What Happens to Trash in a Landfill?

• Stay there for a very long time.

• Inside a landfill: little oxygen and little

moisture. --trash does not break down very

rapidly.

• 40-year-old newspapers have been found

with easily readable print.

• Landfills are not designed to break down

trash, merely (only) to bury it.

• When a landfill closes, the site must be

monitored and maintained for up to 30 years!

What is landfill? (1)

• Pleasant term for a garbage dump

• Located in a cavity in the ground.

• When full, it may be covered up and

look like part of the land.

• Today's landfills are sanitary

• Special technology to eliminate

methane gas and toxic leachate.

Sanitary landfill

A method of disposing of solid wastes on land without creating nuisances or hazards to public health or
the environment. Using the principles of engineering the solid waste is confined to the smallest practical
area, reduced to the smallest practical volume, and covered with a layer of earth at the conclusion of
each day’s operation (daily cover), or at more frequent intervals as may be necessary.
Classification of sanitary landfills levels

Level 0 – open dumps

Level 1 – controlled tipping

Level 2 – sanitary landfill with a bund and daily cover soil

Level 3 – sanitary landfill with leachate recirculation system

Level 4 – sanitary landfill with leachate treatment facilities

Potential hazards:

(1) Leachate (i.e. waste juice !!)

(2) Landfill gas

Two types: area landfill & depression landfill

• Refuse is deposited, compacted and covered

Sanitary Landfill

Advantages

1. Most Economic method

2. Low initial investment

3. Operation in a short time period

4. All types of waste – all in one (MMA !!!)

5. Completed sites – other purpose

Disadvantages

1. Not suitable in densely populated area

2. Require daily maintenance

3. Methane and other gases

4. Leachate – problem for years