What is a landfill and how does it work?

Landfill is a place to dispose of rubbish,garbage and other waste material by burying it and covering it over with soil, especially as a method of filling in or extending usable land.
Trash is isolated from the surrounding environment (groundwater, air, rain). This isolation is accomplished with a bottom liner and daily covering of soil.  Clay liner is used to isolate the trash from the environment in a sanitary landfill. In a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill a synthetic (plastic) liner is use to isolate the trash from the environment .

What is the Purpose of Landfill?

The purpose of a landfill is to bury the trash to isolate it from the surrounding environment. Under these conditions, trash will not decompose much. A landfill is not like a compost pile, where the purpose is to bury trash in such a way that it will decompose quickly.

Burying waste to the ground is a common practice to most countries around the world. But this is environmental hazard because most garbage are not biodegradable. Waste can take thousand of years to disintegrate. Landfills have drastic effect on the quality of air and pollutes our soil. And it also affects our health.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

there is something each of us can do. WE can reduce the amount of waste that goes to landfill.

1. COMPOSTING. Its the most effective way a household can reduce waste. Disposing off your organic waste from the kitchen can produce soil fertilizer instead of sending it to the landfill.
2. RECYCLE. Most products can be recycle such as plastic, paper, glass and aluminum. Dispose them off correctly in the right bins on the city’s recycling station. Or set up a recycling bins at home and involve the whole family in proper disposing.
3. STOP USING PLASTIC BAGS. Plastic is one of the waste that takes thousands of years to decompose. So next time you go shopping, use reusable bags as opposed to plastic bags.
4. DONATE CLOTHS. Thrown away clothes are the biggest waste contributor to landfills. Donate them or give them away for a better use.
5. BUY THINGS WITH LESS PACKAGING. Buy things in bulk, less packaging means less waste.
6. BOYCOTT PLASTIC BOTTLES. Use reusable water bottles, you’ll save money and will be throwing less.
7. DON’T BUY TOO MUCH STUFF. Consider the environment before buying things. Think about what you need versus what you want. It will save you a lot of money.
8. REUSE. Use reusable products instead of the disposable ones.
9. PURCHASED items made from recycled materials.
10. BE INVOLVED. Start to make a difference. Talk to someone and be educated. Get involved in the city or community’s program to reduce solid waste.

WE ALL CAN MADE A DIFFERENCE! START IT NOW!!!