Recycling/Waste Management

CNN Video Clips

 Topic:  "Recycling": Environmental Science 6th Ed. CNN Ed (2:17 min)
After the first Earth day in 1970, Americans embraced the idea of recycling, but the appeal has declined over the past few years.  From 1990 to 1995, recycling increased by 10%, but from 1995 to 1999, recycling increased by only 2%.  Currently, about ⅓ of household trash is recycled.  However, Americans are consuming more, and the average person generates 4.6 pounds of garbage each day, about two pounds more than in 1960.  To prevent common trash from being sent to landfills, New York City accumulates 1,600 tons (3,200,000 pounds) of trash each day as part of the largest recycling program in the U.S., but the city may suspend the collection of bottles and cans to save money.  Recycling is very important to the economy as it employs over one million Americans, but that may change since many recycling facilities are running at a deficit, including the nations largest recycling facility which is running at 40–50% of its capacity.  The worksheet includes the URL to the EPA website.  (Student worksheet provided on CD)

Topic:  "The Throw Away Society": Environmental Science 7th Ed. CNN Ed (2:26 min)
After the first Earth Day in 1970, Americans embraced the idea of recycling, but the appeal has declined over the decades. In fact, over the past decade Americans consumed more than ever. Each year, Americans generate about 229 million tons of garbage, and one-third of that comes from paper. In 1999, the average American generated 4.7 pounds of garbage each day, about two pounds more than in 1960. Currently, over 6,000 landfills in the U.S. have been filled to capacity and are closed. To compensate for overused landfills, many cities have adopted a fee system of managing trash known as “pay as you throw.” This system is common in cities such as New York, where nearly 12,000 tons of trash is hauled outside of the city every day to be buried or burned. The worksheet includes the URL for the EPA website.  (Student worksheet provided on CD)

Topic:  "Fish on Prozac": Biology 8th Ed. CNN Ed 2004 (1:57)
Drugs ingested by humans are excreted into the toilet and carried to sewer systems. Most sewage treatment plants remove debris and microorganisms but do not test for or remove drugs and other man-made chemicals. As a result, these chemicals are being released into our lakes and streams. Bryan Brooks, a toxicologist at Baylor University, examined fish living in waters downstream from a sewage treatment plant. He found traces of medications and personal care products in their tissues. It is possible that this chemical contamination may alter fish behavior or their ability to reproduce. It may also affect the invertebrates on which the fish feed. (Student worksheet provided on CD)

Topic:  "Recycling in the US":  Environmental Science 6th Ed. CNN Ed 2003 (2:17)
After the first Earth day in 1970, Americans embraced the idea of recycling, but the appeal has declined over the past few years.  From 1990 to 1995, recycling increased by 10%, but from 1995 to 1999, recycling increased by only 2%.  Currently, about ⅓ of household trash is recycled.  However, Americans are consuming more, and the average person generates 4.6 pounds of garbage each day, about two pounds more than in 1960.  To prevent common trash from being sent to landfills, New York City accumulates 1,600 tons (3,200,000 pounds) of trash each day as part of the largest recycling program in the U.S., but the city may suspend the collection of bottles and cans to save money.  Recycling is very important to the economy as it employs over one million Americans, but that may change since many recycling facilities are running at a deficit, including the nations largest recycling facility which is running at 40–50% of its capacity.  The worksheet includes the URL to the EPA website.


Articles in "Taking Sides"
"Is the Superfund Program Successfully Protecting the Environment from Hazardous Wastes?" Easton, Thomas. Taking Sides: Environmental Issues, eleventh edition.
Issue Summary:
"Is the Superfund Program Successfully Protecting the Environment from Hazardous Wastes?" Easton, Thomas. Taking Sides: Environmental Issues, twelfth edition.

    YES:   Environmental consultants Robert H. Harris, Jay Vandeven, and Mike Tilchin aruge that although the Superfund program still has room for improvement, it has made great progress in risk assessment and treatment technologies. 

    NO:  Journalist Margot Rooselvelt argues that because one-quarter of Americans live near Superfund sites, and sites such as Tar Creek, OK, remain hazardous, Superfund's work is clearly not getting done.