Every year the typical American family throws out:
- 2,460 pounds of paper
- 540 pounds of metal
- 480 pounds of glass
- 480 pounds of food scraps
Each of us throws away more than 1,200 pounds of trash per year, far more than people in other countries. About 80% of that trash ends up in landfills. Of the remaining 20%, about 1/2 is recycled and 1/2 is incinerated. One big problem is that we are running out of landfill space -- more than 1/2 of the nation's landfills will be full within 10 years. Where will we put all of our trash when we run out of space?
And trash presents more than just a "running out of space" problem. Between 5% and 15% of what we throw away contains hazardous substances -- substances that can seep into the ground and contaminate air, water and soil, eventually injuring people and other living things. Batteries, plastics, inks used on packages and disposable diapers are just some of the things we throw away that contain hazardous substances.
Excessive Packaging
One of the things we throw away most often is packaging. Think about the products you and your family buy -- from snack foods to CD's, many products contain a great deal of packaging. Some have 4 or 5 layers, including several layers of plastic and far more than may be necessary. If your household is typical, about 1/3 of the packaging you buy will be thrown away immediately upon opening a package.
Excessive packaging also adds to the cost of the products we buy, so we pay extra for products that have a lot of packaging. We also pay for garbage in other ways -- through higher taxes needed to create new landfills, for example, and through higher medical bills and health insurance costs required to cure the illnesses caused by pollution.
The Myth Of Degradability
We used to think that after we discarded something into a landfill that it wold eventually biodegrade -- that it would rot and dissappear completely. But we have come to learn that this really doesn't happen.
In a sense, everything in this world is biodegradable. Given enough time, air, sunlight and other elements, your family's house, car and possessions will eventually break down and wear away. It could take hundreds or even thousands of years for this to occur, but it will happen sooner or later.
But when things are buried in a landfill, where there is little if any air or sunlight, things do not break down. In fact, burying things in a landfill tends to preserve trash rather than dispose of it!
What Can Be Recycled?
Look for the recycle symbol
PLASTIC
#1 (PETE) is the easiest and most common plastic to recycle is made of polyethylene terephthalate
Examples include coke bottles, water bottles, salad dressing, peanut butter, jelly and medicine containers. Once these items have been processed by a recycling facility, PETE can become fiberfill for winter coats, sleeping bags and life jackets. It can also be used to make bean bags, rope, car bumpers, tennis ball felt, combs, cassette tapes, sails for boats, furniture and, of course, more plastic bottles.
#2 (HDPE) is reserved for high-density polyethylene plastics, including heavier containers that hold laundry detergent and bleach, as well as milk, shampoo, and motor oil. Plastic labeled #2 is often recycled into toys, piping, plastic lumber and rope. Like #1, it is widely accepted at recycling centers.
#3 (V) which is polyvinyl choride is commonly used in juice bottles, plastic pipes, shower curtains, medical tubing, vinyl dashboards.
#4 (LDPE) which is wrapping films, frozen food and sandwich bags, squeezable bottles (i.e. honey, mustard), flexible container lids and other types of containers made of low-density polyethylene.
#5 (PP) polypropylene containers such as reusable microwavable ware, kitchenware, yogurt containers, butter & margarine tubs have a low rate of recyclability and few municipal recycling centers will accept it.
#6 (PS) polystyrene (styrofoam) items such as disposable coffee cups, meat trays, egg cartons and packing peanuts are are widely accepted because it can be reprocessed into items such as cassette tapes and rigid foam insulation.
#7 (ABS) polycarbonate items such as baby milk bottles are items crafted from various cominations of the above mentioned plastics and usually imprinted with a #7 or nothing at all, are the plastics most difficult to recycle and, as such, are seldom collected or recycled.
