Mismanagement of non-hazardous municipal waste may cause serious problems in the form of foul smells, rats, mosquitoes, flies, and groundwater contamination. In addition, municipal landfills may contain small amounts of hazardous waste from households and small businesses. Almost every home or business contains and uses potentially hazardous materials. Batteries, household cleaners and pesticides, solvents, and even medicines can be potential threats to the environment if improperly handled. Both types of landfills are licensed by the state.
Commercial sites receive waste from many outside sources, both municipal and industrial.
Fees are assessed by the state on waste received from outside sources. Some industrial facilities in the corridor maintain on-site landfills into which waste generated by the facility is deposited. The number of sites currently open is 25 in the state and 6 in the corridor. Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. Solid and hazardous wastes are sometimes incinerated before disposal.