When we talk about waste, we are used to the story skipping from A to Z, from PET bottle to fleece sweater or from mixed waste to a blind spot. However, in the process of fast progress we now have an array of materials at hand which the earth cannot take back or which science cannot efficiently transform. Landfill has become the hiding place of the waste we cannot systematically digest.
For many decades (and in some countries up until now), landfill has been the most common and cheap method to get rid of waste. When a landfill site reaches its maximum capacity, it’s covered with protective layers, soil and plants to integrate this newly constructed landscape in the surrounding area. The artificial and the natural collide in vertically stacked layers.
In this deliberate act of concealing, the confrontation with the true accumulation of waste has been lost. There is no visible connection between our consumerist habits and its impact on the landscape. No reminder, no image lingering in the back of our heads that withholds us from the next short-lived purchase.
Following the Landfill Directive implemented in 1999, the EU has established that the landfilling of municipal waste has to be gradually limited to 10% by 2035. This practice should become a marginal phenomenon giving priority to the new waste hierarchy otherwise referred to as the 3 R’s: reducing, reusing and recycling. However, the hills and holes resulting from years of landfill will, identifiable or not, shape the landscape for good.
“Strata” is the result of an encounter with the open wound of an inefficient system. Before the waste is concealed and sealed into an eternal time bubble, the photographs give a glimpse of landfill’s inside structure, portrayed against the backdrop of several EU countries who face highly divergent challenges in minimising this practice due to their different geographical, demographical and political contexts.
For many decades (and in some countries up until now), landfill has been the most common and cheap method to get rid of waste. When a landfill site reaches its maximum capacity, it’s covered with protective layers, soil and plants to integrate this newly constructed landscape in the surrounding area. The artificial and the natural collide in vertically stacked layers.
In this deliberate act of concealing, the confrontation with the true accumulation of waste has been lost. There is no visible connection between our consumerist habits and its impact on the landscape. No reminder, no image lingering in the back of our heads that withholds us from the next short-lived purchase.
Following the Landfill Directive implemented in 1999, the EU has established that the landfilling of municipal waste has to be gradually limited to 10% by 2035. This practice should become a marginal phenomenon giving priority to the new waste hierarchy otherwise referred to as the 3 R’s: reducing, reusing and recycling. However, the hills and holes resulting from years of landfill will, identifiable or not, shape the landscape for good.
“Strata” is the result of an encounter with the open wound of an inefficient system. Before the waste is concealed and sealed into an eternal time bubble, the photographs give a glimpse of landfill’s inside structure, portrayed against the backdrop of several EU countries who face highly divergent challenges in minimising this practice due to their different geographical, demographical and political contexts.
Exhibition views ︎︎︎
Nuevas topografías fotográficas. CICUS Sevilla, Spain
LOOP, Aba Art Lab, Palma, Spain
Art Photo Barcelona, Spain
Despega 2018, C Arte C, Madrid, Spain
Fundació Vila Casas, Torroella de Montgrí, Spain
Article ︎︎︎
De stortplaats is een spiegel De Correspondent, Netherlands
Bergen De standaard Weekblad, Belgium
Nuevas topografías fotográficas. CICUS Sevilla, Spain
LOOP, Aba Art Lab, Palma, Spain
Art Photo Barcelona, Spain
Despega 2018, C Arte C, Madrid, Spain
Fundació Vila Casas, Torroella de Montgrí, Spain
Article ︎︎︎
De stortplaats is een spiegel De Correspondent, Netherlands
Bergen De standaard Weekblad, Belgium
