Abstract
This paper presents requirements for the safe and secure establishment and operation of landfills and divides them into three factors―target, reason, and requirement―from the viewpoint of developmental stages of waste disposal measures up to now. Requirements have changed over time beginning with the exclusion of waste from urban areas, then followed by efforts to control the public nuisance created by waste, and more recently the prevention of environmental contamination. Currently, the most pressing requirement demands that landfills are made sustainable for the next generation. When considering material flow, the final destination (“Sink”) of any substance is indispensable, and landfills will continue to play an important role in returning substances to nature for the future. It is necessary to fully consider the role of the landfill: Should landfills as temporary sink be allowed to release substances under control or should landfills be regarded as the final sink of substances? This must be considered based on the characteristics of the substance. In addition, further requirements for the safe and secure establishment and operation of landfills, along with early stabilization, are also discussed in the paper, with regard to least-controlled and controlled type landfills in Japan.
