Landfills

Definition

Landfills are designated areas where solid waste is disposed of in a controlled manner. They involve burying waste materials in layers with soil coverings to minimize environmental impacts.

Related terms

Waste Management:

Waste management involves strategies for reducing, collecting, treating, recycling, and disposing of various types of waste materials in an environmentally responsible manner.

Leachate: Leachate is a liquid that forms when water percolates through layers of buried waste in a landfill. It can contain harmful substances picked up from decomposing waste.

Methane Gas Production: Landfills produce methane gas as organic waste decomposes without oxygen. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.