Anatomy of a Landfill


cross-section of a landfill

Today's landfills are designed to stay dry inside, except for liquids that ooze from some garbage, and rainwater that trickles through. As water trickles through a landfill, it dissolves chemicals and other particles, creating a liquid called "leachate." If a landfill isn't lined with clay or plastic and equipped with collection pipes, the leachate can leak out and pollute nearby ground water, wetlands, rivers, and lakes. It couuld even end up in your tap water at home.


Features of a modern landfill include:

Rotten Truth:
It's only in the last few years that new landfills have been required to use systems like this for containing leachate. Many older landfills, including Fresh Kills, are still leaking.

profile icon Profile: Hazel Johnson and the People for Community Recovery

Back Rotten Truth home Next
