B2 verb Neutral

landfill

/ˈlænd.fɪl/

To dispose of waste material by burying it in a large, specially prepared pit in the ground. This process often involves layering refuse with soil to manage decomposition and minimize environmental odors.

Examples

3 of 5
1

If we don't start recycling more, we will have to landfill even more plastic every year.

If we don't start recycling more, we will have to landfill even more plastic every year.

2

The local government has been forced to landfill hazardous materials due to a lack of processing facilities.

The local government has been forced to landfill hazardous materials due to a lack of processing facilities.

3

I hate that we just landfill all this old furniture instead of donating it.

I hate that we just landfill all this old furniture instead of donating it.

Word Family

Noun
landfill
Verb
landfill
Adjective
landfilled
Related
landfilling
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Memory Tip

Think of 'filling the land' with trash. Land + Fill = Landfill.

Quick Quiz

Environmentalists argue that we should not ______ materials that could easily be recycled.

Correct!

The correct answer is: landfill

Examples

1

If we don't start recycling more, we will have to landfill even more plastic every year.

everyday

If we don't start recycling more, we will have to landfill even more plastic every year.

2

The local government has been forced to landfill hazardous materials due to a lack of processing facilities.

formal

The local government has been forced to landfill hazardous materials due to a lack of processing facilities.

3

I hate that we just landfill all this old furniture instead of donating it.

informal

I hate that we just landfill all this old furniture instead of donating it.

4

The study examines the long-term environmental impacts when municipalities landfill organic matter.

academic

The study examines the long-term environmental impacts when municipalities landfill organic matter.

5

Our corporate sustainability goal is to landfill zero waste by the end of the fiscal year.

business

Our corporate sustainability goal is to landfill zero waste by the end of the fiscal year.

Word Family

Noun
landfill
Verb
landfill
Adjective
landfilled
Related
landfilling

Common Collocations

landfill waste landfill waste
legally landfill legally landfill
continue to landfill continue to landfill
landfill refuse landfill refuse
landfill materials landfill materials

Common Phrases

sent to landfill

sent to landfill

zero waste to landfill

zero waste to landfill

divert from landfill

divert from landfill

Often Confused With

landfill vs dump

'Dump' often implies an illegal or uncontrolled site, while 'landfill' is the regulated, technical process.

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Usage Notes

While 'landfill' is most common as a noun, the verb form is frequently used in environmental policy and waste management discussions to describe the action of disposal.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes use 'litter' instead of 'landfill,' but littering refers to dropping trash in public places, whereas landfilling is a deliberate waste management method.

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Memory Tip

Think of 'filling the land' with trash. Land + Fill = Landfill.

📖

Word Origin

A mid-20th century American English compound word combining 'land' and 'fill' (referring to material used to fill a hole).

Grammar Patterns

Regular verb: landfill, landfilled, landfilling Often used in the passive voice (e.g., 'The waste is landfilled.')
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Cultural Context

In many developed nations, there is a strong cultural and political push to move away from landfilling in favor of circular economies.

Quick Quiz

Environmentalists argue that we should not ______ materials that could easily be recycled.

Correct!

The correct answer is: landfill

Related Grammar Rules

Related Words

you

A1

Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.

people

A1

People refers to a group of human beings or the general public. It is the standard plural form of the word 'person'.

put

A1

To move something into a particular place or position. It is a fundamental verb used to describe the act of placing an object or setting a situation in a specific location.

mean

A1

To have a specific sense or significance, especially when explaining a word or sign. It can also describe a person's intention or the importance of something to someone.

keep

A1

To continue to have or hold something in your possession or at your disposal. It also means to remain in a specific state, condition, or position without changing.

begin

A1

To start doing something or for an event to happen for the first time. It is often used to describe the first point of a process or activity.

seem

A1

To give the impression of being something or having a particular quality based on what you see or hear. It is used to describe an appearance or feeling that may or may not be the actual truth.

help

A1

To make it easier for someone to do something by offering your services, resources, or support. It can involve physical effort, providing information, or giving money to assist a person or a cause.

talk

A1

To speak in order to give information or express ideas, feelings, or thoughts. It typically involves a conversation between two or more people or a person addressing an audience.

start

A1

To begin doing something or to cause something to happen for the first time. It is frequently used when talking about movements, journeys, or making a machine or engine begin to work.

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