Closed landfill monitoring

We have 33 closed landfills in Winnipeg. We do routine checks to make sure that the buried waste is not impacting the environment.

Testing

We test surface water and ground water for any contaminants from the closed landfill. We watch for:

  • Leachate - a mixture of water and any liquids released from the buried waste
  • Landfill gas - a mixture of gases created by waste breaking down over time

We also test for landfill gas at buildings near the closed landfills.

Collection systems

If leachate or landfill gas is present, we will install collection systems. These systems prevent the contaminants from entering the environment.

Groundcover

The plant and grass cover you may see on closed landfills also plays a role in our monitoring. Healthy groundcover suggests that leachate and methane gas are not entering the environment. It also prevents soil erosion and the exposure of buried waste.

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