Managing Garbage from Homes: Options and Impacts

(Handout Part III for The Cost of the Toss)

 

Option	Environmental issus	Citizens' convenience
a.	is unattractive uses land can create hazardous gases (methane) natural resources are buried & lost	just put waste at curb
b.	reduces impacts at landfill reduces air pollution from manufacturing reuse natural resources	need to separate recyclables
c.	same as voluntary recycling above	requires enforcement for non-compliance need to separate recyclables
d.	reduces need for landfill reduces methane gas generation reduces strength of leachate produces fertile humus reuses natural resources	need to separate yard waste
e.	reduces need for landfill produces fly ash high in heavy metals that requires special handling produces low levels of air pollutants consumes natural resources recovers energy	just put waste at curb

* The options are described in handout part I

 

The Cost Of The Toss

Trash Goes To School

Cornell Waste Management Institute