Term: sanitary land fill
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.S05469

Definition:
An engineered burial of refuse. The refuse is dumped into trenches and compacted by bulldozer, where, it is hoped, aerobic metabolism by microorganisms decomposes the organic matter to stable compounds (H2O, CO2, etc.). Moisture is essential for the biological degradation and groundwater assists the process except when it fills air voids and prevents the transport of oxygen to the refuse. Land fills of unsatisfactory design can be major sources of air, water and soil pollution.

Related Terms:
1) aerobic (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.A00171).
2) metabolism (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.M03858).
3) stable (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.S05900).

Source: PAC, 1990, 62, 2167. 'Glossary of atmospheric chemistry terms (Recommendations 1990)' on page 2212 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac199062112167)

Citation: 'sanitary land fill' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.S05469

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