Sanitary landfills are waste disposal facilities where garbage is covered by earth. They have drawbacks, including environmental risks, and must be carefully located, prepared, and maintained. Once closed, they must be monitored and reclaimed for safe use.
A sanitary landfill is a waste disposal facility where compacted layers of garbage are covered by layers of earth. When the facility reaches capacity, a limit is enforced to close the site. Sanitary landfills are one of the most popular methods of waste disposal, although they do have some distinct drawbacks. This waste management technique was developed in the 1930s, in response to the increasing pressures created by a growing population.
The site for a sanitary landfill must be selected carefully. Ideally, it should be located above the water table, in a non-geologically active area. Other considerations may have to do with aesthetics; because landfills can sometimes be odorous, they are generally not located in close proximity to residential communities. The land must also be inexpensive for the cost of running the landfill to be worth it, and it must be accessible to roads so that the garbage can be easily delivered.
Site preparation begins with making liners. It is common to start with a compacted clay base, followed by synthetic liners, with piping to trap and transport materials that leach from the landfill, including fluids and gases. Then, the garbage deposit can begin. At any one time, the landfill has a small working area exposed, while the rest of the site is covered. Maintaining a work area in a sanitary landfill minimizes pests such as rodents and insects. This can be expensive and, in landfills without funds, exposed waste can create a serious health risk.
One of the biggest problems with a sanitary landfill is the environmental risk. As the materials within the compacted waste layers decompose, they generate gases, including methane, which are flammable. Some landfills simply dump these gases, while others actively trap them, using them as fuel. Landfills also generate leachates, materials that could harm the natural environment if they end up in the groundwater, making leaching control critical.
Once a sanitary landfill is closed, the work doesn’t stop. The site needs to be maintained and monitored. Often, landfills are reclaimed once they’re full, with the area on top used to build sports fields, parks, office parks, and so on. These uses can only be approved when it is clear that the site has been well secured and when there are systems in place to deal with methane gas and other materials that may escape or vent from the landfill.
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