The landfill was known to have operational problems. Fires were common, the facility used fly ash as a cover which was inadequate to prevent litter from being blown off-site. Spills on the roads leading to the landfill were common according to local residents. In addition, local residents reported seeing leachate flowing into an unnamed creek along Andrew Avenue. Leachate is produced by rain percolating into the ground and coming into contact with contaminated waste buried in the landfill. Leachate overflow has been a problem at the site. In the late 1980s, leachate collected in the leachate system, overflowed a manhole on the Laurel Park site entering a stream that passes by several residences and a school playground. Tests of the leachate and the stream revealed the presence of hazardous substances, including benzene, toluene, and ethyl benzene.