Waste Management : The Largest Waste Handling Company

Recycling has been the environmental crusade to reducing the human footprint, with it’s spotlight shining down on in recent years. It was the noblest of causes, recycling being a great idea for the environment and society; but it is being handled poorly. Its modern descendant has turned into a corporate scheme with recycling becoming a business, instead of being about the environment because marketers are using environmentalism as a excuse for overconsumption, recycling products are only being recycled for profit, and cities & big business use inflated numbers to attain media attention. Let’s now take a look at the bread and butter of

For example, what are the consequences of using the system and why do these problems exist? Also, how efficient is recycling as an environmentally-friendly mode of waste disposal? Although the process of recycling is stunted by human error and ignorance, the method is not only effective at reducing refuse worldwide; it is also the best waste-management option available.

Group Thesis Statement: The alarming effects of consumer waste that pollutes the land, water and air will continue to rise and negatively impact numerous ecosystems on Earth if every human being doesn’t utilize the reduce, recycle, and recycle concept.

We have all heard the saying reduce, reuse, and recycle from a very young age. But let’s face it, how many of us recycle? The world we live in is slowly filling up with the trash that we throw out every day. One day who knows, we might be living in our own trash and everywhere we look there will be trash. Is this a world where we all want to live in? If not, we need to take steps to prevent the buildup of trash in our landfills and even our oceans. Therefore, recycling needs to be encouraged because it reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills, prevents pollution, conserves natural resources, and creates jobs.

The United States produces roughly 250 million tons of solid waste, or garbage, on an annual basis. This number equates to 4.4 pounds of solid waste created by every American on a daily basis (Miller, Meindl, & Caradine, 2016). The recycling rate in the U.S. is around 35%, meaning over 165 million tons of waste is placed in the nation’s landfills or incinerated each year (Mozo-Reyes, Jambeck, Reeves, & Johnsen, 2015). Landfilling recyclables contributes to a greater strain on global resources because materials that may have been reused must now be replaced (Miller, et.al. 2016). Landfilling waste also contributes to air pollution through the release of methane (Delkash, Zhou, and Singh, 2016) and poses threats to groundwater near landfills (Talalaj & Biedka, 2016). As the population of the nation (and the world) increases, strategies must be found to reuse resources rather than simply disposing of them.

companies that choose to help recycle. In reflection, not knowing how to recycle a well-powered

Ace Scavenger Service began its journey as a small, family owned trash hauling business in 1894. The family business was passed to Dean Buntrock in 1956. Buntrock had the foresight to begin consolidating small trash companies into one large company. He started with the merger of his firm with two other smaller firms in 1968 and created Waste Management, Inc. In 1971, Waste Management, Inc. had its initial public offering and used those proceeds, and some questionable business practices, to take over their competitors. It was a great time to be in the garbage business as throwaway items and containers began to become more and more common and the trash business was also

Across the country cities have taken the initiative to reduce their carbon footprint and enact stricter regulations for sorting trash and collecting it. As stated by Phuong Le of the Seattle Times, “Striving to reduce the trash it sends to landfills, Seattle has banned foam take-out containers and plastic bags, told residents they must recycle cardboard and compost food scraps...” (“Seattle Idea”). In order to eliminate excess waste from entering landfills, Seattle has prohibited the distribution of non-decomposable items and encouraged composting and recycling. By introducing strict regulations on non-decomposable materials entering the city and having its citizens sort their own trash, the amount of waste that a city sends to landfills will be reduced. Wheeler, journalist for the Baltimore Sun, states, “Recycling that food waste instead of burning it or burying can save money...and converting it to compost can help grow new food by enhancing depleted soils” (“Maryland Firm”). Wasted food can be converted into compost instead of being discarded in landfills can be used in the growth of new foods while enhancing the soil around it. Since compost is rich in nutrients, the city not only saves money by recycling food waste but it can also profit since the compost can be sold to local farmers and gardeners.

The United States produces roughly 250 million tons of solid waste, or garbage, on an annual basis. This number equates to 4.4 pounds of solid waste created by every American on a daily basis (Miller, Meindl, & Caradine, 2016). The recycling rate in the U.S. is around 35%, meaning over 165 million tons of waste is placed in the nation’s landfills or incinerated each year (Mozo-Reyes, Jambeck, Reeves, & Johnsen, 2015). Landfilling recyclables contributes to a greater strain on global resources as materials that may have been reused must be replaced (Miller, et.al. 2016). Landfilling waste also contributes to air pollution through the release of methane (Delkash, Zhou, and Singh, 2016) and poses threats to groundwater near landfills (Talalaj & Biedka, 2016). As the population of the nation (and the world) increases, strategies must be found to reuse resources rather than simply disposing of them.

It is estimated we use 40 million tons of food each year. We have become a wasteful society. In addition, electronical waste of old computers and electronic devices is known as e-waste. Over 70 million computers are sitting in landfills. E-waste is growing as new devices and better technology is being developed in our society today. Out with old in with the new increases throughout the year as new electronical devices are being made. We need to educate

Contamination needs to be eliminated at all costs. When proper recycling is not done correctly: breaking the recycling machine if the wrong product is thrown into the machine, which causes safety hazards for the workers. If all make an effort, we can prevent

There is nonetheless opposition to companies that seek to turn landfill gas into electricity, for several reasons such as its relative high costs, local air pollution but namely it suggests that it is acceptable to dump waste at landfill sites rather than pursue waste minimisation or recycling initiatives (Shrank, 2011). Veolia states that it ‘encourages waste minimisation and recycling’ (Veolia, 2014), however if a

variety of other expense; most notably, the company did not record depletion expense on their

Testing the calculations used by management to translate the assumptions and key factors into the accounting estimate.

When I first went to the university, I knew nothing about environmental science but as I became familiar with the program it became more and more exciting. The complexity of the course and discovering that everything in the world is related to the environment was very fascinating to me. I further did a master degree in sustainable development with specialties in environment and natural resources management. My thesis was on waste management especially medical waste management. That is where I became more interested to study environment and health, patients go into the hospital with less illness and come back with bigger health issues. scavengers mostly children are exposed to contaminated syringes and cloths and are of high risk of been infected by HIV and Hepatitis B. This is due to improper waste management in these hospitals. I thought to myself if only this aspect of medical waste can be this harmful to the health of the population what about other aspects of the Environment. How will they affect the health of the population? It became clear to me that I should study more about the environment and our health and how I can help to reduce untimely deaths in my community and country.