Landfill

How it is used

Used as a noun (a landfill, send waste to landfill) and before other nouns (landfill gas, landfill tax, landfill site). Diverting waste from landfill is a key goal of waste policy, because landfills take up land and produce methane. An uncontrolled site is called an open dump.

Example sentences

1. About 70% of the city's municipal waste still goes to landfill.

2. The landfill captures its gas and uses it to generate electricity.

Common collocations

• send to landfill
• landfill site
• landfill gas
• divert waste from landfill
• landfill tax

Related terms

• waste managementThe collection, transport, sorting, treatment, recycling and disposal of waste, together with the planning and monitoring of these activities.
• methaneA strong greenhouse gas (CH4) released by livestock, rice fields, landfills, coal mines and oil and gas operations. It traps much more heat than CO2 but stays in the air for only about 12 years.
• waste hierarchyAn order of priority for dealing with waste: first prevent it, then reuse, recycle and recover energy, and only as a last option dispose of it.
• hazardous wasteWaste that can harm people or the environment because it is toxic, flammable, corrosive or reactive, such as used oils, solvents, batteries and medical waste.
• soil contaminationThe presence of harmful substances in soil, such as heavy metals, oil, solvents or pesticides, at levels that may threaten human health, groundwater or ecosystems.

More terms: Waste and Recycling

• waste
• recycling
• dispose of
• biodegradable
• single-use plastic
• composting
• e-waste