We live in an era of waste imperialism. Unwanted or hazardous waste is dumped on unwilling or unsuspecting communities. States aren’t struggling to reduce waste, but rather are battling for the right to call their garbage “commerce” and ship it out of state. … Read More
ILSR’s 20-page booklet, Innovation, Leadership, Stewardship, features Alameda County’s (California) record-setting recycling programs. The county diverts almost 60% of its municipal solid waste. The Alameda County Waste Management Authority and the Alameda County Source Reduction and Recycling Board deserve much credit. This glossy booklet — chock full of case studies and photographs — features the Board’s source … Read More
ILSR has been tracking and documenting community-wide recycling/composting programs for many years. Some of our reports on this subject are available online as PDF files. Others are available in hard copy format only.… Read More
August 19, 2002 EditorNew York Times New York, NY Dear Editor, It is remarkable to read, in 2002, an article arguing that New York City should handle its waste problem by installing incinerators in towns up the Hudson (August 15, 2002 “Putting Garbage to Good Use”). Twenty years ago the nation, and this region, engaged in … Read More
The articles and publications listed below discuss the benefits of recycling, refute criticisms aimed at recycling, identify new trends, and highlight the continuing perils of disposal techniques such as incineration, landfilling, and trash transfer stations. They are all available for either online viewing or for downloading as PDF files. Refuting Recycling Critics Recycling Means Big Money … Read More
These articles and publications discuss the benefits of recycling, refute criticisms aimed at recycling, identify new trends, and highlight the continuing perils of disposal techniques such as incineration, landfilling, and trash transfer stations. They are all available for either online viewing or for downloading as PDF files.… Read More
August 6, 2002 Mr. Allan Gerlat, Editor Waste News Akron, OH Dear Editor, In Steve Toloken’s article, “Bottle talk,” (July 22nd), the discussion of the proposed national bottle bill omits issues of concern to the public. It neglects to mention that for the first time in U.S. history a national bill encourages, in part, refillable beverage … Read More
July 22, 2002 Senator Jeffords ChairSenate Committee on Environment and Public Works 410 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington,DC 20510 RE: Senate Bill 2220, the National Beverage Producer Responsibility Act of 2002 Dear Senator Jeffords: Many thanks for your extraordinary efforts in addressing the growing problem of discarded beverage containers by introducing Senate Bill 2220, the National … Read More
National legislation that couples beverage container deposits with a minimum recovery rate is long overdue. If passed, Senator Jeffords Senate Bill 2220, the National Beverage Producer Responsibility Act of 2002, will fill this gap. The bill, introduced on Earth Day, calls for a minimum 80% recovery level and would set per container deposits on beverage containers … Read More