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Health & Fitness

Watch Out, the Trash Is Piling Up.

Waste disposal is a worldwide issue as well as in Swampscott, see the burning unregulated garbage dump that used to be an island in the Maldives More households recycling needed in Swampscott.

Here’s a video of an Island in the Maldives. Not that you can see any of the beaches or palm trees. Rather it is a dump for the rest of the Maldives Island. The title of the video contains the word “Apocalyptic” and for sure it certainly looks like it.

http://www.wimp.com/maldivesisland/

So, where does all the Swampscott, Massachusetts, United States garbage end up?  There is a need to get serious about the amount of garbage we produce individually and globally. Where most places had a town “dump,” most of those are euphemistically called “transfer stations.” Where does the trash get transferred to?

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In the case of Swampscott, our trash gets delivered to the Wheelbator Saugus Waste Combustor, waste-to-energy plant.  Ash residue and various gas emissions are the by-products of this combustion. These plants have various emission control devices which insure that their emissions remain below the minimum amount regulated by law. Of course, what the life span of that combustion unit is a factor for the future of Swampscott’s garbage disposal.

There is a change upcoming concerning waste disposal in our community. The new Waste Disposal recycling requirements are that households will need to keep to two (2) of the 35 gallon sized barrels/trash bags starting July 1. 2012. This is a reduction from the three barrels/bags that are allowed now.

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There are stickers that citizens can purchase for $2.00 from the Public Health Department to place on barrels or bags over the limit. One can still dispose of one (1) large tem each week per household. However, the usual restrictions apply to certain items that cannot be disposed of through the regular waste disposal such as computer monitors etc.

The desire is to increase the community’s recycling  percentage and lower our waste disposal tonnage. Although we rose from 17% recycling to 23% that is not up to levels that will lower the waste disposal weight sufficiently to save more money in the Swampscott budget. Ideally Swampscott residents should achieve between 30-35% recycling rate.

How much more can you be recycling? Do you find you are reducing the amount of garbage barrels or bags? I imagine this may be difficult for families with children. Is there enough financial benefit to the town to make the effort worth it, or are you a “re-cycler” extraordinaire? Does the picture of the burning waste dump for the Maldives make you more concerned about the environment worldwide and encourage local efforts?

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