Landfill mining has been around for decades, whereby buried waste and soil are excavated to free airspace; to recover salable commodities; to reduce cost and environmental issues around degradable waste, such as those related to leachate and gas production; and to remediate or redevelop property.
Still, few of the roughly 80 to 90 documented projects that have launched worldwide ever made it past a feasibility demo, pilot or lab-scale venture. That includes projects in about 14 U.S. states. Just the same, some solid waste professionals think landfill mining will see its day in time, particularly in developing countries.