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/692405ae5d9ff43c7480ce8441013386fb3659bdd8a3c53f0f298165723cd470/16.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/62bc97185cabdc874b81fcc74300169d37f6314c23f708b73269ceed9fd4288b/Romania_01.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/9fd7b98e692df431a41c63bf28e6fb04414c1f30662d4e152a95e7fdceb00fd9/Romania_02.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/05d81aeff5f50df4f560c5e6e85ecbed746ec99f80da905800d22761e25fec22/Romania_03.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cba6f968d188695b2ef62f876579d2db4ff33751fe90592f9224e14bb33e56cb/Romania_04.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/33d72e5c48d34c51342aaad779849ff3f7d1d2370aca02eec542679d4e38ed0a/Romania_05.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a4da6c91b6997674e9bb3c5195657d3b4174d852818d46249bb06ec6b9f3e4f7/Romania_06.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f5713618b66cac0c7d9ef6d7a42013da03e004e2a4e23cdd4b394eaec8d6815e/Romania_07.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/82385a63b796f220c7355ef39d1a268be3e1fbbec77d66ed32d3eb09e78a850a/Romania_08.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d9d5eba3d00350cfd54ec114dd667e481cd38c9548dced90a7209f0c87d5e8f6/Romania_10.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0e488e6031260cee96a78b0119dc2d99ad82f9a93cb346e51585d61bd3f40196/Romania_11.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3aa12da4c51fa16ed5f20bab6f1e9df51671ad78e118fb9d01cbfcd75d93b88e/Romania_12.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/34a4c9c0fc02c57d54f3a7cbf8aa7ada41ed7408a2c1c5663e13cede93ca90ba/Romania_14.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/454be2d2ea68330b910ba48b58309083df648873e2c88df05c4f4b254e33971e/Romania_15.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c54ef2a30860c776ca92fc418053b2da1ea74fb65280025591530fc9f9ebc70a/Romania_16.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ee86f22510ee8b69227c4d282057b26abb458249515f6fe8ec5e8531c278879b/Romania_17.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ee520bc69bbf22d8985afa9c8f66f4cf5f9ca543fbae5a5357ad83b00478c1e4/Romania_18.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/011b618b26dca2f707d2abd1ced3fac36a0dc78b336570bbce3796f1490aead4/Romania_19.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/51c8cc5579022497d5e65a7900cff729646d5429c72e80c26868a1853b8efda0/Romania_20.jpg)
Satellite images of landfills visited in Romania
(source: google earth pro)
![Tomești, Iași County (Romania) A closed and sealed landfill is guarded by a security agent and his dog who is chasing after small animals.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/af8f37238feba6635c6d4fb2c16164b89537cfbe91f9b26c003c06c87719b79e/Romania_12_01.jpg)
![Doba, Satu Mare County (Romania) A truck is driving up the landfill to deposit waste.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6f56d87b3631bed5ee5ff44dea1413c26dcc4e39572a8600818b3e0924e84b6f/Romania_10_01.jpg)
![Piatra Neamț, Neamț County (Romania) Area of the landfill where waste is deposited.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1897d20adb4b71ea0d2d2f14ca264c4deb4b6c825fb016e398898a5cb3f9ecd7/Romania_13_01.jpg)
![Târgu Secuiesc, Covasna County (Romania) A former landfill is located only meters away from a farm and its land.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/58591c03a04ba6021fb3bd9edc5376bc22b2f8ebeb25dd5a2a5842434c4506c2/Romania_18_01.jpg)
![Moacșa, Covasna County (Romania) While some countries no longer allow for new landfills to be opened, this sanitary landfill was inaugurated in 2017 to ensure proper conditions for the landfilling of waste and closing old non-compliant dumps.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/70e68a29eb7c7b5d97d3b35dd8c62cb1cad5bf4d5d31d934eb2f5ab431d67858/Romania_16_01.jpg)
![Moacșa, Covasna County (Romania) Recovered recyclable materials are being stored at the landfill facility. Depending on the market fluctuations of offer and demand for recycled products, the companies storing these renewable materials wait for the right moment to sell them for a minimum price.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/52a9fcb2da4162ebd4a3ef3d9bc8ff4d91133eb8f6b52c1cb99738bd27991af4/Romania_16_02.jpg)
![Galați, Galați County (Romania) Organic waste deposited in landfills attracts many animals looking for food, such as birds or small mammals.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0630fa0a361fb70bc13295dbf0c15494fa020d80ddb454b4b0f2f1c17fc536ac/Romania_19_02.jpg)
What is landfill to you?
