This study examines the relationship that exists among technical knowledge, public opinion and media coverage of solid waste disposal issues. Specifically, it compares the results of a survey of ASME members, existing national polling data and a content analysis of national media outlets. A January 1992 mail survey of ASME members elicited the opinions of both the general membership and the Solid Waste Processing Technical Division. Engineers regard solid waste disposal as a more serious problem than either the public or the media .
Specialists rate solid waste as America's number one environmental problem.
But it ranks behind air and water pollution, hazardous waste and global warming in amount of media coverage, and the public's ratings mirror the media's environmental news agenda. Engineers and the public disagree about the sources of the problem . Engineers worry most about plastic and waste paper, while the public is more concerned about disposable diapers, foam packaging and aerosol containers. Media coverage is too sparse to provide much guidance to the public. Engineers and the public disagree about the solution .