Question

What happens to the garbage after it is put into a landfill?

Answer 1

After the garbage is buried in the landfill it will begin to breakdown as aerobic and anaerobic micro-organisms decompose the garbage. This activity causes methane gas to be created, which is collected and burned off at one or more points on the landfill. Over time most biodegradation slows down dramatically. This happens because the anaerobic micro. organisms act much more slowly on materials. If these same materials were exposed to oxygen, water and sunlight the aerobic micro-organisms would decompose the waste materials much faster.