“It is extremely complex. At a certain point in time, during the 80s, it was a slightly manageable solution –a necessary evil if you’d like– in lack of better solutions. Later it became an awful problem. The cancer of every community. Landfill puts pressure both on the local communities living around it as well as on the natural ecosystems. On the other hand it’s also a useful resource. We will end up mining those landfills. Sooner or later. Because we are exhausting natural resources. For raw materials we will have to look back at what we’ve already got. We will use them as a resource because we will have no other choice.”
Oriana Irimia, environmental consultant (Romania)
“It is extremely complex. At a certain point in time, during the 80s, it was a slightly manageable solution –a necessary evil if you’d like– in lack of better solutions. Later it became an awful problem. The cancer of every community. Landfill puts pressure both on the local communities living around it as well as on the natural ecosystems. On the other hand it’s also a useful resource. We will end up mining those landfills. Sooner or later. Because we are exhausting natural resources. For raw materials we will have to look back at what we’ve already got. We will use them as a resource because we will have no other choice.”
Oriana Irimia, environmental consultant (Romania)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8f0b3d16cc5571f617cd041fc02e29117f3e40cfd958bec5befce858f1b0cd3a/_MG_8363-1.jpg)
![Tremp, Lleida (Spain) The initial stage of a new landfill (or a new landfill cell) is the preparation of a basin lined with a combination of protective layers such as clay, plastic, geotextile and gravel to prevent the waste or waste water from getting in contact with its surrounding.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2b5bbb9742fa1c6691b8357969480d564ebb123a3f31831fde721454578155be/Spain_32_01.jpg)
![Caudete de las Fuentes, Valencia (Spain) Clay has a very low permeability which makes it an ideal material for the bottom sealing of a landfill cell. It is also used to cover the different layers of waste and to enhance the stability and profiling of the landfill.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/eacb31d617a29184c23d4dbbb2a3ed90a16af7a57da4c5c42110ce3c4ff0baf5/Spain_43_02.jpg)
![Villanubla, Valladolid (Spain) Since China banned the import of foreign waste heading to their recycling processors in the beginning of 2018 many recyclable items have again found their way to incinerators or landfill, the two cheapest waste management options.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/be7f7fa480b842b5a32ccd49ba7e8defabe2d082b48f35250dd15ad85eafb1e0/Spain_24_01.jpg)
![Mirabel, Cáceres (Spain) Some companies choose to compress and package their waste in plastic to prevent birds and other animal species eating from it.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a0eabcd0cf3362a5e569f2f14f141afcfa1e53b242aaf403fa11125d4a2b3895/Spain_15_02.jpg)
![Casares, Málaga (Spain) In summer this landfill at the Costa del Sol receives significantly more waste than during the rest of the year because of the many tourist staying in the area.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/391ba13e5a2f5ee14e4a1db70a5708d5d1e6835e592c99379350a1f9a5dec405/Spain_04_01.jpg)
![Villanueva de la Serena, Badajoz (Spain) When the geographical qualities of the area allows it, the most common and practical shape for a landfill is a rectangle.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/00e223092ba0502963218905ae240b318eae103c3ccf6eaaf20a63693e77adcb/Spain_12_01.jpg)
![Jaén, Jaén (Spain) When a landfill reaches its maximum capacity it is covered with protective layers, soil and local plant species to integrate this newly constructed landscape in its surrounding area.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/a776f7bcd4444e13830aafd669ad48b1cc89967312eb1d69f999a6f1e36cb83d/Spain_06_01.jpg)
![Dos Aguas, Valencia (Spain) Some of the requirements taken into consideration when choosing a location for a landfill site are the distances from the boundary of the site to residential and recreation areas, waterways, water bodies and other agricultural or urban sites and the protection of nature or cultural patrimony in the area.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/08441e476b3528b6c559e762e2c9bfbab2f821c0fe5dac15a1731bce5d87254e/Spain_44_01.jpg)
