Sunnyvale Materials RecoveryF & Transfer Station (SMaRT Station)

After all the cells in a landfill are used and are full, then we start the process of reclaiming. The idea is that the space on top of the landfill can be used for other purposes. Whatever is the type of landfill, the space on top of it is covered by layers of dirt, to recreate reusable soil. The space is compacted, and it is made sure to be leakproof so that there is no spillage onto the environment.

There are specific laws that regulate the use of landfills after being full and there are specific measures to be taken and to assure compliance. For chemical and garbage that is hazardous, there is a synthetic material that covers it. There is an intricate drainage system. For general garbage, there is a liner system at the bottom area of the cells. The top is covered by topsoil, clay, and synthetic materials.

After this has been done, the space on top of the landfill can support various uses. It can be used to create parks, As of right now, there are more than 1000 parks in the USA that originated from landfill places. The area on top can be used to generate electricity and attach solar panels. This idea is a bit dangerous as the ground below can shift during the years. The area on top of a landfill can even support wildlife habitats, as the layers of clay and dirt that cover the landfill can support and grow trees.

The schedule of each landfill differs and they different hours of operation. To find the opening hours regarding a specific landfill, you use the above site. After you have located the desired landfill to use, the operating hours can be seen on current page of site after clicking into the “Opening hours” section. There you will be able to locate the opening hours and any other facts about the business services of the landfill.

Sanitary landfills offer a more advanced waste management approach that further reduces the chances of environmental contamination. The basic unit of a sanitary landfill is still the cell. The idea is to create soil tranches. The garbage is deposited onto layers 1 to 3 meters high and then compacted by bulldozers to reduce the volume. Then the garbage is covered by a layer of dirt. Multiple of these layers are piled together until they reach maximum capacity and thus, we form a cell. The cell is then reinforced on all sides to prevent leakage to the soil.

The first step onto the waste stations is to weigh the incoming garbage trucks. These sites are also open to the public and they help the community. The work of waste sorting stations is very important, and it helps to optimize the process of waste management. Transfer stations pre-compact the waste thus it is easier for the bulldozers to manage the waste at the sanitary landfills.

There are many landfills and they have accepted different types of waste. To make it simpler for our readers to locate your nearest landfill, we have created a simple website that helps you to answer those questions. The website is free and very simple to use. All that you must do is input your zip code and the type of waste that you will deposit. The website generates an interactive map, where it lists all landfills near your zip code that accept your predefined type of waste. The website also generates a list of all landfills near you where you can click and get more information for each landfill.