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The
U.S. has failed to recognize that when it comes to the
environment,
sometimes it is necessary to start programs that will
not
be self supporting. Europe recognized this many years ago.
For
example in Germany it was necessary some years ago to curb
the
use of soft drink cans. What was a tradition many years ago has
again
become popular, soda in glass bottles. Glass bottles can be
reused
anywhere from 2 to 10 times and they can be melted down
to
make new bottles. It also takes much less energy to produce a
glass
bottle than a metal can, especially if it is aluminum.
Paper
and plastic products can also be successfully recycled, if there
is
an easy to use system. This system may operate at a loss but
in
the long run there is a payoff to both the public and the business
sector.
One
of the growing pollution problems in today's high-tech world is
electronic
scrap. Millions of cell phones, computers, entertainment
equipment,
kitchen appliances and so on end in in landfills. This
creates
a serious pollution problem for groundwater supplies. Heavy
metals
of all kinds leach from electronic scrap and eventually finds
its
way into the food chain. Many human ailments can be traced to
heavy
metal poisoning.
Millions
of batteries are discarded each year and and most end up
in
landfills thus polluting the ground water. It is incredible that many
American
communities do not have any kind of battery recycling
program
to help prevent this.
What you can do
It
is important that each citizen uses those recycling programs that
are
already in place. If they are nor used there is a chance such a
program
might be cancelled due to lack of use.
Encourage
government officials to start new recycling programs
whenever
possible.
Reduce
the amount of materials you discard. This can be done by
buying
products in bulk whenever possible. Many stores today offer
a
variety of products in bulk form without packaging. Re-use
packaging
materials such as cardboard, styrofoam bubbles, plastic
bubble
wrap and so on, as often as possible.