![Badajoz, Badajoz (Spain) to ensure young plants and trees growing on the slopes of a sealed landfill site, they are protected from harsh weather conditions with plastic tubes.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b8610179d352d3fe0c578425a0a5420eee78df958b2944ce27eda714adafbfe2/Spain_10_04.jpg)
“There are many different ways of disposing of waste. Burying it in the ground, known as landfilling, is the least environmentally sustainable option and should be kept to the absolute minimum”
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/dca24cdf82d1c3b92dd0809f7a77ff4fe31243f72e48b4895b7b7dcefc896e6e/Spain_01.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/be463ee8af871a0675a6deecc9a3b7963dd03779bf16b7ef8ede9aabf32430ee/Spain_02.jpg)
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![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/404bf0dd7dbe00343111baa8860853dd6d53ca25489edd263448c5a9d7cb9d42/Spain_04.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/79506275c301b8d67da667beb3edab7a3a4b03c5c8f6ef41baabeee04aaa1e83/Spain_05.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/60b3320b7b58e56ba3a7e9cd00028a5fab2c8c0edbf0c040608611686a333f35/Spain_06.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fe504b7d10a31b44e0553e802ae1c3f41a538e7def352c7e9e2113a5955cb5d2/Spain_07.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e3d61949513fb540f7a1cca3666876e9b3400dd02c745e9cf15e28a1f647eea8/Spain_08.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/151ededa9fe0f014cde40824622039c15d032aed6ff2a9e4a866088b69c4c430/Spain_09.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2972865aa42fb3a475b18d2885fdb81c68b3e7349d23fdab51faf43122efd33e/Spain_10.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b7f085433159861506c0132f586e6c295baad412985751c354b471466e4937ea/Spain_11.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1bb0a12b96e1368fa00b812ba33177aa4a5de8bfc87175e1e33648d8f2eaeba4/Spain_12.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fe7061c814b99d2768f32d2981b528ff04052ba818c35edd9b9b954e79c02935/Spain_13.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4c72310bfad8a07d9a7d3d665db7574ae260e769695f8f5f65427212c9c9f6b0/Spain_14.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/74f1c47c2251e5c860c90801faf75b6d3303085a94ee0d5c8a6d05ddcfce198b/Spain_15.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d08b09735dccfb8707f0a8d714e90f67847d5131d8331c870b5d9a79e49f5d72/Spain_16.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2e2797edcb9b1ed7527610b9c34b19ea8351333ce472206594609cd45d595499/Spain_17.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/10c584d79af02623a603257cf65db006e6bf4cce0dd41bd5394599a3098a1f79/Spain_18.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/2080271c2a99fd815df88ac4f4a3a7f115a65d449201dd4d79df35fa5f7dfaaf/Spain_19.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fe7ccba7096c420a2e84778dcadef139efb06466e9afd3653ac1a5fec337ade3/Spain_20.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/21db13137b0952b81e755343f77b400d2f86cc9ab42eb10816735c2119b86c24/Spain_21.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/641200a15d55e0e528355f8d76c1d0fdbe47d00e787a76c82494cb9c2994437d/Spain_22.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/f3b405e9e9c1c68f4e893f8df7cd0270356579619586f037e33f24a75b197740/Spain_23.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ceb81a3deb9d6460b7d8472989b84929eefdf99f128fa1cb7f1b70118e65a9ad/Spain_24.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c4cd0be69a5cee1f0b7adb240c90f52dfb12a93ed7e4fdc21b4092504b4f211e/Spain_25.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e0857378aa0a5d6035d99af4229cc7d1e6a13745494b144eee7e2e567a6a1477/Spain_26.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/42ebda6773f08a4137e60da0a7c8588e16fd0ea0ba6c366755443e1ec3614c49/Spain_27.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/09ed0f5a11ce751d1ca733b9e4bf394637ccc4f044defe1c6c0f7ac5cfbd4e0a/Spain_28.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0725dc6bfb8d3eb95b4bfd70bec5035e39183d202d5b02b358e31cf227a5cda1/Spain_29.