Daily covers can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and leachate formation by limiting the exposure of waste to air and water. By sealing the waste, they slow the release of gases such as methane that are produced during decomposition.
Covers that form a tight barrier, like synthetic liners or foams, are particularly effective at containing these emissions until they can be collected through landfill gas systems. They also prevent rainwater from directly contacting the waste, which reduces the amount of leachate, a liquid that forms when water mixes with decomposing materials.
