Definition

Noun: 1. A site for the disposal of waste material by burial: A designated area of land where waste is deposited, compacted, and covered with soil. 2. The process of disposing of waste in such a site: The act or method of burying waste material.

Usage

The word "landfill" is used to refer to both the physical location and the waste management process. It is a specific term in environmental science and urban planning. - It is commonly modified by words like "municipal," "sanitary," or "active" to specify the type. - It often appears in discussions about waste, recycling, and environmental impact.

Examples

• The city council approved the construction of a new landfill on the outskirts of town.
• Most of the county's non-recyclable trash ends up in the landfill.
• Landfill gas, produced by decomposing waste, can be captured and used for energy.
• Reducing single-use plastics helps decrease the amount of material sent to the landfill.

Advanced Usage

• "Landfill site": A more specific term for the physical location. (Note: This is a compound noun where "landfill" acts as a modifier).
  • The proposed landfill site is being carefully studied for environmental impact.
• "Landfill diversion": The process of redirecting waste away from landfills through recycling or composting.
  • The company's goal is 90% landfill diversion by 2030.

Variants and Related Words

• Landfilling (gerund/noun): The process of disposing of waste in a landfill.
  • Landfilling is often considered the least desirable waste management option.
• Landfilled (adjective/verb past participle): Describes material that has been disposed of in a landfill.
  • Landfilled materials can take centuries to decompose.

Synonyms

• Dump (though "dump" often implies a less regulated site than a modern "sanitary landfill").
• Tip (British English).
• Waste disposal site.

Related Phrases

• "To cap a landfill": To seal a landfill, typically with a clay and plastic layer, after it reaches capacity.
  • After the landfill is capped, the area can be reclaimed for other uses, like a park.
• "Landfill space": Refers to the available capacity within a landfill.
  • We are rapidly running out of landfill space.

Noun

1. a low area that has been filled in