Many of us give thought to trash disposal these days, what with the “green” movement and recycling becoming more common place (I’ve noticed recycling containers at many more sporting events and concerts and such). Concerns about there being a way to deal with trash are fueled by news reports showing potential issues, barges of trash with nowhere to go (this was a report I remember from several years back)!

Garbage and how to handle it is not as pressing an issue as you might think, however. In The Skeptical Environmentalist, Lomborg states, “Even if waste production continues to increase and the American population doubles over the next hundred years, a single square landfill of less than 18 miles on the side can contain the entire twenty-first century US waste—just 26 per cent of Woodward County, Oklahoma”(Skeptical…, p. 211). This topic is also discussed (primarily in regards to recycling) on the Non-energy Resources page.

There have also been reports of landfills being used to produce green fuel (http://www.jgpress.com/archives/_free/001417.html). Although not specifically related to the question of space, such reports support the idea of science and technology keeping pace with human needs. Again, this idea is touched on in the resources section and discussed more fully in Jay Wile’s Eco-hysteria CD. I actually read several articles (searched google) about bacteria that eat oil! How handy is that?! With the information from Lomborg, and the assurance that humanity has been given what we need (like that oil-eating bacteria) as well as the knowledge and know-how to address issues that arise, you can rest assured that trash disposal is not a crisis of any sort! This is not to suggest that you abandon your recycling efforts, or have no concern over the trash you produce, but rather to do what you can with a sense that it’s okay…don’t feel guilty if you want to use paper plates and cups for a gathering to make cleanup easy (like I used to feel!). Do what you can when you can and trust that that is enough! 

Return From Trash Disposal to Pollution 

Return to Homepage