How Do Landfills Work?

Once you put your trash on a rolloff dumpster rental and send it away, it might travel to a few different disposal locations. Keep reading to learn more about what happens if it becomes part of a landfill:

The Majority of Trash is Brought to a Landfill

Americans alone generate about 251 million tons of trash each year. This equals about 4.6 pounds of trash for every person each day. Only about 81.8 million tons, or 32.5 percent of the total trash created, is recycled. Another 12.5 percent is burned, which leaves 55 percent of all trash created on its way to the landfill.

The Trash Is Deposited in the Landfill

Landfills are built into structures or on top of the ground to create a place to dispose of trash that will not interfere with the ground water. A landfill usually has a bottom liner and covering soil that keeps the trash from contaminating nearby water supplies. There are also sanitary landfills, which are reinforced with a clay liner. Municipal solid waste landfills have plastic liners. Landfills are designed to keep the trash away from the water and to keep it dry so it does not contaminate the air.

The Trash Stays in the Landfill

Since there is almost no moisture or oxygen inside of a landfill, the trash inside does not break down quickly. Some trash might be in similar condition decades after it was deposited in the landfill. After the landfill closes, experts must keep an eye on it for three decades to make sure the trash does not filter into the ground water.

Whether you want to send your trash to the landfill or the recycling center, Santa Rita Waste Systems can help. With our rolloff dumpster rentals and waste collection services, we make it easy to dispose of trash for projects of any size. To learn more about our services, visit us online or call (520) 624-0550.