OBJECTIVE:
Students will examine the complex social, economic, and environmental
problem of siting a resource recovery facility to determine the
advantages and disadvantages for the community.
MATERIALS: * pen or pencil
* handouts: instruction sheet for each group of students (below)
and worksheet for each Town Council
member
Siting any solid waste facility has
become very controversial. People are afraid of negative effects
to themselves and the environment. At the same time that we do
not want facilities near us, we are still generating tons and
tons of waste that must be disposed of. Reduction, reuse, and
recycling are important strategies, but no matter how good and
efficient we become, there will still be residual waste that
must go somewhere. Our options include reducing, recycling, composting,
landfilling, incinerating and others. Each community will need
to come up with a plan to manage its waste. This exercise can
be carried out for a resource recovery facility or any other
disposal option.
PROCEDURE:
Tell students that they are going to
role-play a town meeting in which an important decision must
be made. Explain that the town has a solid waste disposal problem
and is considering the construction of an incinerator/resource
recovery system to be part of the solution. Students will conduct
a town meeting to decide whether or not the incinerator should
be built.
Divide the class into five groups.
Four of the groups will represent specific interest groups testifying
at this public hearing. The fifth group will represent the Town
Council whose responsibility is to hear the testimony and make
a final determination on siting the resource recovery facility.
Assign a role to each group and distribute the appropriate instruction
sheets.
Explain that one representative from
each group will present the group's position and concerns to
the Council. Each Town Council member will be allowed to ask
questions of the group following the presentation. After all
of the position statements have been presented, a block of time
for the groups to question each other and for general discussion
will be provided. Allow time for discussion and selection of
a group spokesperson. Depending on the amount of background information
your students possess, you may wish to extend the lesson to allow
further work and/or library research or you may proceed with
the hearing.
When the group members are ready to
make their presentations, assemble the entire class and have
the Town Council members sit facing them. The meeting is called
to order by the Council Chairperson. Each group spokesperson
presents a position statement. After questions and discussion,
the Council votes on the proposal to site the facility.
FOLLOW-UP:
Students may want to use this exercise
with another group (youth or adult) to help them better understand
the complexity of the problem.
SITING A RESOURCE RECOVERY
FACILITY: A PUBLIC HEARING
GROUP
1 - SAVE THE EARTH
The Town Council plans to build a Resource
Recovery Facility (RRF) to solve the solid waste disposal problem
in our town. They have also proposed a law which will require
people to recycle certain things. Under the law, each household
would separate aluminum cans and glass from the rest of their
waste. These things would be picked up and brought to a processing
site near the RRF where they would be sorted and sold. The rest
of the waste would be burned. Heat from the waste could be used
to produce steam. In turn, the steam could make electricity.
The power produced could be used on site or it could be sold
to the local power company. The production of electricity would
help pay for the cost of running the RRF. Since burning waste
reduces its volume, the landfill would receive less waste each
day. It would be able to stay open for several more years.
You are a member of a group that is
opposed to the Resource Recovery Facility because:
1. There is a chance that the smoke
and ash from the burning waste will contain toxic substances.
You are worried about dioxin.
2. The town has not discussed the problem
of toxics in the ash. After the waste has been burned, the ash
will be buried in the landfill.
3. There will be dust and noise pollution
from truck traffic.
4. Community members have not made
a firm commitment to reduce their solid waste. Careful shopping,
composting of yard and kitchen waste, and recycling are all things
people must start doing before other alternatives are considered.
You support recycling but think the
Town Council has not gone far enough. You want the law to require
separation of all glass, metal and plastic food and beverage
containers, and newspapers. You think the town should have a
composting program. Perhaps the town should ban the sale of non-recyclable
items in local stores.
READ AND DISCUSS THE POSITION THAT
YOUR GROUP REPRESENTS. OUTLINE YOUR PRESENTATION AND CHOOSE 2
OR 3 MEMBERS OF YOUR GROUP TO JOINTLY PRESENT YOUR CASE TO THE
TOWN COUNCIL.
SITING A RESOURCE RECOVERY
FACILITY: A PUBLIC HEARING
GROUP
2 - NEIGHBORS UNITED
The Town Council plans to build a Resource
Recovery Facility (RRF) to solve the solid waste disposal problem
in our town. They have also proposed a law which will require
people to recycle certain things. Under the law, each household
would separate aluminum cans and glass from the rest of their
waste. These things would be picked up and brought to a processing
site near the RRF where they would be sorted and sold. The rest
of the waste would be burned. Heat from the waste could be used
to produce steam. In turn, the steam could make electricity.
The power produced could be used on site or it could be sold
to the local power company. The production of electricity would
help pay for the cost of running the RRF. Since burning waste
reduces its volume, the landfill would receive less waste each
day. It would be able to stay open for several more years.
You are a member of a group of people
who live in the neighborhood where the Resource Recovery Facility
is to be built. You are opposed to the facility because:
1. You think that the presence of a
Resource Recovery Facility will lower the value of your property.
2. The truck traffic will disturb your
quiet neighborhood.
3. You are concerned about the effect
of air and noise pollution on your family's health.
You are also against the proposed recycling
program because:
1. Separating the trash is too much
work.
2. You have no place to store the things
until they are picked up.
3. Extra garbage services will cost
more money. That will mean an increase in your taxes.
