What type of waste disposal method is explicitly prohibited from receiving waste?

The method of waste disposal that is explicitly prohibited from receiving waste is the cesspool. A cesspool is an underground chamber that receives waste from a house or building, and it relies on the soil around it to help treat the waste. However, cesspools have long been associated with environmental hazards because they can lead to groundwater contamination and other sanitation problems.

Cesspools are particularly problematic because they do not effectively process or treat sewage; instead, they simply allow liquid waste to seep into the surrounding soil without adequate filtration or breakdown of harmful pathogens. Because of these health and environmental risks, many jurisdictions, including in New Mexico, prohibit the installation of cesspools and favor more effective waste disposal methods, such as septic tanks, which are designed for better treatment and absorption of sewage.

Composting toilets, septic tanks, and drain fields operate under different principles and systems that help manage waste more responsibly and effectively. Composting toilets convert human waste into compost through aerobic decomposition, while septic tanks treat waste before it is absorbed into a drain field where it can filter through the soil. Each of these alternatives is designed to minimize the risks that cesspools present, thereby making the cesspool the method that is not allowed to receive waste.