What is the role of over excavation during site preparation?

Over excavation during site preparation primarily serves to expose and remove unsuitable materials. This process is crucial for ensuring that the foundation of the landfill is solid and stable. Unsuitable materials can include deleterious substances, like organic matter or loose soils, which may compromise the integrity of the landfill once operational. By removing these materials, operators can create a better environment for waste placement and management, reducing the risk of future problems such as settlement, leachate generation, or contamination.

While increasing capacity, improving aesthetic appeal, and facilitating drainage are important aspects of landfill design and operation, they do not capture the fundamental objective of over excavation. The main focus is on establishing a reliable base that can adequately support the landfill while managing environmental concerns, which is why removing unsuitable materials stands out as the primary role of over excavation in this context.