How does greater compaction density affect landfills?

Greater compaction density in landfills plays a significant role in enhancing the overall efficiency and lifespan of the landfill. When waste is compacted more densely, it occupies less volume, which allows for increased waste capacity within the same physical footprint. This means that a landfill can hold more waste before reaching its maximum capacity, effectively extending its operational life.

Increased compaction also leads to improved stability and less settlement, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the landfill structure over time. This added stability can reduce the need for costly maintenance and help avoid issues related to shifting or subsiding waste. As a result, a well-compacted landfill can optimize its space usage and delay the need for new landfill sites, ultimately promoting more sustainable waste management practices.

Compaction density is thus directly linked to extending the life of a sanitary landfill by maximizing volume usage and minimizing the environmental impacts and costs associated with landfill operations.