THE DANGERS OF HOUSEHOLD GARBAGE
Reducing the hazardous waste in America's landfills starts
at home. Millions of households are producing billions of pounds
of solid waste. Products used every day in our homes leach hazardous
chemicals after entering landfills. There are a number of simple
steps that average consumer can take to limit the damage that
many of these toxic materials are doing to the environment.
The garbage situation has become a big concern in cities all
around the country and not only is this a political issue, but
it is also a problem that has caught the attention of the general
population. We all realize there is a growing problem but nobody
likes to admit that their garbage is contributing to the problem.
Many municipalities have already started a recycling program
to deal with the growing mountains of paper, plastic, glass,
etc. Although it takes a bit of effort on the part of the public
to sort and separate their garbage, people are now beginning
to realize that the future of our environment is at stake. One
household product that is causing a problem these days is throwaway
batteries. Each year, Americans throw away 84.000 tons of alkaline
batteries. These AA, C and D cells that power electronic toys
and games, portable audio equipment and a wide range of other
gadgets comprise 20% of the household hazardous materials present
around the country in America's landfills. When a battery in
one of the products we use fails, we simply run out and buy
a replacement. The dead battery ends up in the garbage and no
one thinks about where it goes and what happens to it after
the garbage is picked up. Sealed inside these alkaline cells
are harmful materials which are not encountered by consumers
during normal use. However, when the batteries enter a landfill,
the casings can be crushed, or can easily degrade, which causes
mercury and other toxins to leach into the environment. The
problem of batteries in landfills is one of the easiest to solve.
Using rechargeable power can significantly reduce the number
of batteries which end up in landfills. Rechargeable batteries
can be used again and again, up to 1,000 times. One rechargeable
cell can replace up to 300 throwaway batteries, keeping the
landfill free not only from the batteries themselves, but also
from the paper and plastic materials that are used to package
them. There are a number of manufacturers in the country today
who deal in rechargeable products and some of them have a number
of programs already in place to ensure that rechargeable batteries
never enter a landfill at all. For example, one of the largest
manufacturers of rechargeable products is now offering a lifetime
replacement guarantee on all round cells. If the product ever
fails to accept or hold a charge, the company will promptly
replace it and recycle the used cell. If you have an environmental
agency in your area, you might like to work on this issue with
them, or perhaps they already have a program set up to dispose
of used batteries. As a concerned citizen, your suggestions
and input will be invaluable to them as they attempt to come
up with some solutions.
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