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In our ecology project, we will explore the positives and negatives of both recycling and landfilling. It is our goal to present the benefits of both worlds and allow others to determine their views.
Why Recycle?
There are many reasons and many ways to recycle. One of the most obvious reasons, and possibly the most important, is to reduce the negative impact that solid waste has on the environment. Every year we, Americans, throw away millions of tons of waste that could be recycled. In the North Central Solid Waste Management District of Ohio, composed of Allen, Champaign, Hardin, Madison, Shelby and Union counties, over 270,000 tons of waste are produced. Of this about 27,000 tons (about 10%) are recycled.(Ohio DNR, 2004) Anything from the obvious aluminum cans and newspapers, to plastics, metals, and rubber can be subject to recycling.
Another reason to recycle would be to benefit the economy. The collection, sorting, and processing of recyclables employs thousands of workers every year. In addition many are employed in the research and development of new processes and technology to improve recycling. In Ohio the recycling industry represents about 4.3% of employment. Of this 4.3% the average wage is over $36,000 per year. Recycling activities account for about $3.6 billion in payroll to the economy.(Ohio DNR,2004)
As technology has and is developed, recycling becomes more economical and a better alternative to landfills, incineration, and other means of eliminating solid waste. The average Material Recovery Facility (MRF)processes over 131 tons of waste per day, with more and bigger MRF's in the planning stages of development. (Chang, 1995) 
To Trash or Not To Trash
The bottom line is...recycling takes money and effort. Landfills are now engineered to reduce pollution, disease, and odor that many of the older landfills had problems with. Many people don't bother to sort the junk from the recyclable material, from their trash, because it seems to be more energy and time consuming than beneficial. Many areas are dissolving their recycling programs and companies because of lack of funds from the community and state programs. In this day and age, people want everything to be quick and easy. Isn't that why we invented Velcro and duck tape? Click here to learn more about constuction of landfills.
Landfills are not as "harmful" to the environment as they once were. The four main parts that make up "new" landfills are: a bottom liner, a leachate collection system, a cover, and a natural water setting. These parts are to: keep the contaminated material and toxins in the landfill, clean any materials leaving the landfill, and trap the gases from escaping into the atmosphere. Since, methane gas is a natural product of landfills, some places are able to "harvest" the gas and use or sell it for fuel. When trash decomposes, it emits odorous gases including methane. Methane is one of the decompostion by-products of organic matter. Methane can be both bad and good. Since it is an explosive gas, under certain conditions, methane can cause an explosion and it is bad for the atmosphere in large quantities. Methane can be burned to provide useful heat and energy.
Each landfill cell needs to have a slope of less than 40 degrees and be covered regularly. The final top and side covers should be at least 2 ft thick. Daily, and intermediate, and final soil covers are essential to proper landfill operation. The daily and intermediate covers prevent fly emergence, discourage rodents, reduce odors, and reduce wind-blown litter. In the event of ignition, the soil layers form fire stops within the landfill.
The final soil cover (cap) is intended to reduce or eliminate entering moisture. The soil cover also contains and channels landfill gas and provides a pleasing appearence and location for growing vegetation.
Most large-scale sanitary landfills do not apply daily cover to deposited waste. Time, cost, and reduced capacity are typically cited as the reasons that the landfill is not covered with soil. Factors of Landfill placement:
- availability of inexpensive land
- location, accessibility, and transportabilty
- wind direction and speed
- flat topography
- dry climate and low infiltration
- location of water table
- low risk of water contamination
- types and permeability of soil
- avoidance of winter freezing
- future growth and capacity requirements
- ultimate use
Suitable landfill sites are becoming difficult to find, and once identified, they are subjected to a rigorous permitting process. They are objected to residents near the site and MSW transport corridor. This is referred to as the NIMBY syndrome (Not In My Backyard). People agree that landfills are necessary, but they do not want to live near them. Landfills currently recieve 62% (by weight) of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the United States. (Duchin, 1998).
Conclusion
As economic growth results in more products and materials being generated, there will be an increased need to invest in source reduction activities such as lightweighting of products and packaging, reuse of products, grasscycling, and backyard composting. Also important will be utilizing existing recycling and composting facilities, further developing this infrastructure, and buying recycled products, to conserve resources and minimize our dependence on disposal through combustion and landfilling.
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| Some idiot's view of beautification. |
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| Suntanning in a world without Recycling |
Facts:
- Eighty-eight counties and 14 cities were awarded more than $6.9 million in 2003 Recycle, Ohio! Grant funding.
- 62 million trees a year are consumed making junk mail.
- Every year approximately 40 million computers and televisions are discarded in this country.
- Litter is a serious offense, punishable by fines of up to $500 and 60 days in jail.
- Plastics are not the most prevalent material in landfills. They are a close third following paper products and food items/ yard waste, respectively.(Subramanian 2000)
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| Lima's Recycling Bins |
We need to:
- Reduce the impact that trash has on our environment.
- Create jobs and benefit the economy.
- Be the solution, not the problem, by not throwing away recycleable products in landfills, littering, and reducing your solid waste disposal.
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| courtesy of the great United States EPA |
Our Top Ten Waste Prevention Ideas:
- Junk mail makes great fuel for heating.
- National Do Not Mail List, to reduce Junk Mail.
- Forget the X-Box, give your kids a cardboard box.
- Used Kleenex's make great post-it notes.
- Conserve paper and ink by not taking tests or notes.
- Use only 1 square and both sides of the TP!
- Conserve water and flush every 5th use.
- Who needs Huggies when you can use cloth diapers?
- One man's trash is another's treasure.( Dr. Owen's Dry-Erase board)
- If your breath isn't visible, you wasting energy to heat your house.
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