Finding a green response to trash: It's not just an American problem!
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Sometimes, it's easy to believe your own press, even if all the press is bad. Over the past few years, as the United States has seemingly abdicated any sort of environmental leadership role, there has been a growing perception that we are a nation of filthy over-consumers, wallowing in our own waste products. By comparison, Europe has been viewed as some sort of environmental city on a hill, a perfect land where everybody recycles, public transportation rules the roost, and there is perfect harmony.As we all know, things are rarely quite so black and white. Over the past few months, several news outlets, including GreenDaily, have watched Naples' trash problem with growing alarm. Plagued with overflowing dumps, ever-increasing piles of garbage, and a trash-collection infrastructure that seemingly gave up, the city's waste problem reached crisis levels this year. Amid growing social unrest and claims of corruption, people resorted to burning trash in the streets. Sophia Loren even stepped in with her own bizarre plea for resolution!
Germany to the rescue! For eleven weeks, beginning in June, Hamburg has agreed to accept a daily dose of 700 tons of Naples' trash. The German city will recycle what it can and incinerate the rest. While Hamburg officials stress that this is a temporary solution, there is no doubt that the Italians are overjoyed at their surprising deliverance.
If Naples represents our worst trash nightmares, then Hamburg may represent our dreams. Over the last ten years, the German city has greatly reduced its total garbage production, despite an increase in population. In addition to its impressive incineration/power generation program, the city also has streetside recycling stations that help reduce its garbage production.
Italy is only one of many European nations that are facing a looming trash crisis. Analysts predict that Great Britain's landfills will be full within nine years. Italy, Britain, Greece and Spain all send the majority of their trash to landfills, and even France and Ireland are facing the likelihood that long-term European Union landfill-reduction goals will go unmet.
Meanwhile, on this side of the Atlantic, we are dealing with the same problem, and often using the same solutions as Germany. Like many European countries, we put too much trash in landfills. On the other hand, like Germany, we are working to implement widespread recycling programs, and have used clean trash incineration to generate electricity. The SEMASS facility in Rochester, Massachusetts, has been keeping landfills clear and kilowatts pumping for almost twenty years!
There is no doubt that we face a garbage crisis, and there is no excuse for ignoring it. That having been said, it's important to remember that the United States isn't the only country dealing with this problem, nor are we the only country whose efforts have fallen short of our ideals. While we need to work harder for sustainability, we also must remember that this is a worldwide problem, and that we aren't the only ones who are trying to remedy it!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-23-2008 @ 2:19PM
gustavion said...
The climate change issue is certainly a global concern. However, even on a global scale, I still maintain that it is necessary to inspire more responsibility out of individuals. I came across a neat website http://www.simplestop.net that stops your postal junk mail and benefits the environment. Ideas like this are great because the benefit the environment and provide the consumer with utility.
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7-23-2008 @ 8:44PM
porschedevotee said...
I thought the problem in Italy was not necessarily solely because of ever-increasing amounts of trash or ever-decreasing landfill space, but because the trash collectors went on strike...?
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7-23-2008 @ 8:46PM
Bruce Watson said...
Porschedevotee-
Actually, every article I've seen has indicated that the trash collection closed down because there simply wasn't any place to put the trash.
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7-24-2008 @ 11:11AM
Thanh T. said...
“Finding a green response to trash: It's not just an American problem!”
Interesting article…
I would also agree. As the world’s population continues to grow, many of us believe consumer waste will also have an affect on a city/state infrastructure!
I think as our society begins to find creative solutions for cleaner renewable/alternative energy sources-(solar, wind, geo thermal, wave powered, bio-green and so on…) Finding creative solutions to help manage a city/state consumer waste and trash infrastructure crisis is also environmental important.
People often visit a city/state for its unique attractions, clean-natural beauty, architecture, and hospitality.
I would agree, recycling drop off centers-stations strategically place around a city, university or apartment buildings is a good idea/plan… (Recycling plastics, glass, wood, paper, metal, tires and so on…)
Perhaps, cities can creative special programs and incentives to encourage businesses/citizens to recycle.
Implementing an incineration/power generation programs to produce electricity is another creative choice for a city/state growing infrastructure.
Hmmm…very interesting article on environmental leadership role around the world.
Thanks for posting this article.
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