landfill

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "landfill" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a site for the disposal of waste materials by burial, often used in discussions about waste management and environmental issues. Example: "The city is planning to close the old landfill and open a new facility that meets modern environmental standards."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The future of UK government hopes to use local landfill sites to dispose of huge quantities of low-level nuclear waste will come under scrutiny today with the opening of a planning inquiry into the first such case.

The Guardian

This diverts resources to landfill and gives rise to greenhouse gas emissions, because the rotting food produces methane that is not captured and adds to the concentration of carbon in the air.

The Guardian

Welcome to the US border town of Nogales, home to the largest fresh-produce gateway into the US – a Big Food superhighway where convoys of vast trucks roll in from Mexico, sometimes dumping mountains of crops into landfill if, for example, the price of Florida tomatoes suddenly drops.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A dystopian hinterland where terror reigns, and everyone is a potential suspect and afraid of ending up in the "Landfill" – a place of unspeakable horror.

The Guardian - Books

The AI Group also notes that the "safeguards mechanism" – which is supposed to ensure that industrial emissions do not rise and cancel out any reductions bought primarily from avoiding tree-clearing and capturing gases from landfill – would need "substantial amendment" if it was to help reduce greenhouse emissions.

The Guardian

The Labour-run council claims the move is part of a strategy to turn Bury into a "zero waste borough", boost recycling and save money on landfill fees.

The Guardian

Charcoal making might even work instead of landfill for waste paper and plastic.

The Guardian

The inquiry by the Planning Inspectorate will hear an appeal by Augean, a hazardous waste specialist company, which wants to put rubble, soil and other low-radioactive waste – mostly from nuclear power stations – into a landfill site near Peterborough, Northamptonshire.

The Guardian

Hague mumbled something about Labour promises to ban food waste from landfill before ending on "It's in Labour's DNA / Now over to Theresa May".

The Guardian

"There's got to be a proper policy, rather than ad hoc dumping it in rural landfill".

The Guardian

An EA spokesperson said: "We will not authorise a site for landfill disposal of LLW [low level waste] unless we are satisfied that the wastes proposed for disposal are safe".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "landfill" as a noun to refer to the site and as a verb when describing the act of burying waste. For example, "The city plans to reduce the amount of waste going to the landfill" and "They landfill the garbage daily."

Common error

Don't assume that all waste ends up in a "landfill". Recycling, incineration, and composting are alternative methods that divert waste from landfills. Be specific about the process you're discussing.

Linguistic Context

Noun: "Landfill" primarily functions as a noun, denoting a site where waste is disposed of by burial. This is evidenced by Ludwig's examples, where it's often used to describe locations or facilities. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "landfill" is a grammatically correct and very common noun referring to a site for waste disposal. Ludwig's analysis indicates it is widely used in news, business, and scientific contexts. While alternatives like "waste disposal site" exist, "landfill" is a standard term. Be mindful of specifying the type of "landfill" when discussing environmental impacts and avoid assuming all waste goes to landfills, as recycling and other methods are increasingly prevalent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

waste disposal site

Replaces "landfill" with a more general term for a location where waste is disposed of.

sanitary landfill

Specifies that the landfill is managed to reduce health and environmental hazards.

garbage dump

An alternative, more informal term for a site where waste is deposited.

engineered landfill

Highlights the design and construction aspects aimed at environmental protection.

waste management facility

Broadens the term to include facilities that process and treat waste, not just bury it.

municipal solid waste landfill

A more technical term specifying the type of waste accepted at the landfill.

rubbish tip

A more colloquial term, especially common in British English.

land reclamation site

Emphasizes the potential for repurposing the land after the landfill is closed.

controlled waste disposal

Focuses on the regulated and managed nature of waste disposal activities.

waste repository

A formal term suggesting a secure and permanent storage location for waste.

FAQs

How is a "landfill" different from a dump?

A "landfill" is an engineered site designed for waste disposal, incorporating measures to minimize environmental impact, while a dump is often an unregulated site without such safeguards.

What are some common environmental concerns associated with landfills?

Common concerns include methane emissions, leachate contamination of groundwater, and habitat destruction. Modern landfills implement technologies to mitigate these issues.

What can I say instead of "landfill"?

You can use alternatives like "waste disposal site", "garbage dump", or "waste management facility" depending on the context.

How can the amount of waste sent to landfills be reduced?

Strategies include increasing recycling rates, promoting waste reduction and reuse, implementing composting programs, and using waste-to-energy technologies.