WHYY RTL training workshops Links to show descriptions and sites What's on TV12? For preschool children School-age children Kids on the Internet Identity in a diverse society Around the Holidays Activities E-mail WHYY Ready To Learn Service

Earth Day: What we can do to clean up Earth Do you know that in Pennsylvania we disposed of almost 9.5 million tons of waste in 1997? Of that figure, almost 2.5 million tons of waste were recycled, nearly 2 million tons were burned at incinerators, and the remaining 5 million tons were buried in one of the Commonwealth's 51 landfills. How does that compare with figures from a decade ago? Well, in 1989, Pennsylvanians generated 9.2 million tons of waste and landfilled 8.8 million tons. This comparison shows that we have increased the amount of waste we recycled tremendously in the '90s. But considering the large amounts still going to landfills, we certainly can and should do more as we begin to enter the next millennium. In 1998, the U.S. recycled 27 percent of its wastes. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set a goal of increasing that figure to 35 percent by the year 2005. Based on research, one of the major barriers to recycling is the cost. Landfilling costs anywhere from $10 to $88 per ton, with an average cost of $32.50 nationally and $49.50 in Pennsylvania. Recycling the same materials costs an average of $80 per ton, which includes collecting the recyclables (glass, plastic, newspapers, can, etc.), sorting and processing them, and then recovering some of the costs by selling the final product. However, with the number of landfills decreasing (there were 2,514 landfills in the U.S. in 1997, a decrease of 175 from 1996 and a decrease of more than 4,000 since 1989), tipping fees at landfills will rise and recycling costs will become more competitive.

How can you help? Make sure you recycle, and do it correctly. If you have curbside recycling, call the company that runs the program and find out what types of paper, plastics, glass, etc. you should try to sort. Most programs only take plastics marked #1 or #2-the marking is on the bottom of the container. Also, some programs only take clear glass, which has a much higher value. And, there are several types of paper which are good to recycle and others which you would be better off disposing. Talk to your local recycling coordinator. Recycling feels good-that's why so many communities in Pennsylvania now have curbside or drop-off recycling programs. And, it also saves on natural resources. You can do your part to conserve energy and natural resources by recycling and, just as importantly, buying recycled products. At present, aluminum cans are selling for 31 cents per pound (31 cans weigh a pound), plastic is selling for 5 cents a pound, glass for 1.5 cents a pound and newspaper for 2.5 cents a pound. If consumers bought more products made from recyclables, the demand for these materials would go up, along with their price, making recycling more cost effective. You can also purchase the Official Recycled Products Guide by calling (800) 267-0707 or the Pennsylvania Resources Council Guide to Buying Recycled Products by calling (800) GO-TO-PRC or (800) 468-6772. You can also donate older "usable" items to charitable organizations, such as churches, the Salvation Army, Goodwill, Purple Heart, etc. Old clothes, furniture, toys and books can be resold by these agencies instead of being buried in a landfill. Did you know that a plastic item that you throw out takes 450 years to decompose or that an aluminum can takes 200 to 400 years to decompose? If you re-use or recycle these items, you save lots of energy and also save landfill space for items that can't be recycled or reused. Reusing items can save you money, save landfill space, and save natural resources. Recycling Makes Sense The concept is simple: recycling turns materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable resources. Do your part-if you are persistent you can usually find somewhere to recycle mostly anything! See page 3 for recyling phone numbers.