What Happens to Your GARBAGE?
What happens to your used can, bottle or AA battery? What should you do with your old cell phone or computer? These Internet sites have the answers!
1. True or False: A landfill is the same as a dump.
At http://science.howstuffworks.com/landfill6.htm, you learn that a ‘dump’ is a huge open hole in the ground where people throw away just about anything. most are now illegal. A ‘landfill’ is a structure built into or on top of the ground that isolates the waste from the surrounding environment (groundwater, air, rain). The gases released from the landfill might be captured and used for energy. You can see examples of both at http://www.metrokc.gov/dnr/kidsweb/landfill.htm and http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energyfacts/saving/recycling/solidwaste/landfiller.html.
2. How much trash does New York City make each day? Where does it go?
At http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycwasteless/html/recycling/recycle_whathappens.shtml, you learn that New York City’s 2,230 garbage trucks collect 50 million pounds of stuff each day from homes and businesses. That includes 2,500 tons of old Christmas trees that are ground up and used for mulch.
3. True or False: You can recycle your old cell phone.
True. Visit http://earth911.com/, where you’ll find a specialized search engine. Enter what you have to recycle and your zip code. You’ll get a map of any location in your area that will take your worn out/tired out stuff. At http://www.ecycle-it.com/ewaste.htm, you learn that ewaste is the fastest growing source of waste in the world today. This includes old compter monitors, computers, televisions, cell phones, DVDs, VCRs, audio equipment, and video games.
4. True or False: My old computer is full of gold.
It turns out, a typical computer has a lot of gold in it. At http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/materials/ecycling/index.htm, you learn about the various ways to recycle and/or donate your old computer. Many of the materials from electronics can be receycled or refurbished.
5. True or False: Enough energy is saved by recycling just one soda pop can to run your TV for 3 hours.
True. Did you also know that Americans threw away 38 BILLION plastic water bottles in 2006? See http://www.resourcefulschools.org/facts.html for a whole host of other facts on waste in America that will make your head spin, as well as some useful links to help reduce your carbon footprint.
6. How does a recycling facility work?
See http://www.kid-at-art.com/htdoc/educate.html and watch the YouTube video (at right) to learn how a can is recycled and where trash goes once it is collected by the trucks.
