What are landfills? What factors must be kept in mind while planning a landfill?

Landfills are the large area on the outskirts of cities where the waste is deposited on or in the ground and covered with earth.

Following factors must be kept in mind while planning a landfill:

1. Land requirement and its cost — the land selected for landfill must depend on the quality and quantity of solid waste.
2. Accessibility — the site of disposal must be located either centrally or near the source of waste generated.
3. Cover — A sanitary landfill requires atleast 15 cm cover of thick compact soil at the end of each day's work.
4. Climate — the frequency of rainfall, the velocity and direction of prevailing wind and overall temperature-time relationship are factors to be considered.