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d584fcb1a86663c9c3ee7fcc895c380beffcd93920673af8b5ec3190e600bbcf/Spain_30.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b5af1b92610b7fb9a73b6c83da17a5a1a83ac8e7e4bfbd9cedf6da2ec020747b/Spain_31.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e993c7aed914be1fbb8143ba77e283b0e1a5d02ea44770acecd9cdc1f8684035/Spain_32.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/07fa55542ba191b33f4535f3274d5375b5109f35d591a2743c168391ac342e6a/Spain_33.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/cdb6c2eb034ec5d5903e29fa5519b28ed5ba936a84f0b7f34d1f05e28afe4872/Spain_34.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1e3e7370293aabd6f30ddd86dc31ddc3c5429f2ae4f15fe261b9b97c3a256c62/Spain_35.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bf981ad6dc7aba712bb353eb9f1b3b9732f612ede19ff92719e61cb9d0ab6c8c/Spain_36.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ffa4d7de98154708103915f45b4c788521fbb5be9d97f71b48d2399c1c69f783/Spain_37.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/dc39bb8da822bfcbc102636e0e498ef4c55a12dcc5c86ac839f137264cfa5019/Spain_38.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/973fdcec277fb7ba6ef81ff58a887796db2ee78d55d2b604c382bfd16b399af8/Spain_39.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e516effe005d0d3d671eedcfa02aec71205eebd6f134c5221e35188b1c817ee2/Spain_40.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e4e35afe165de017475942edb5301b67d4eddddd52ce5f373dadc604af0e25b5/Spain_41.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8529dd44ec66b47c68d0b3bd7e3df2ff9c40de307639f776c1dd58f9de02f9c6/Spain_42.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/3f1bf6a49e986a9a2e14fa35cc484a3703b402e28191fdb3de9ec4e501b70251/Spain_43.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/543f7830fc8bf45733b3478cc597afa0f1ea9a698844174308c69bf60549314f/Spain_44.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/5bbc88e515b28266ea53f925f18eae535991d50dfd11904a4bfe7c4d22145b5c/Spain_45.jpg)
Satellite images of landfills visited in Spain
(source: google earth pro)
![Antwerpen, Antwerpen (Belgium) With its 55m this landfill is the highest point of the province.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ca650c39fde8bbc4d0860dad886f672f4b66d44272391b1a0cf0bfc86fbf54c6/Belgium_02_01.jpg)
![Charleroi, Hainaut (Belgium) A landfill-cell is filled with layers of treated, shredded and compacted waste which are subsequently covered with soil in order to prevent harmful or negative effects caused by wind, odor or fires.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/b6f76776556a5494947d327cfdf391a58443733c02063c5dc3127fd61becec10/Belgium_01_01.jpg)
![Doel, Oost-Vlaanderen (Belgium) The industrial terrain where the landfill is located has a broad variety of installations to process different kinds of waste; incinerators for household waste, non dangerous industrial waste and sludges or solid waste; an ash treatment facility and a landfill where the residual waste of the incinerators is desposited.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c7d1c7cfda4807b3dc64fe46827ca2547d6eb7ea42aadf1ef97fcb37455fe1bd/Belgium_03_01.jpg)
![Mont-Saint-Guibert, Brabant Wallon (Belgium)](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fcf0fec1d6ef9197e64ee0a036ac5002aa0f0911d427dddff4eabcc7db1893e6/Belgium_06_01.jpg)
![Haccourt, Liège (Belgium) The landfill site is located in an old quarry and is limited by two active quarrying sites. The terrain is naturally composed of coal, a thick layer of smectite clay and layers of various types of chalk.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/bea6bbb50b113bc86d4a1bc223839f48c9e57bf8e9c47efed0a2650f1933c332/Belgium_05_01.jpg)
![Rumbeke, West-Vlaanderen (Belgium) The landfill is located in an extraction area for Ypresian clay, a natural material with very low permeability and thus ideal to prevent waste or liquids from filtering into the subsoil.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/7da7286f6c8f1458324f91cb9523cdbddd15601e61a7bd15eb1f4e787f8ea31b/Belgium_10_01.jpg)
