It would be illogical to imagine that all solid waste could be eliminated. Clearly some methods such as the incentive-based program of Perkasie, Pennsylvania, and new forms of incineration hold promise for reducing the problem. The Debate Over American Garbage Solid Waste 1. Landfills today are constructed in more suitable locations, and new landfills can be opened as current ones fill. While not everyone wants to live near a landfill, given appropriate incentives, there is ample space for new landfills.
Landfills are unpleasant to look at, reduce land values, and pose health risks.
Some current landfills have proven to be unsafe. Optimistic claims about the safety of new landfills might prove to be mistaken. Why or why not Explain your answer. Encourage students to weigh the costs and benefits of landfills, given the points made in questions 1 and 2. Actual answers will vary because students' values will differ.