Solid Waste Management – Stories from the Trash Heap Solid Waste is a fancy term for trash.  In years past, no one much thought where trash went and what happened to it.  We had unlimited space for piling up trash.  We were also a society that didn’t waste much, so the trash per capita was much less.  Of course, some people like my grandfather had a homemade trash incinerator in his back yard and burnt his trash, and it was a lot of fun to help him burn stuff, but air pollution is factor now that most of our trash is toxic plastic. Now it is not so rosy for trash.  Every ton of trash costs quite a bit to dispose of in a responsible and legal manner.  That means everything you throw away has a price tag for disposal.  Ultimately, through taxes or direct charges, you are paying to dispose of your solid waste and the solid waste generated by your government and schools. To offset the cost of solid waste disposal you must recycle and so must our government facilities.  There is a strong market for paper products to produce recycled paperboard, cardboard, and other products.  Most municipalities can sell their paper and cardboard recyclables and make a good profit.  So next time you go to throw away paper or cardboard stop and recycle instead.  There is a double economic gain - money for the recycled materials and no solid waste disposal cost.  However, any recycling that keeps items out of your trash helps. Be creative in using materials you would otherwise put in the trash.  If you have a backyard, think about composting yard waste and food waste.  You can also push your locality to become a “Zero-Waste Community.”   Even more important reduce waste by buying products with less packaging or gently used products from thrift stores. Reduce is the most important step in the Reduce-Reuse-Recycle mantra.

Avoiding Exposure to Household Chemicals Studies have found household chemicals in human blood, urine and breast milk.  Many of the chemicals used in household goods have never been fully tested and there are many that believe the buildup in chemicals is causing problems from allergies to autism to cancer.  The National Academy of Sciences believes 15% of the population already has sensitivity to chemicals.   Even more disturbing many studies have found banned substances like DDT in pregnant woman. The Cancer Prevention Coalition has developed these Safety Guidelines for Avoiding Carcinogens at Home:  Read all labels carefully before using products. Be aware of their uses and dangers. Leave products in their original container with the label that clearly identifies the contents. Never put household products in food or beverage containers. Do not mix products unless the label directs you to do so. This can cause explosive or poisonous chemical reactions. Even different brands of the same product may contain incompatible ingredients. Use only what is needed. Twice as much doesn't mean twice the results. Follow the label. If you are pregnant, avoid toxic chemical exposure as much as possible. Many toxic products have not been fully tested for their effects on the unborn. Use products in well-ventilated areas to avoid inhaling fumes. Open windows and use an exhaust fan, making sure air is exiting outside rather than being recirculated indoors. Take plenty of fresh air breaks. Be sure to use adequate skin, eye, and respirator protection. Do not eat, drink, or smoke while using hazardous products. Traces of hazardous chemicals can be carried from hand to mouth. Smoking can start a fire if the products are flammable. Clean up after using hazardous products. Carefully seal containers.