Behind the Scenes at Manatee County’s Landfill: A Virtual 360° Experience

Manatee County has unveiled a new way for residents to explore the intricate processes behind waste management without ever leaving their homes. A virtual 360° tour of the Lena Road Landfill, now accessible online, offers an inside look at how thousands of tons of solid waste are handled each year.

The Lena Road Landfill is the primary destination for Manatee County’s solid waste. Spanning hundreds of acres, the facility employs advanced waste processing methods and environmental protection measures to ensure the community’s waste is managed safely and efficiently. Visitors can learn about landfill operations through the interactive tour, including waste compaction, leachate collection systems, and methane gas recovery initiatives.

The landfill is engineered to protect the environment by preventing contaminants from reaching local soil and water. Liners and leachate systems collect and treat wastewater generated from decomposing waste, while methane gas produced in the landfill is captured and converted into renewable energy. These efforts demonstrate the county’s commitment to sustainability and responsible waste management.

With an increasing population and greater demands on local infrastructure, Manatee County continues to invest in education and outreach to promote recycling and waste reduction. The virtual tour, accessible at mymanatee.org/landfill360, is the latest initiative to encourage awareness and community engagement around waste management practices.

This initiative provides an educational tool for residents and supports the county’s mission to reduce waste through a better understanding of its lifecycle. Manatee County hopes to inspire residents to participate actively in waste reduction and recycling efforts by making landfill operations transparent and engaging.

For more information on Manatee County’s waste management programs, visit the Solid Waste Division at mymanatee.org/solidwaste.