The most common method for disposing of garbage in today's world is to take the refuse to a municipally-approved site commonly referred to as a "landfill." But what did we do before garbage trucks were invented?
History
Prior to the Industrial Revolution, what was considered waste was mostly vegetable matter, bones, wood, fire ash and dead bodies. This material was buried in the ground to act as compost. People repaired and continued to use whatever they could, so recycling was the norm. Waste disposal systems were developed as a result of increased populations in city environments and increased types of waste. At the beginning of the twentieth century, paper cups and towels began adding to the debris, and by 1953, TV dinners were created, resulting in more disposable packaging waste.
Modern Waste Disposal
At first, many Americans burned their garbage or dumped it at a designated area on the edge of town. Today, however, landfills are the only authorized areas for the disposal of garbage in most densely populated areas. When a garbage truck finishes its rounds for the day, it is weighed and the contents inspected at the landfill. The garbage then is dumped and compacted. All the garbage for each day is placed in a cell, which then is covered with a foam spray, wood chips, dirt or a temporary blanket. This helps to control pests and to keep the garbage from being distributed elsewhere by the wind. When each section of the landfill is capped, grass is planted over the site.
Landfill Features
Non-porous liners made of material such as clay or plastic are used to help prevent the contents of the landfill from contaminating the soil. Landfills do not allow for biodegradability; they are more like storage units. When landfills have been sealed, they are used for recreational areas such as golf courses, parks and ski slopes. The groundwater around landfill sites is tested for years after capping in order to ensure that waste is not seeping into it.
Bioreactors
A newer type of landfill allows for biodegrading to take place. Called "bioreactors," air and/or leachate is used in these landfills, which permits much more waste to be stored in them than in regular landfills. The methane gas produced from organic decomposition can be, and often is, used as an energy source.
The Future of Waste Disposal
Of all the waste we generate, 31 percent gets recycled, 14 percent is burned and 55 percent ends up in the landfill. As of 2007, Americans threw away around three pounds of garbage per person every day. This number is pretty substantial, but the good news is that we also recycled 63 million tons of material. While the number of landfills in the country has decreased, the size of each landfill has increased. Perhaps someday it will be possible to dispose of our garbage by shooting it up into space. Until then, however, waste management will continue to pose a challenge.
Tags: Waste Disposal
