The Advance

Issue date: 11/17/06 Section: Opinion

Pollution, the introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment, is the direct result of human activities. If society continues to move on in this direction, the environment will only continue to worsen. Pollution comes in many forms, not just an empty cereal box, empty cans, plastics and ordinary waste. Other forms of pollution include air, ground, noise and water pollution. Due to the devastating effects that pollution has on the environment and its living things, people should be required to regulate the use of non-recyclable items and recycle products that are able to be reused.

In an online project created by Caroline Camic and others, there is a discussion on the health effects caused by air pollution. The document states that around 50,000 people in the United States alone die from illnesses caused by pollutants in the air. People exposed to high amounts of air pollution are also at a greater risk of developing bronchitis, lung cancer and heart disease.

In the past, pollutants such as PCB and DDT were widely used. These chemicals were soon banned due to the harmful effects they made in the environment. However, the chemicals did not just disappear after they were banned, but have remained in the environment ever since. Current studies have shown that harmful chemicals and pollutants build up in the human body over time. On the other hand, experts from the Medical News Today publication suggest that a link to diseases and pollutants in the body is not very clear.

Recycling is only one action that can be taken to reduce pollution rates. The list of items that can be recycled is endless, but includes: yard wastes, clear glass, aluminum cans, plastics, cardboard, and paper. A November 2006 issue of "Scientific American" says that materials made from recycled resources are less expensive when compared to those made from new tree fibers. The article also states that 86 percent of American residents have access to a curbside or drop-off recycling program. Also suggested is the notion that recycling companies can make more money because China wants to buy wastepaper as a raw material.

With pollution affecting everyone, people may ask what they can do to make a difference. Here in Salina, the city has a Curbside Recycling Pilot Program that has been active for over a year. During this time, the service reached its goal of having 900 customers in the area. Due to the success, the City Commission has authorized that it continue for one more year in its current design. Any person is eligible to volunteer for this program; however, an applicant must be put on a waiting list due to the shortage of workers and the cost of processing the materials.
The recycling program includes a monthly fee of exactly $4.90 which is added to the customers' monthly water bill. An 18-gallon recycle bin is given to the applicant to fill and is set out on the specified day of pick up, just like the regular garbage system. The city collects aluminum, steel, newspaper, mixed paper, plastics, and clear, brown and green glass. After the recycle bins are collected, the contents are taken to Images Recycling Center, which is located at 108 South Fourth Street. At this facility, the materials are then packaged and sent to other companies that will reuse them.

Recycling may seem like an action that does not make a difference because people do not see the need in it. Slowly, but surely, the environment is growing worse because of all the pollution put into it on a daily basis. If people were to conserve and reuse things that can be used more than once, then even this act would benefit society. People should become informed on the effects of pollution and also know about local companies that will accept materials to be recycled. On a local basis, the people of Salina should request that the Curbside Recycling Program be a city wide project. Nationally, there needs to be required recycling of certain products such as paper and plastics. Also, there should be harsher penalties for companies that put out harmful chemicals in the environment. Earth is everyone's home; we should take care of it.

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