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Aerial view of coal ash pyramid in East-Central Europe. After coal is burned in power plants, the waste ash is stacked layer-by-layer and compacted into large pyramids, which may eventually be covered over with solar panels, trees or even grape plantations. The pyramids are used as landfill to prevent the release of ash into the atmosphere, but they also contaminate the environment with toxic pollutants harmful to human health.. (KEYSTONE/NATURE PICTURE LIBRARY/MILAN RADISICS)