LANDFILLS

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LANDFILLS
    Solid waste is the term that civil engineers use to refer to what most of us call garbage. Municipal
solid waste is most familiar to us. It comes from households, institutions, and small businesess. These
solid wastes enter the solid-waste stream, and the flow never ceases. While many normal activities are
suspended during weekends and holidays, the flow of garbage is non-stop. Some holidays, such as
Christmas, create an enormous wave of solid waste.
    There are essentially four ways to deal with garbage: 1) recycle it into something that can be used
again, 2) dump it, 3) burn it, or 4) reduce the source of material products (such as packaging) in order to
eliminate future garbage.
    Throughout history, dumping has been the preferred means of disposal. Today, landfills are
America’s primary method for the disposal of garbage.
    Approximately 40 to 50 percent of everything we throw away is paper. Newspapers account for
as much as 18 percent of the volume in a landfill. Grass clippings and raked-up leaves account for nearly
20 percent of our waste.
    Much of the notion that biodegradation takes place within a landfill is a myth. Some food and
yard debris degrade at a very slow rate, but the remainder of the garbage in landfills seems to retain its
original form, weight, and volume. Even after being buried in a landfill for several years, the print on
newspapers remains legible.
    Landfills also contain a considerable amount of hazardous waste. Toda...

Submitted by: digitalessays
Date Submitted: 11-13-02 1:56pm
Category: Politics
Words: 637
Pages: 2.55