Sanitary Landfills

Definition

Sanitary landfills are engineered waste disposal sites where solid waste is carefully placed in layers and compacted to reduce volume. They are designed to minimize environmental impacts by using liners, leachate collection systems, and daily soil cover.

Related terms

Methane Collection System: A methane collection system is a network of pipes installed in sanitary landfills to capture and collect methane gas produced by decomposing organic waste. This helps prevent the release of methane into the atmosphere, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Secure Landfills: Secure landfills are specialized types of sanitary landfills that handle hazardous or toxic wastes. They have additional safety measures such as double liners, leachate collection systems, and monitoring systems to ensure proper containment of dangerous materials.

Leachate Collection Systems: Leachate collection systems are drainage systems installed within sanitary landfills to collect liquid that has percolated through the waste layers. This prevents contaminated water (leachate) from seeping into groundwater or surface water bodies, protecting them from pollution.