Recently an article on incinerators came into my lap.
www.nytimes.com/2010/04/13/science/earth/13trash.html?pagewanted=1&th&emc=th
The article dosnt actually say anything about how it works or why we should feel differently about this particular incinerator. However, according the article anyone who isnt in favor of incinerators is a Luddite (ie: the afraid of airplanes comment & others). Well, calling names isnt going to change my mind without hard facts put forth in a manner that I can follow. Something this article is very short on. Let someone else be the test case. If those people in Europe dont have a cancer problem in 20 years, then we will talk.
The above article leaves every point of interest in question. Does this incinerator have a carbon capture system or is it going to contribute further to our green house gas problem? Does this filter take out 100% of the dioxin? Would a corporations ever lie to us to make a buck?
Just like the people the article pokes fun at, I still think recycling is the way to go.
- Paper: recyclable
- Most plastics: recyclable
- Metal: recyclable
- Glass: recyclable
In a world where resources are becoming scares and the population isnt showing much if any signs of slowing down, burning up stuff seems short sighted. I strongly feel that we are better off getting our electricity from things like wind, wave, and solar.
At our house we put out about 10 lbs of garbage per week or about 3 gallons. In part because of our shopping habits and also because we recycle (About 20 gallons per week). Thats a 90% reduction over the average US household (4.5 lbs per person per day) and living proof that it can be done. None of us think of it as difficult.
About all that goes out in our garbage is scraps of painted wood (if I cannot easily cut off the painted part), plastic bottle caps, chicken bones, and the occasional bit of non-recycleable plastic or styrofoam.
I recently learned that in our area scrap wood is currently being burned by our local disposal company. Maybe the wood shouldnt be burned? Why cant it be used to create paper products or reformed into press board? Composted? Mulch? Most recycled toilet paper is being brought in from Canada. Why dont we make our own? Clearly not all recycling is being taken advantage of if we are burning our scrap wood. Some places can even recycle Styrofoam. Why not here? If we did take full advantage of recycling, there woulnt be much garbage left to burn. Building a giant plant here where land is so scarce to burn up a diminishing resource is a dead end even if you can truly make it a clean process.
I would like to use the following definition of -renewable resource- "A naturally occurring raw material or form of energy that has the capacity to replenish itself through ecological cycles and sound management practices." Garbage is NOT a renewable resource. It is man made out of consumable resources. In order to keep the system going we have to continue to create garbage and we should not be creating incentives to keep doing so.
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