Not only is this a frightening picture, the projections show a 20 percent increase by the year 2000.
Landfills fill and close rapidly and space for new landfills is ever hard to find.
It is imperative that individuals take responsibility for their consumption levels and disposal methods. Many individuals and communities are doing just that by developing recycling programs and finding a viable answer to this ever growing problem. Addressing the State's growing environmental issues, the Maryland General Assembly passed recycling legislation in 1988 requiring all counties and Baltimore City to reduce their solid waste streams from 15 to 20 percent based on each jurisdiction's population. Jurisdictions with populations over 150,000 must achieve a 20 percent solid waste reduction. The materials to recycle, including the collection, separation and processing methods, are decided by each jurisdiction.