paxton II Landfill reduced the threat of a catastrophic slope failure.Close in proximity to Paxton II was the immense open air municipal sludge drying facility. The drying sludge, or semi-solid material is comprised of industrial waste water and sewage. It contains high levels of PCBs.
Sluge Drying, Detail
Landfill: Lake Calumet, Chicago, 1988-1989
11, 8x10 Gelatin Silver Contact Prints
Within the city limits, landfills opened only in the sparsely populated region of Lake Calumet. Hundreds of acres of Lake Calumet itself were filled with Chicago refuse and by the 1990’s, the Southeast Side’s Tenth Ward had over 16,000 acres of landfill. The city tried to protect its Lake Michigan water supply, but paid little heed to the effect of landfilling on Calumet-area birds, fish and groundwater. This dumping ground was one of the few suitable sites for the city, and as it filled, a sense of crisis ensued. The two major landfills at Calumet were Paxton I and Paxton II. Unlike the first landfill, the Paxton II Landfill was above ground and eventually spread out over 58 acres. Typical landfills stand about 40 feet tall, Paxton II grew to 170 feet and racked up numerous violations. A U.S. Supreme Court decision paved the way for the city’s shutdown of the landfill in 1992. Paxton’s most serious problem was steep, eroded and unstable slopes that progressively became weaker due to continued erosion and the buildup of landfill leachate (rain water and melted snow that percolated through the wastes.) The states’s successful stabilization efforts at Paxton II Landfill reduced the threat of a catastrophic slope failure.Close in proximity to Paxton II was the immense open air municipal sludge drying facility. The drying sludge, or semi-solid material is comprised of industrial waste water and sewage. It contains high levels of PCBs.
Big Marsh
Landfill: Lake Calumet, Chicago, 1988-1989
11, 8x10 Gelatin Silver Contact Prints
Within the city limits, landfills opened only in the sparsely populated region of Lake Calumet. Hundreds of acres of Lake Calumet itself were filled with Chicago refuse and by the 1990’s, the Southeast Side’s Tenth Ward had over 16,000 acres of landfill. The city tried to protect its Lake Michigan water supply, but paid little heed to the effect of landfilling on Calumet-area birds, fish and groundwater. This dumping ground was one of the few suitable sites for the city, and as it filled, a sense of crisis ensued. The two major landfills at Calumet were Paxton I and Paxton II. Unlike the first landfill, the Paxton II Landfill was above ground and eventually spread out over 58 acres. Typical landfills stand about 40 feet tall, Paxton II grew to 170 feet and racked up numerous violations. A U.S. Supreme Court decision paved the way for the city’s shutdown of the landfill in 1992. Paxton’s most serious problem was steep, eroded and unstable slopes that progressively became weaker due to continued erosion and the buildup of landfill leachate (rain water and melted snow that percolated through the wastes.) The states’s successful stabilization efforts at Paxton II Landfill reduced the threat of a catastrophic slope failure.Close in proximity to Paxton II was the immense open air municipal sludge drying facility. The drying sludge, or semi-solid material is comprised of industrial waste water and sewage. It contains high levels of PCBs.
Marsh Bed
Landfill: Lake Calumet, Chicago, 1988-1989
11, 8x10 Gelatin Silver Contact Prints
Within the city limits, landfills opened only in the sparsely populated region of Lake Calumet. Hundreds of acres of Lake Calumet itself were filled with Chicago refuse and by the 1990’s, the Southeast Side’s Tenth Ward had over 16,000 acres of landfill. The city tried to protect its Lake Michigan water supply, but paid little heed to the effect of landfilling on Calumet-area birds, fish and groundwater. This dumping ground was one of the few suitable sites for the city, and as it filled, a sense of crisis ensued. The two major landfills at Calumet were Paxton I and Paxton II. Unlike the first landfill, the Paxton II Landfill was above ground and eventually spread out over 58 acres. Typical landfills stand about 40 feet tall, Paxton II grew to 170 feet and racked up numerous violations. A U.S. Supreme Court decision paved the way for the city’s shutdown of the landfill in 1992. Paxton’s most serious problem was steep, eroded and unstable slopes that progressively became weaker due to continued erosion and the buildup of landfill leachate (rain water and melted snow that percolated through the wastes.) The states’s successful stabilization efforts at Paxton II Landfill reduced the threat of a catastrophic slope failure.Close in proximity to Paxton II was the immense open air municipal sludge drying facility. The drying sludge, or semi-solid material is comprised of industrial waste water and sewage. It contains high levels of PCBs.
Lake Calumet Region
Landfill: Lake Calumet, Chicago, 1988-1989
11, 8x10 Gelatin Silver Contact Prints
Within the city limits, landfills opened only in the sparsely populated region of Lake Calumet. Hundreds of acres of Lake Calumet itself were filled with Chicago refuse and by the 1990’s, the Southeast Side’s Tenth Ward had over 16,000 acres of landfill. The city tried to protect its Lake Michigan water supply, but paid little heed to the effect of landfilling on Calumet-area birds, fish and groundwater. This dumping ground was one of the few suitable sites for the city, and as it filled, a sense of crisis ensued. The two major landfills at Calumet were Paxton I and Paxton II. Unlike the first landfill, the Paxton II Landfill was above ground and eventually spread out over 58 acres. Typical landfills stand about 40 feet tall, Paxton II grew to 170 feet and racked up numerous violations. A U.S. Supreme Court decision paved the way for the city’s shutdown of the landfill in 1992. Paxton’s most serious problem was steep, eroded and unstable slopes that progressively became weaker due to continued erosion and the buildup of landfill leachate (rain water and melted snow that percolated through the wastes.) The states’s successful stabilization efforts at Paxton II Landfill reduced the threat of a catastrophic slope failure.Close in proximity to Paxton II was the immense open air municipal sludge drying facility. The drying sludge, or semi-solid material is comprised of industrial waste water and sewage. It contains high levels of PCBs.
Three men and Blowing Trash, Paxton II
Landfill: Lake Calumet, Chicago, 1988-1989
11, 8x10 Gelatin Silver Contact Prints
Within the city limits, landfills opened only in the sparsely populated region of Lake Calumet. Hundreds of acres of Lake Calumet itself were filled with Chicago refuse and by the 1990’s, the Southeast Side’s Tenth Ward had over 16,000 acres of landfill. The city tried to protect its Lake Michigan water supply, but paid little heed to the effect of landfilling on Calumet-area birds, fish and groundwater. This dumping ground was one of the few suitable sites for the city, and as it filled, a sense of crisis ensued. The two major landfills at Calumet were Paxton I and Paxton II. Unlike the first landfill, the Paxton II Landfill was above ground and eventually spread out over 58 acres. Typical landfills stand about 40 feet tall, Paxton II grew to 170 feet and racked up numerous violations. A U.S. Supreme Court decision paved the way for the city’s shutdown of the landfill in 1992. Paxton’s most serious problem was steep, eroded and unstable slopes that progressively became weaker due to continued erosion and the buildup of landfill leachate (rain water and melted snow that percolated through the wastes.) The states’s successful stabilization efforts at Paxton II Landfill reduced the threat of a catastrophic slope failure.Close in proximity to Paxton II was the immense open air municipal sludge drying facility. The drying sludge, or semi-solid material is comprised of industrial waste water and sewage. It contains high levels of PCBs.
