When Was the First Landfill Created?

The concept of landfills dates back many centuries. The first known landfill was created in the 5th century B.C. in Annapolis, Maryland, USA. However, it was quite different from landfills we see today.

During those times, people would throw their waste into large pits or borrow areas in the ground. They didn’t have plastic or many of the things we throw away today, but it was still important for them to find a place to dump their garbage.

Fast forward to the late 1800s and early 1900s, cities began to notice that they needed a better way to manage garbage. That's when they started using large areas of land specifically designated for trash, which we now call 'landfills'. These modern landfills are designed to minimize the environmental impact of waste.

So, while the idea of a landfill is ancient, the properly engineered ones we rely on today became more common in the 20th century. Understanding where our waste goes is important for caring for our planet!