Leachate is a concern in which waste management practice?

• A. Sanitary landfills
• B. Incinerators
• C. Recycling centers
• D. Composting facilities

Answer: (A)

Leachate is the contaminated liquid that forms when water infiltrates waste and dissolved substances are carried away as it moves through the heap. In waste management, this liquid can migrate into soil and groundwater if not captured and treated. Sanitary landfills are designed specifically to control leachate with a protective liner and a leachate collection system that pumps the liquid to a treatment facility, preventing environmental contamination. Other waste practices don’t hinge on managing a migrating liquid from waste to the same extent—incinerators focus on combustion emissions and ash, while recycling centers and composting sites deal with material processing and runoff rather than a persistent leachate issue.