Why do sanitary landfills remain necessary even when communities recycle?

Even in communities with robust recycling programs, sanitary landfills remain a necessary component of solid-waste management for several key reasons:

• Inherent Limitations of Recycling: It is not technically or economically feasible to recycle every component of the waste stream. Many materials are nonrecyclable, and even efficient materials recovery facilities must divert significant portions of processed waste to landfills.12
• Treatment Residues: Processes such as incineration and other waste treatments generate residues—such as ash or non-combustible materials—that ultimately require secure underground disposal.1
• Economic and Practical Utility: Where appropriate sites are available, sanitary landfills provide the most economical option for the disposal of nonrecyclable refuse. Furthermore, properly completed and capped landfills can be reclaimed to serve the public good, often being converted into recreational parks, playgrounds, or golf courses.134

By utilizing sanitary landfills—which are engineered with impermeable liners and systems to manage leachate and methane—communities can safely contain waste that cannot be repurposed, ensuring environmental protection and public health.34