From: JIM.DIXON@f240.n353.z1.fidonet.org (JIM DIXON)
Newsgroups: k12.ed.science
Subject: WASTE
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 93 10:16:00 PDT
Organization: FidoNet node 1:353/240 - The Polish Connecti, Westbank BC

 Jim Dixon is responding to Tyler Coffey's bytes to All
 about WASTE

Hello Tyler;

 TC> the subject of landfill and waste removal.  I live in Bonners Ferry
 TC> Idaho.  This is a small town of about 2500.  It is located
 TC> approximately 20 miles from the Canadian border.  I don't know alot
 TC> on this subject except that I know Idaho is a small state and that
 TC> often times I've heard that larger state's waste is often
 TC> transported to smaller states such as Idaho and our neighbor
 TC> Montana.  I would like to know any information anyone has on this

Idaho has a population of 1,007,000 (1990 stats.)  The population is
expected to decline to 985,000 by 2010.  There are 361,000 homes and the
average per capita income for Idaoans is 9,159.00.  Total area of Idaho is
83,574 sq.miles with a land area of 82,751 sq.miles with National Parks
useing 97,656 acres and State Parks at 47,000 acres.

Idaho consumes 355 Billion BTU (354 m BTU per capita) in 1990. Chief
sources of energy are petroleum at 32%, gas at 12% hydro at 20% with
renewable sources of energy used at 46.7%.  Petroleum energy dumps a great
deal of toxic waste (see further down.) Consumption by end use of energy is
residential at 21%, commercial 19%, industrial 36% and transportation at
24%.

Total solid waste generated in Idaho is 850 thousand tons or 0.84 tons per
capita per year.  Idaho has 83 minicipal landfills and only 2 curbside
recycling programs, 9 hazardous waste sites and 1 municipal incinerator.

Idaho uses 22,300 Million gallons (22,300 gallons per capita) per day.
Usage is broken down into; public supply at 1.3%, industrial and mining at
1.5% and irrigation at a whopping 92.4%

Pollutant releases are; toxics released equal 5.8 thousand tons or 11.51
pounds per capita, toxics transfered, 1.5 tons, Smog precursors, 1.5
Million tons, Acid precip. precursors, 38.6 thousand tons, Greenhouse gas
emissions, Co2 at 17.1 Million tons or 17.02 tons per capita.

I hope the above figures gives you some insight into your state and any
probelms that may exist now of the near future regarding landfills.

 TC> I would like to know how much space we have for landfills and when
 TC> and if we will ever run out.  I would also like to hear some
 TC> information and opinions on the burning of trash.  I would like to

Locating and siting landfills has become a big issue. As landfills fill up,
municipalities look elsewhere and most landowners yell "not in my
backyard."  As the population spreads, consumers continue to by products
with packaging that continues to fill landfills and lanfills continue to
leach toxic and hazardous chemicals, alternatives are needed.  One
alternative of course if incineration.  However, with each new incinerator,
the term "state of the art" is used by the proponents.  Unfortunately, poor
equipment, un-skilled operators and the need to burn more quicker has
resulted in tons of more toxic and hazardous effluents poured into the
atmosphere.  Burning has yet to be proven a safe and effective method of
ridding our planet of consumer garbage.  There are many instances where
incineration has been cited as the main culprit at increasing the local
cancer rates.  Many ininerators are shut down because of the amount of
deadly toxins being released to inhabitants downwind.  Incinerating a given
waste may reduce the quantity of the waste but the resulting effluent is
more toxic than the original product...but in smaller quantity.
Incineration has it's benefits, but has many drawbacks as well.

 TC> know the state and government regulations on these things.  I am
 TC> also interested in recycling.  I would like to become more aware of
 TC> different things I can do to help preserve our world.  Here, in

You can set the example when you buy products. Look for products with very
little packaging. Reuse and recycle wherever possible but the best is to
REFUSE products that are over-packaged and REDUCE usage of products with
excessive packaging.

Your's is the generation that will inherit the garbage, the buldging
landfills, the toxic and hazardous wastes, degredated agri-land, polluted
water and increasing demand for energy.  Already governemnts are at a loss
as to how to deal with these and other problems effectively and efficiently.
Cleaning up the mess has already become a very expensive process for
Canadian and American taxpayers and the cost will continue to rise. We have
created a problem that you must deal with in your very near future.  How
you deal with it will be up to you and your friends. Hopefully, many of
your age will continue their education with a goal to clean up the problems
and that technology will help you along...not impede your progress. The
best of luck Tyler.

Jim
___ Blue Wave/QWK v2.11
                                                                                                

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