Environment

Emptier Pockets Prove Good for the Environment

by Barbara Mathieson | January 26, 2009 at 06:09 am

167 views | 14 Recommendations | 5 comments

Posted: Sunday, 25 January 2009 2:55PM

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- There's an upside to the economy getting trashed...landfills around the state are receiving considerably less garbage.
At one of the nation's largest depositories in Puente Hills, about 17 miles east of Los Angeles, operators have seen a 30 percent drop in trash being delivered from neighboring municipalities. Disposal rates at the Miramar Landfill in San Diego are also way down.

Robert Reed, the public relations manager for Sunset Scavenger in San Francisco, said the tonnage of daily garbage and recycling produced in the city is down about five percent, and that much of that change has taken place in the last six months.

Reed said in addition to reduced personal consumption, construction waste has plummeted with the slowing housing market.

Also contributing to the reduction in trash at landfills - a state law calling for 50 percent of trash to be diverted from dumps.

The litter on the roadsides has not been decreased unfortunately.

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Uwe Paschen

at 07:15 on January 26th, 2009

Is there less garbage being produced or is it simply no longer send to the land fields due to garbage bag fees?

Geneva B

at 13:28 on January 26th, 2009

I had a serious hunch a "recession" would be better for the planet! Glad to see I was right!

Uwe Paschen

at 17:36 on January 26th, 2009

I disagree with this statement Geneva B, many are cutting corners more so now then before to save money on recycling or proper disposing of toxic waste dumping it in the rivers, baring it into the ground or burning it illegally. It is actually getting worth and authorities are closing both eyes for lack of resources and because times are hard as is and no need to give any one the death due to environmental regulation. I see almost every day.

tedraynor

at 17:26 on January 26th, 2009

I never needed a recession to cut back on my consumption. And yes, either folks are buying less or they are just dumping their garbage in the ocean now. A little of both perhaps?