![Desteldonk, Oost-Vlaanderen (Belgium) the landfill dates from 1994. It is exclusively used for hazardous waste and dredging materials.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/51b9fd4eb8970589eacef180ff63fa5d6cf029813741c289b8ab93a5816b88e4/Belgium_07_02.jpg)
![Houthalen-Helchteren, Limburg (Belgium)](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/27e327d71e5fada022ad9adb8e7968a40b4bc7612ff6ac93dc1329a057393396/Belgium_08_04.jpg)
![](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/0c0853fd9ba387c4e242f731d475e9c8f7d774d90b2547311a29d0999b221347/Portugal_6_02.jpg)
“Imagine you are travelling in the mountains and you see the landfill from afar. You see the black impermeabilization layer in contrast with the rest of the area, which regardless to its desertification has some forests and green areas. The landfill actually looks like a dead mountain. Nevertheless, when you take a closer look, you'll see the things as I started to see them. I remember in the beginning the environmentalist agencies were concerned about the storks, as they were in danger of extinction in this area. The study said they wouldn't be able to live here and would gradually disappear. But what happened is the complete opposite. There are plenty of storks now. That is what I mean, you could think of this place as a dead mountain but it's full of life. the story about the storks is just a small example. The landfill is a source of food for several species such as foxes, wild dogs, seagulls, storks, pigeons, etc. The place is also in constant motion: the soil is compacting and the organic matter is in degradation resulting in the production of biogas and leachate. It's a living organism, not a dead mountain at all.”
Anonymous, Landfill Manager (Portugal)
Anonymous, Landfill Manager (Portugal)
![Moreira da Maia, Porto (Portugal) The landfill has been temporarily sealed to allow the waste to settle. The green coloured material is used to diminish visual contamination as it makes the landfill hill blend in better with the surrounding nature.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/8c043cf39cbbe8dd1feff90d3149a79d725acd23ea7e334ab12334c6c5c62348/Portugal_1_01.jpg)
![Vila Flor, Bragança (Portugal) A landfill is characterised by a profile of terraces to ensure stability and prevent landslide. After having sealed the landfill with protective materials, a layer of soil is deposited on top to allow for vegetation to grow on the landfill slope.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/495ee7e3f5d4142bfaea171ca17ef1710ffdde9c651dc875811c501f8d9bf21d/Portugal_4_02.jpg)
![Bigorne, Viseu (Portugal) The landfill in the background has been partially sealed. In the foreground a bassin collects the landfill’s leachate.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1aa93546f85fb8c084c9a65e9e003872fa548b972ba8100f3f100ae7d6127b4c/Portugal_5_01.jpg)
![Vil de Matos, Coimbra (Portugal) Landfill cell that is currently being exploited.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/6ca5a03cf3be28212aece02308faf0b398cec0cde4bd32b7410767c7e8e335e3/Portugal_7_02.jpg)
![Corroios, Setúbal (Portugal) In the foreground a finished landfill cell is already covered in vegetation. In the distance the hill of the active landfill cell is rising as more and more waste is being deposited.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/33f959747c810d665d8eed42f39de0faa136a3b1f3439ffc9a0dbc14d00d8aec/Portugal_10_01.jpg)
![Portimão, Faro (Portugal) A new landfill cell with all the protective layers in place, is ready to be inaugurated.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e8728194f9c2e9e1997b56d7d1c1feb7e7d47ea7e6cfb98fd8878939a99bd79f/Portugal_14_01.jpg)
![Loulé, Faro (Portugal) The landfill dates from 1998. In 2020 a new cell is inaugurated which is calculated to be operational for more or less 18 years.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/e76faf6cfb4c55c01a38cfcaf0e805bf8382e1b6404c727282b00580513a63d1/Portugal_15_01.jpg)
![Alcaria, Castelo Branco (Portugal) Waste, sand and soil are mixed to avoid the appearance of cavities that could endanger the stability of the landfill.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/1417986be4dae8bfdfe31b6702947afef1d796dc50d5a259a130e50a812f2c47/Portugal_8_02.jpg)
“Nothing on our planet simply disappears. We either transform it or we move it elsewhere.”
