At what point should you stop using a buried mass garbage trench?

• A. When the waste is within 1 foot of the surface
• B. When rainfall occurs
• C. When the trench is full
• D. When 3 feet of cover is applied

Answer: (A)

The key idea is to prevent exposure and pest problems by capping the waste promptly. Stop filling the trench when the waste is within about one foot of the surface so you have room to apply a final soil cover and properly seal the trench. Keeping filling going closer to the surface increases odors, vectors, and the chance of runoff or exposure. Rainfall doesn’t determine when you stop, and waiting until the trench is “full” isn’t how these operations are managed; a shallow top wastes the opportunity to cap safely. A three-foot cover may be part of the final closure, but the trigger to halt filling is the waste being one foot from the surface.