The initial Construction stage focuses on preparing the base of the landfill. This begins with the creation of a pit into the natural rock and surrounding earth. Crucially, a drainage system is installed at the bottom, comprising drainage pipes within a layer of clay to form a drainage tank. This system is covered with a synthetic lining and then a layer of man-made soils to prevent contamination of the ground before waste is added.
During the Use stage, household waste is transported to the site by trucks and deposited into the lined pit. As the waste accumulates, any liquid that seeps from it (waste liquid) is collected in the drainage tank at the base, which is connected to the drainage pipes installed during construction. The purpose of the lining and the drainage system is to manage this liquid and prevent it from polluting the surrounding environment.
The final phase is Closure. Once the landfill is full, it is sealed with a clay cover. A pipe is installed through this cover to allow gases produced by the decomposing waste to escape or be collected safely, and the site is then covered with a final layer of soil to create a waste mound. This seals the waste material securely and ensures that the site does not pose a future hazard