Another "Question of the Day" from Just Facts Daily
Quote
If the U.S. stopped recycling and buried all of its municipal trash for the next 100 years in a single landfill that was 30 feet high, how much of the nation’s land area would this landfill cover?
1. About 0.1%
2. About 1%
3. About 10%

Click below for answer.
Correct Answer
1. About 0.1%
Correct Answer Rate 58%

If the U.S. stopped recycling and buried all of its municipal trash for the next 100 years in a 30-foot-high landfill, it would cover 0.06% of the nation’s land area. More realistically, the actual area in use will be an order of magnitude smaller because (a) the U.S. recycles, burns, or composts 48% of its trash, (b) landfills can be more than 200 feet high, (c) landfills are often covered after several decades and reused for purposes such as parks, golf courses, ski slopes, and airfields. Contrary to these facts, media outlets have been reporting for more than 30 years that the U.S. is “nearly out of space” to dispose of trash. Hence, a 2019 scientific survey found that 66% of voters believe that the correct answer to this question is more than 5%.

Documentation:
Landfill Space
2019 Scientific Survey
HeadlineScientific Survey Methodologies