Where Data Tells the Story
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This graphic maps out America’s largest solid waste landfills, based on their total capacity (measured in million tons). Figures were sourced from Statista and are as of 2023.
Opened in 1993 and located 25 minutes from Las Vegas, Apex Landfill is believed to be one of the world’s largest landfills by both area and volume. It spans 1,900 acres, which is roughly the size of 1,400 football fields. Given its vast capacity, the landfill is expected to be able to accept waste for over 250 years.
In an interview with PBS, a spokesperson for Apex Landfill reported that the facility captured and treated enough landfill gas to power nearly 11,000 homes in Southern Nevada.
Landfills can create electricity through a process called landfill gas (LFG) recovery. When organic waste decomposes, it produces methane gas which can be captured and then purified to create fuel for generators.