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Virginia Landfill Meltdown: Dangerously High Temperatures Detected
20 Aug
Summary
- Underground temperatures at Shoosmith Landfill reached 194F in 2023.
- This heat significantly exceeds federal safety standards.
- The extreme temperatures pose a burn risk to individuals.

In the winter of 2023, Shoosmith Landfill, a recently closed municipal waste site near Richmond, Virginia, experienced a significant thermal event. Underground temperatures in one section reached a dangerous 194F. This temperature was 34% higher than federal standards permit for such facilities.
The extreme heat recorded was hot enough to inflict an instant third-degree burn on human skin. The incident highlights potential safety concerns at the landfill site, which had ceased operations prior to this event.