Recycling is becoming a common occurrence and easier to carry out as the number of office and curbside recycling programs increases across the country. Responding requires that we let both manufacturers and public officials know that we as a society and as individuals are concerned about our environment and the preservation of natural resources. This can be done directly through letter writing programs as well as through our purchasing choices. Each year in the United States more landfills close than open. New landfills are limited by regulations, public concern and lack of suitable sites.
Trash disposal is an ever-growing concern with few easy answers.
The best solution, and the one advocated by the EPA, is called source reduction, or reducing both the toxicity and amount of waste as close to its generation point as possible. Incineration is sometimes considered a relatively easy answer to the growing volume of waste. Unfortunately, the process of incineration generates dioxin, a known and powerful cause of cancer. Incineration also emits many heavy metals and chemical compounds that can pose health hazards. Much of this material ends up in ash leftover from incineration and must be placed in a sealed landfill.