Trash Disposal Methods

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, America generates 251 million tons of garbage a year. A number of disposal options exist to handle the growing amount of waste, most of which are evolving to become cleaner and more efficient in an effort to save energy, reduce costs, and lessen the impact of otherwise harmful material on humans and the environment.

Incineration

• Incineration or thermal treatment involves the burning of trash, mostly organic materials, as an alternative to landfills. Incineration reduces the mass of the waste as well as its volume by a considerable amount. Like landfills, various types of wastes can be incinerated, including municipal wastes and industrial wastes. Unlike landfills or open dumping, incineration is a permanent solution to waste. Incineration also provides a means of converting waste to energy by using the burning of garbage to boil water, which is then used to power steam generators. Most incinerators use limestone scrubbers in their smokestacks, which neutralize the acids in the smoke, making the process safer for the environment.

Open Dumping

• Open dumping, often called midnight dumping, refers to the dumping of trash in open areas. Items like tires and yard waste are often dumped because they are typically banned from landfills, while other items like commercial waste are usually dumped because the costs to remove them are sometimes too high. While an inexpensive means of disposing of trash, open dumping is illegal and poses a number of health and environmental risks. Open dumping sites are found everywhere from roadsides to empty lots and thus pose considerable health risks because they are easily accessible to anyone. The sites, which are prone to rodents, mosquitoes and other harmful insects, contribute a considerable amount of harmful methane gases to the atmosphere.

Recycling

• The most environmentally conscious form of waste disposal, recycling refers to the act of converting various forms of plastic, glass, aluminum and paper waste into reusable products. Though somewhat time-consuming, recycling is often inexpensive for the average homeowner as many communities participate in curbside collection services. Though the true costs and benefits of recycling are still in dispute, some products like aluminum cost less to manufacture from recycled aluminum than from aluminum ore. Recycling is also a more economical option for plastics, as many plastics are recycled into fibers that are then used to make clothing.

Landfill

• The oldest form of waste disposal, landfills are designated dumping areas in which waste is deposited and then buried. Like open dumping, landfills pose considerable risks to people and the environment. Groundwater contamination, methane produced by organic waste and disease-carrying rodents are among the consequences of landfills. Most landfills, however, now employ technology that converts the methane gases into power by filtering the gas through gas-fired power plants. Landfills may also be reclaimed or opened to development after the waste is safely buried, as is the case with Staten Island's Fresh Kills Park.