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  Is There Still A Garbage Crisis ?
Every day we hear about environmental problems. . . at work, at school, in the newspapers, on television and on the radio. Garbage is just one of these environmental concerns. It hits the media every time a barge filled with garbage is turned away from port and has no place to go. We hear about it when our taxes are affected by the shipping costs for garbage. We see the impact of it every time we take out the trash. Many people wonder is there really is a "Garbage Crisis". In the late 1960's and throughout the 1970's, the long term effect of the loss of our natural resources and pollution became a cause for concern by the public in general. During that time more and more landfills were closed, some because of stricter environmental regulations and others because they were filled. By the mid-1980's New Jersey had only 10 open landfills left, from over 1,000 landfills available just one decade earlier. Counties were asked to formulate long-term plans for trash disposal. These plans ranged from construction of resource recovery facilities to out-of-state disposal of waste. All of the options would be costly and would have to be carefully reviewed to make sure they were economically feasible and environmentally sound. No matter which alternatives are chosen, the ability to maximize those alternatives has to be stressed. Each Passaic County resident can help. Before we even think about trash disposal we must think about ways to precycle, prevent or minimize the toxicity and/or quantity of waste generated, and recycle. The future of our County means changing our habits, so that each of us can help to maximize the County's overall waste management efforts.
These are the kinds of questions that are commonly asked of community recycling programs. Unfortunately, the economics of recycling are not as simple or as predictable as we might like them to be. In most cases, programs are lucky if they break even on their recycling operations. In the late 1970's and early 1980's, when much of our recycling was on a "grassroots" volunteer level, "Recycling Pays" was a common slogan used to encourage people to recycle. Recycling of newspapers and other materials were often used as fund-raisers for community groups such as the scouts. As more and more of New Jersey's landfills closed, due to environmental regulations and the fact that they were full (often with trash from other states such as New York), the dynamics of recycling changed. With the passage of the Statewide Mandatory Source Separation and Recycling Act in 1987, recycling economics in New Jersey underwent a drastic change. Additionally, more programs were established in surrounding States. In economic terms, supply exceeded demand for some recyclable materials. Because the costs for collection, processing, promotion and administration for recycling increased and the prices paid for recyclables fluctuated, revenues gained from the sale of collected recyclables started to go to offset program costs. But even though it is true that marketing recyclables can actually cost money, this charge is still lower than the fees charged at the landfill for dumping these materials. For example, although a municipality might be paying $25.00 to recycle a ton of newspaper, that same ton in the landfill would cost well over $100.00. This is a savings known as "Cost Avoidance". Add in the environmental benefits such as reduced pollution and conservation of resources, as well as saving landfill space for other, non-recyclable materials and recycling is the clear winner. It should be noted that just because a material has the potential for being recycled does not necessarily mean there is a market available to purchase these goods as a raw material. Recycling does not stop at the curb. A manufacturer has to want a material before collection is feasible. When a market is established, the quality and volume of the material will determine the price paid (or charged) for that material--that's why it is important to collect large amount of high quantity recyclable materials for processing. As consumers demand more recycled products, the market situation will improve and collection programs will become more financially stable.
It’s hard to believe that anyone would question the importance of recycling but, many of the reasons we support recycling can not be directly quantified in monetary terms. Many of the benefits are hidden.
Depending upon the quality and quantity, selling recyclables can bring in revenue. In Passaic County
We Want To. . .
The Passaic County, New Jersey Office of Natural Resource Programs coordinates a number of outreach and education programs to support and enhance Municipal, State and National source reduction, recycling, litter abatement and hazardous waste activities and County residents can help, too. Before we even think about trash disposal we must start to think about ways to precycle, prevent or minimize the toxicity and/or quantity of waste generated, and then recycle. Maintaining and improving the quality of life in Passaic County means changing our everyday habits. Each of us can help to maximize the County's overall waste management efforts. |
RECYCLING
COSTS MONEY. The expenses may include:
