Question

What are the advantages of sanitary landfills over dumping grounds?

Answer 1

The main advantages of sanitary landfills over dumping grounds:

1. They reduce air pollution by preventing open burning of waste.
2. Waste is covered with soil (daily or periodic cover), so light materials (e.g., plastics) are not blown away by wind and the site is less of an eyesore.
3. Covering and placing waste in controlled pits greatly reduces breeding of flies, mosquitoes and other disease vectors, lowering health risks.
4. There is a lower risk of fire hazards and reduced chance of nearby water-body contamination compared with open dumps.
5. Sanitary landfills allow more controlled decomposition, and the gases produced (methane, CO₂) can be captured and used for power generation.