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Newton County Dilemma: Or, Our Trashy Options
By Bill Lord I was made aware of the increase in the cost of Newton County trash bags just moments before I bought a box of them. If you bought some recently, you may have had a similar whiplash type experience. I know the cost of living has gone up a lot since the last price increase. Still, the same number of bags for twice the money. What was a poor boy to do? As in any situation, there were several options. I set out to explore them with two goals as a guide: 1) Keep my garbage bill about the same each month, and 2) be environmentally responsible for the final destination of my garbage. After all, I created it. The first option, to crank up the old burn barrel, seemed enticing at first. We could get rid of that stuff once and for all. Right? Wrong! I would be contaminating the air we breathe, the water we drink and the soil around the barrel would be a hot toxic zone. Plus, the ash is hazardous and what will I do with that? If that’s not bad enough, my family and neighbors would be breathing toxic smoke. I would be responsible for harming their health. Um, if only I could confine it to my property. Ok. So burning is not a good idea. How about dumping my garbage on the side of that back road? Or the back forty? Or in that sink hole? That’s Ok, Right? Wrong again! That also leads to serious environmental and health problems. Water running over and through the waste would contaminate my local water system, create a toxic zone around the waste and provide a habit for some undesirable rodents and vipers. Sooner or later, someone will have to clean it up. It will cost a lot more money to clean-up an illegal dump than to dispose of it properly. Ok, so maybe that’s not the best idea either. Is there another option? I have learned that over 60% of my trash can be recycled or composted. That means I can turn most of my trash into usable items, giving them another life. It would also save me money, reducing my need for bags by nearly half. Um. Looks like the beginning of a plan. So, I can save money, provide a raw material to industry and help mitigate global climate change all at the same time? That’s right. By recycling I would be responsible for reducing green house gasses (including carbon dioxide), saving oil and reducing water consumption. Sounds like a win-win situation. Plus, our County has a system that rewards those that recycle. It’s called “pay as you throw.” It means, the more material you send to the landfill the more you have to pay. Consequently, the more you recycle, the less you pay. Trash bags can be purchased for $3.00 per bag at local stores or at the Newton County Recycle Center and Transfer Station on Highway 7 south of Jasper. Recycle bags are only ten cents per bag. What an incentive to recycle! When you are deciding what to do about the increase in garbage rates, make a good choice. Be responsible. Be part of the solution to our environmental dilemma, not part of the problem. You will be glad you did. So will your grandchildren. To find how and what to recycle, start a compost pile, dispose of electronic waste and other useful information, see the website www.nwaedd.org/waste. Or, you can call the Solid Waste District at 741.6536 or the Newton County Recycle Center at 446-2393. Submitted by the Environmental Writers Project of the Northwest Arkansas Economic Development District. |
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