The Johnson County landfill, covering nearly 1,000 acres in the center of Shawnee, absorbs more than 5,000 tons of garbage a day.

No, it isn’t a pretty sight. And yes, it stinks — sometimes beyond the landfill’s boundaries.

But behind the steep berms hiding it from public view, the landfill is home to both arid moon-like landscapes and lush green pockets teeming with wildlife.

This week, The Dispatch takes you on a photo tour of the largest landfill of its kind in the Midwest.