READ AND DISCUSS THE POSITION THAT
YOUR GROUP REPRESENTS. OUTLINE YOUR PRESENTATION AND CHOOSE 2
OR 3 MEMBERS OF YOUR GROUP TO JOINTLY PRESENT YOUR CASE TO THE
TOWN COUNCIL.
SITING A RESOURCE RECOVERY
FACILITY: A PUBLIC HEARING
GROUP
3 - RESOURCE RECOVERY INC.
The Town Council plans to build a Resource
Recovery Facility (RRF) to solve the solid waste disposal problem
in our town. They have also proposed a law which will require
people to recycle certain things. Under the law, each household
would separate aluminum cans and glass from the rest of their
waste. These things would be picked up and brought to a processing
site near the RRF where they would be sorted and sold. The rest
of the waste would be burned. Heat from the waste could be used
to produce steam. In turn, the steam could make electricity.
The power produced could be used on site or it could be sold
to the local power company. The production of electricity would
help pay for the cost of running the RRF. Since burning waste
reduces its volume, the landfill would receive less waste each
day. It would be able to stay open for several more years.
You are part of the engineering firm
which plans to build the Resource Recovery Facility. You are
in favor of the project because:
1. It will make a positive contribution
to the community by reducing the solid waste problem. Electricity
will be produced and many jobs will be created.
2. The problem of toxic substances
can be avoided by burning the waste at the proper temperature.
3. Air pollution can be controlled
by pollution control devices built into the smoke stacks.
4. The ash will go to a landfill, where
plastic liners would collect any leachate.
5. Dust and noise can be controlled
by using paved roads that go around, and not through, residential
areas. Planting a noise barrier such as rows of trees would also
help.
Your company also favors recycling
because both aluminum and glass can cause problems for the RRF.
Aluminum and glass do not burn well. You know that selling these
things will produce money to help pay for extra disposal costs.
You would not oppose recycling more items.
READ AND DISCUSS THE POSITION THAT
YOUR GROUP REPRESENTS. OUTLINE YOUR PRESENTATION AND CHOOSE 2
OR 3 MEMBERS OF YOUR GROUP TO JOINTLY PRESENT YOUR CASE TO THE
TOWN COUNCIL.
SITING A RESOURCE RECOVERY
FACILITY: A PUBLIC HEARING
GROUP
4 - ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY CONTROL
The Town Council plans to build a Resource
Recovery Facility (RRF) to solve the solid waste disposal problem
in our town. They have also proposed a law which will require
people to recycle certain things. Under the law, each household
would separate aluminum cans and glass from the rest of their
waste. These things would be picked up and brought to a processing
site near the RRF where they would be sorted and sold. The rest
of the waste would be burned. Heat from the waste could be used
to produce steam. In turn, the steam could make electricity.
The power produced could be used on site or it could be sold
to the local power company. The production of electricity would
help pay for the cost of running the RRF. Since burning waste
reduces its volume, the landfill would receive less waste each
day. It would be able to stay open for several more years.
You work for the state agency which
is responsible for managing solid waste. The agency is concerned
about the disposal crisis in the town. You support the construction
of a Resource Recovery Facility because:
1. The town has no room to site a new
landfill. Current landfill space is quickly filling up. A Resource
Recovery Facility will reduce the volume of waste coming into
the existing landfill by 85%. This will extend the life of the
landfill.
2. Energy recovery will help to offset
rising fuel prices.
3. An RRF operated according to state
laws and regulations should not create environmental problems.
You are also in favor of recycling
because:
1. It is a good way to conserve natural
resources.
2. The RRF will work more efficiently
and safely if recyclables are removed.
READ AND DISCUSS THE POSITION THAT
YOUR GROUP REPRESENTS. OUTLINE YOUR PRESENTATION AND CHOOSE 2
OR 3 MEMBERS OF YOUR GROUP TO JOINTLY PRESENT YOUR CASE TO THE
TOWN COUNCIL.
SITING A RESOURCE RECOVERY
FACILITY: A PUBLIC HEARING
GROUP
5 - THE TOWN COUNCIL
The Town Council plans to build a Resource
Recovery Facility (RRF) to solve the solid waste disposal problem
in our town. They have also proposed a law which will require
people to recycle certain things. Under the law, each household
would separate aluminum cans and glass from the rest of their
waste. These things would be picked up and brought to a processing
site near the RRF where they would be sorted and sold. The rest
of the waste would be burned. Heat from the waste could be used
to produce steam. In turn, the steam could make electricity.
The power produced could be used on site or it could be sold
to the local power company. The production of electricity would
help pay for the cost of running the RRF. Since burning waste
reduces its volume, the landfill would receive less waste each
day. It would be able to stay open for several more years.
You are the elected members of the
Town Council. You must listen to both sides of the issue. Some
groups have concerns about the construction of the Resource Recovery
Facility. Others have reasons to support it. As they speak, you
should take notes on the important points raised on each side
of the issue. It is your responsibility to decide whether or
not to build the facility. Your decision must be the best for
all of the people in your town.
Choose one member of your group to
be the chairperson. It will be that person's job to call the
hearing to order. Then, he or she must call upon each of the
groups to present information either for or against the RRF.
Members of the Town Council will have a chance to question speakers
after they present their positions.