Landfills, still the most common waste disposal method in many countries, have raised environmental concerns over often being considered structures making exhausting demands on natural resources. Nevertheless, despite their controversial performance, they still remain vital elements of integrated waste management schemes.
Geosynthetics can greatly improve landfills’ environmental performance by significantly minimizing or even eliminating the need for natural raw materials without compromising on economy or safety. For instance, a geosynthetic drainage element is capable of efficiently replacing a 300 mm thick granular drainage layer, and this leads to a reduction in excavation and compaction activities, the acceleration of works and the reduction in transportation requirements.