Puente Hills Landfill in Los Angeles, California, opened in 1957, buried five decades of trash until its closure in 2013. Landfill engineering evolved, from basic trash pits to highly engineered structures. Siting a landfill involves geology, engineering, and more. Landfills prevent trash from contaminating the environment, using liners and leachate collection systems. Compaction maximizes landfill space, and daily cover reduces odors. After closure, landfills are monitored for 30 years. Some closed landfills transform into parks. Despite their negative perception, landfills efficiently manage solid waste. Landfills provide a low-impact waste management solution, ensuring waste is contained and controlled.
https://practical.engineering/blog/2024/9/3/the-hidden-engineering-of-landfills