There is a growing realization that human activities increasingly are threatening the health of natural systems that make life possible on this planet. Humankind has the power to alter nature fundamentally, perhaps irreversibly.
Environmental problems that come closest to home for most of us is the problem of what to do with trash. All over the world, communities are wrestling with the problem of waste disposal. Landfill sites are rapidly filling to capacity. Call it garbage, solid waste or trash - it's the waste we produce in our homes and business. We throw it into cans and put it out for pickups. Our trash plus our neighbors' and everyone else's adds up to massive pile of waste. In fact, each year this nation generates enough garbage to fill a convoy of trash trucks reaching halfway to the moon. And the convoy keeps growing longer every year.
National Average show that our trash consists of
This trash has been accumulating in landfills for a number of years. Now many of these landfills are almost full. This is causing the costs of landfills to soar, forcing many communities to raise fees or taxes to pay the additional costs. Landfills are no longer the answer to the garbage problem.
In some communities, the waste goes to an incinerator that burns it and recovers energy. Incinerators reduce the volume of the trash but landfills are still needed to bury the ashes. Both incinerator and landfills are expensive and can take a long time to locate and build. In a growing number of communities the morning newspaper is recycled, and cans and bottles are recycled are reused.
The Solution
There is no one simple remedy for the trash problem, we need to consider a combination of solutions to manage. Reducing and reusing waste, recycling, burning trash for energy recovery, and landfills are part of the solution. Recycling is one important remedy for the garbage problem. It is an effective solution because it reduces the amount of waste for disposal. And individuals can participate in the recycling programs. Just as we contribute to the nations garbage problem, we can contribute to its solution by recycling.
"Recycling" means separating, collecting, processing, marketing and ultimately using a material that would have been thrown away. Papers, cardboard, cans, bottles can be recycled, and thus crafted for other uses. Quality products and packaging are being made from recovered materials.