Science Fact Finder | The Environment - How Critical Is The Problem Of Landfilling In The United States?

How critical is the problem of landfilling in the United States?

A landfill is a large area dug out of the ground (often a sand or gravel pit), or a valley, that is used for trash disposal. Some landfills are "secure," meaning they have a clay and plastic liner, while other landfills have no barrier between the waste and the ground.

There are more than 9,000 landfills in the United States. However, landfill capacity is rapidly dwindling in the most populous regions of the country. A 1995 study reported that the number of landfills accepting municipal solid waste has declined to 3,558. (Municipal solid wastes are those generated by households, businesses, and institutions.)

In 1960, 62 percent of all garbage was sent to landfills; in 1980 the figure was 81 percent; in 1988 it decreased to 73 percent; and in 1995 it further decreased to 67 percent. The decrease in percentage of municipal waste...

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