Definition of Landfill
Miscellanea / / July 04, 2021
By Javier Navarro, in Jan. 2018
A large part of consumer products become waste, which can go to two places: a garbage dump or a landfill. In the first case, the accumulated waste has a high polluting component and in the second, the environmental impact is completely eliminated.
What is a landfill?
Before putting this type of facility into operation, it is necessary to carry out a series of studies on different subjects: geological characteristics of the soil, studies on the air and groundwater, prospecting on the environmental impact, etc.
Once this prospecting has been carried out, the pertinent permits and the corresponding ISO certifications are obtained. Of course, before determining the location for a landfill, it is necessary to calculate the amount of garbage that will be located in said space and for this it is necessary to carry out a study of garbage production by habitant.
The sanitary landfill is a space in which the solid waste of an urban nucleus is deposited. In order not to contaminate the subsoil, the ground is waterproofed with a specific, high-density plastic material, polyethylene. On this plastic the
waste and compacted clay is placed on top of them so that the filling occupies a reduced area.It should be noted that the plastic fillers used allow the leachate to be channeled, highly polluting liquids that are the product of organic decomposition
Depending on the characteristics of the land, the sanitary landfill can be built with some type of ditch or area or with a combination of both. With this method it is possible to eliminate all kinds of solid waste, in such a way that the accumulation of ashes and all those elements that do not decompose are avoided. Currently, most sanitary landfill systems are mechanized compaction and not manual type.
In summary, with the sanitary landfill system the population should not fear the possible contamination groundwater and environment in general.
Additional advantages of landfills
This method of storage of waste not only provides an environmentally friendly solution, but also provides two significant advantages: low costs of maintenance and of operation and, in parallel, it is an activity that generates jobs. If the location of the space is close to an urban area, transportation costs are significantly reduced.
The sanitary landfill is designed for urban populations that generate more than 40 tons of waste per day.
Photo: Fotolia - hxdyl
Topics in Landfill