Landfill sites

Of the waste that is collected from households by the District and Borough Councils, approximately 230,000 tonnes are taken to landfill for disposal each year.  There are six landfill sites in Nottinghamshire that are currently used.

At the landfill site, the waste is tipped out of the lorry into a big hole (usually a disused quarry). The waste is spread out and compressed into layers, and at the end of each day, the top layer is covered with soil.

Once the landfill site is full, it is capped with soil. Inside, the waste begins to biodegrade creating methane gas. If sufficient gas is produced, it can be collected by a network of pipes and utilised to create electricity.

Once the landfill site is full, the top layer can be planted and used for farming or parkland.