When a landfill is full, alayer of soil, plastic and clay seal in trash.

Leachate collection systems can be gravity fed or pumped into tanks or retention ponds for tem-porary storgage before treatment.

Electricity generator building

Leachate Tank

Methane gas recovery well

Pipes collect methane gas to flare or use as fuel.

Soilmonitoring well for leachateand gas

Groundwatermonitoring well for leachate

Groundwater

Landfill components - below trash

Geo Textile MatPlastic LinerLeachate

Collection Pipe

Gravel & Drainage

Clay

Soil (at some landfills)

Trash

Vegitation

Gas CollectorSoil

ClayPlastic LinerGravel &

Drainage

Trash

Land�ll Cap - when land�ll is closed

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Parts of a Municipal Solid Waste Landfill

Ground Water - Water that �ows beneath the ground and needs to be protected.

Compacted Clay - A type of soil that is nearly impermeable when compacted.

Plastic Liner – A puncture-resistant plastic layer.

Leachate Collection Pipe – Water that percolates through the land�ll is called leachate and may contain harmful substances that needs to

be separated from groundwater.

Geotextile Mat – A mat that allows water to percolate through to the leachate collection system and protects liner from tearing or puncturing.

Gravel and Drainage Layer- Stones and rock that help �lter the leachate.

Soil - The �nal layer before trash is put into the land�ll.