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The Not So Good Old Days
By Eddie Treece 395 Words
While reminiscing about his days growing up in Alabama, Alan Jackson sang about how his dad taught him to drive while hauling-off the trash down Thickpen Road. Things have changed dramatically since Mr. Jackson learned to drive.
The introduction of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (Solid Waste Disposal Act) provided a broad comprehensive cradle-to-grave regulation for hazardous waste, underground storage tanks, plastics, and non-hazardous solid waste. This Act also issued guidelines for the recycling of used oil, which constitutes a threat to public health and the environment when improperly disposed.
We still see the results of this Act in the form of comprehensive waste collection and recycling programs for virtually everyone in the United States. Unfortunately, a small percentage of the population refuses to take advantage of these services provided by local and state government, instead opting to dispose of their waste along the roadsides, in sink holes, back roads, old logging roads, or on the back forty.
Illegal dumps can be as small as 1 trash bag or as large as 500 cubic yards. Unfortunately, the majority of things people illegally dispose can be reused or recycled including plastic hay twine, net wrap, and feed sacks that are so prevalent from fall to spring in this region of the state.
Cleaning up litter and illegal dumps is also very expensive. Last year the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department spent 5.6 million dollars cleaning up roadside litter.
Fortunately, our state is also proactive in keeping the roadsides clean. There are various groups and organizations actively involved in this thankless task. The Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department has 1,775 Adopt A Highway groups scattered throughout the state.
The consequences for violating the solid waste laws can also get your attention. The penalty for violating Arkansas’ Solid Waste Management Act is a fine of not more than $10,000.00 and/or up to one year in jail. Plus you still have to clean-up the mess up and properly dispose of it.
We, as a state and a community, are making headway by offering various recycling services, educating the public, and actively enforcing current solid waste laws. Please contact your county recycling center or this office for information on recycling or to report illegal dumping.
Remember, a lot of people doing a little can make a big difference.
Submitted by the Environmental Writers Project of the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District. For more information, call 870.741.6536 or online at www.nwaedd.org/waste
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