Recycling and Other Efforts Help Save the Environment

What used to be called the city dump is now a sanitary landfill, a euphemism that hasn’t kept garbage to any manageable level. In fact, Southern California’s landfills are expected to be chock-full by 1991.

While officials have explored alternatives--giant incinerators, the sacrifice of more natural canyons to landfills and the co-composting of trash and sludge on the municipal level--the citizenry has continued to produce an annual 2 to 2.8 tons of rubbish per household as if the garbage problem didn’t exist.

The Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation estimates that we can remove as much as 20% from the “trash stream” with efficient recycling.

Another additional percentage could be removed if people simply changed some of their shopping habits--buying goods wrapped in paper rather than plastic, buying the largest-size an item comes in, buying products that last longer, etc.

The effort it takes to reduce garbage output may be inconvenient, but paying ever higher sanitation fees and polluting our air with decomposing garbage gases and our land with toxic waste is inconvenient too.

Here are 10 ways to cut down dramatically on the amount of trash your household produces every day.

Buy products that can be recycled; then recycle them. Some items, such as aluminum beverage cans, can be recycled efficiently and inexpensively. A new state law mandating recycling services near major supermarkets has made the process easy and even profitable for consumers. For the recycling center nearest you, call these toll-free recycling hot lines: (800) 553-2962 for metal, glass, newspapers, plastic, cardboard, computer and ledger paper, (800) 327-9886 for beverage containers.

The Yellow Pages list many scrap-metal companies that will pay you for aluminum, copper, brass, lead, batteries, radiators and insulated wire. Thrift shops run by charities will help recycle your old clothes, appliances, furniture, toys and books--and you’ll get a tax deduction for a charitable gift.

Use biodegradable products. “The rule of thumb is to avoid most plastics, especially Styrofoam,” says Jill Ratner of Citizens for a Better Environment, a state-wide organization that works for waste reduction and recycling. “Most plastics are not recyclable. Not only are they slow to decompose, their decomposition produces toxic chemicals and gases.”

The chairman of the board of Californians Against Waste agrees. “Always ask for paper bags instead of plastic ones at the supermarket,” says Amy Lethbridge, head of the consumer/environmental organization, the No. 1 priority of which is sound waste management and recycling. “You can choose waxed paper over plastic wrap,” she suggests. “Also use milk in cartons instead of plastic jugs and natural fabrics and materials instead of petroleum-based ones.”

Avoid excessive packaging. “Instead of buying a plastic container of liquid soap, use a bar of soap that comes wrapped in paper,” suggests Alan Arata, chairman of the solid-waste subcommittee of the Sierra Club’s Angeles Chapter.

“Another tip is to ask for your ice cream in a cone instead of a cup with a plastic spoon. Slice your own cheese instead of buying it in individually wrapped slices,” he continues. “And buy loose produce.”

Buy in larger sizes. “The ratio of packaging to product is lower that way,” Jill Ratner says. “Some products, such as shampoo, are sold almost exclusively in plastic containers, but if you buy the largest size possible, you are at least reducing the amount of packaging you purchase over the long term.”

Buy products with a long life. Tools, appliances, even cars, can be bought with longevity in mind, because once discarded, they become disposal problems.

Buy reusable products. Arata sighs when he speaks of disposable diapers. “I suppose the public has decided in favor of convenience in this case,” he says, “but reusable cotton diapers really are cheaper and better for the environment.”

Jill Ratner recommends reusable storage containers for refrigerator and pantry. “The best are glass or enameled metal,” she says.

Buy already-recycled products. Paper egg cartons are a good example of recycled material. Made of the end product of the paper-recycling process, they are biodegradable and nonpolluting, unlike their Styrofoam alternative. “Tissue paper, toilet paper and paper towels all have a fairly high recycle content,” says Susan Kinsella, spokeswoman for Conservatree, a national distributor of recycled paper in San Francisco.

“Many items found in grocery stores are made of recycled paper,” says Suzanne Dyer, communications coordinator for Vons Companies, Inc. “Look at the inside of cardboard packaging,” she says. “If the inside of the box is white, it is new material; if it is greyish-brown, the packaging is recycled.”

Use all of the product you buy. One of the worst problems faced by sanitation departments nationwide is the disposal of toxic waste in landfills, and for that matter, sewers. Half-full containers of chemicals, pesticides, paint and solvents are often thrown into the household trash, adding to the volume and compromising the safety of the landfill.

If you can’t use up something you have bought, try giving it to someone who needs it. Usable paint, for example, can be donated to Metro Preservation Corp., 1163 West 27th St., Los Angeles . Your old paint will be used to cover over graffiti. Call (213) 747-6129.

Make your own compost. Almost a third of the trash collected from single-family homes consists of leaves and grass cuttings, all that rich, organic material the sanitation department calls “yard waste.” With a minimum of effort and a little space, much of this can be recycled on the spot.

“If you are a homeowner, get more involved with your gardening,” suggests Stodder, Mayor Bradley’s assistant. “Some people hire professionals to tend their yards, but it is more fun and healthier to do it yourself. For about $100 you can buy compost equipment at the hardware store, or you can make your own compost container out of lumber and chicken wire. Mix leaves and clippings to create a mulch that is fantastic for growing things.”

Choose the lesser of two evils. As your time shrinks and technology grows more complex, it gets harder to follow all the ecological commandments. But you don’t have to be a martyr or a fanatic to make a real difference; just do the best you can.

“If you must use disposable plates instead of china, use paper plates rather than plastic,” Jill Ratner suggests. “If your favorite bread comes wrapped in a plastic bag instead of paper, then at least reuse the bag a couple of times.”