[skept]

For (2) the tax should also be based on the biodegradability of the materials.

[dylan604]

biodegradability of individual items is less of an impact when the majority of trash is disposed in non-degrading plastic trash bags.

[erichurkman]

Would mechanically shredding trash before being dumped help?

[pfdietz]

Also moistening the trash before burial, I think.

The gases produce need to be captured and burned, though. All that methane. Interestingly, they also need to be decontaminated of traces of silicon-containing compounds, which can muck up turbines in which they're burned.

[Pinckney]

Won't this lead to a lot of lightweight material (particularly bits of the bags themselves) blowing off the landfill surface before they can be buried?