![Amsterdam-Westpoort, Noord-Holland (Netherlands) The activities of this landfill will stop in 2022 and a park of 60 hectares will be created. the 15 remaining hectares will be used as industrial terrain for recycling activities.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c0c21bc658795306c888a8f5fed7462feda7c385ff21317f1a33a9378cd12045/Netherlands_01_01.jpg)
![Landgraaf, Limburg (Netherlands)](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/4cd8492471aa240ab5e479c742ec00b28c444a8cd08f97f393ddf0ce26ebb2d3/Netherlands_10_01.jpg)
![Tilburg, Noord-Brabant (Netherlands) Landfills in the Netherlands only deposit non recyclable and non incinerable waste.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/614e8126a8ac72ca0dde921fd5edc16b171158e26345817ca92ca94bf4d8b972/Netherlands_12_03.jpg)
![Groningen, Groningen (Netherlands) The requirements for glass fiber reuse are very high. For this reason it is usually deposited in landfill. In Groningen it is used as yet another protective layer as it has properties similar to sand.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/821413f04c7c7d59ea090bae24c80167169dcf3b99c81521c2d2cf0aad4fb321/Netherlands_08_03.jpg)
![Maasvlakte, Zuid-Holland (Netherlands) The landfilling of complex and hazardous waste is inevitable as there are currently no recycling options available for certain residues. Category 1 landfills safely store hazardous and non-organic waste.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/fee511f9a47d8cc04e4295c53589812380918fcd8dfedf6b0fd01c0729edea39/Netherlands_14_01.jpg)
![Velsen Zuid, Noord-Holland (Netherlands) The recreational area "Spaarnwoude" has been developed on the former waste disposal site Velsen. The hills offer a multitude of recreational opportunities. There is an indoor ski slope, a mountain bike trail, a climbing wall and a viewpoint.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/ef88f8be0d392aa3568e57ff7beb6fe9d722a8db1646753e281f86b5a9dc0d3d/Netherlands_06_01.jpg)
![Wilp, Gelderland (Netherlands) Sheep are ideal in the maintenance of the completed landfill slopes. They keep vegetation in control and their small hoofs help compressing and thus stabilizing the landfill’s top layer.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c6e6a556aada35d67d9b64cea3a05ba72f698791c445683f1048ca2084d7ca04/Netherlands_03_01.jpg)
![Haarlem, Noord Holland (Netherlands) The landfill was closed for the first time in 1978 but was temporarily reopened in 1996. In 1998, the activity stops for good after which the site is cleaned and sealed to be redeveloped into a recreational area.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/c447fad312d1bdaae5cbb9a0c046a6173457fa65fd16adae8939f1408fd0a1e5/Netherlands_07_01.jpg)
![Groningen, Groningen (Netherlands) Part of the landfill that has already been closed and reintegrated into the surrounding.](https://freight.cargo.site/t/original/i/d346ce4a44067d3a18c6c22610b518336be02b167e2bbfae2038ac67d3aab49c/Netherlands_08_01_1.jpg)