A student's view of how to manage waste

Reducing, reusing and recycling is the most effective way of managing solid waste. It requires some changes in our daily habits and routines. We need to educate ourselves to make smart choices by buying products in bulk, with less packaging, or that are reusable. We need to repair items instead of throwing them away, and borrow or rent items that we don’t use very often.

Also, we should donate or sell things that we no longer want instead of throwing them away. Everything that can be recycled should be recycled. This includes more items than you may think, like clothing, electronics, junk mail and definitely food and drink containers.

Over the last 40 years, the amount of waste that each person in the United States generated grew from 2.7 to 4.6 pounds per day. About 80 percent of what Americans throw away can be recycled, yet the United States recycles less than one third of its 250 million tons of trash. The problem is enormous, but all of us can do our part and together we will make a difference.

I visited the Salisbury/Sharon Transfer Station and spoke with the manager, Brian Bartram. He told me that our recycling rate is 32 percent, which is 15 percent more than it was 10 years ago.

This year, the transfer station is hoping to increase the recycling rate to about 40 percent. Our transfer station is charged a fee of $70 for every ton of waste that is not recycled, but is paid $10 for every ton of waste that is recycled.

My family has reduced our solid waste by about half. We try to recycle everything.

Mr. Bartram also explained that composting makes a big difference in the amount of trash that becomes municipal solid waste. Backyard composters are available for purchase at the transfer station.

In some communities people are encouraged to reduce their trash by using a SMART Program (Save Money And Reduce Trash). Mr. Bartram said people are charged for the amount of trash thrown away, instead of just a flat fee. Saving money is a big incentive. When the program was started in Massachusetts, the amount of trash per person per year went from 902 to 512 pounds.

Small changes can make a big difference. 

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