viewpoint Richard D. Vaughan Acting Commissioner, Solid Wastes Management Ofice Environmental Protection A ~ e n c v
SoIid waste man agement -eve ry body’s pror)Iem Until quite recently, one could accurately refer to solid waste management as America’s forgotten problem. It was usually at the bottom of a city’s priority list of things to do. The philosophy seemed to b e w h y worry about garbage until it piles up around your door? Then, suddenly things began to change. With the advent of the garbage strike, our citizenry was given a taste of what life would be like without collection service. Pollution control authorities began demanding an end to incineration in overloaded and outmoded facilities that were often without even a pretense of air-cleaning equipment. Others spoke out against a major insult to our environment-the open burning dump. The few good disposal operations began facing a dilemma when land available for sanitary landfills became scarce or too expensive. The careless American littered his countryside with reckless abandon and then complained when his taxes went up to collect his trash. About that time another type of citizen came along who said he Was concerned about the “solid waste problem” but strenuously objected to any solution, or disposal site, located near his part of town. He didn’t seem to care that the facility had to be in someone’s part of town. Who caused all this? Everybody! There is an increasing number of us, and in our aflluent way we produce more and more waste per person. We are not handling our present waste load adequately, and prediction calls for doubling this amount long before we leave the twentieth century. Thus, the proper management of this nation’s solid waste is everybody’s problem. If it is truly everybody’s problem, then everyone should work toward a realistic solution. What can we do? The scientist can turn his genius toward developing better technology to handle this problem. The economist can devise more equitable ways to raise money for the necessary task of management in such a way that a major part of the cost is borne by those who cause the problem. Personnel charged with enforcement can vigorously pursue their responsibility of making people obey the law in the environmental pollution control field, much as they are required to obey the law in other areas.
agement as high priority responsibility. He can demonstrate his concern by eliminating open dumps and other unsatisfactory practices, and replacing.them with practices that protect rather than degrade our environmenteven if it costs more money. The industrialist can ensure that all wastes from his plant are managed properly and recycled wherever possible. He can also give thoughtful consideration to the effect on the environment when he develops new products which tax the nation’s solid waste management capabilities. The educator can help instill in our country’s citizens a concern for the preservation of our environment. This concern should be important to our youth as well as our adult citizens. The concerned citizen can perhaps play the most imnnrtant in&tino thnt rPmrmdhle .... -..-...rnlp nf 911 -.-hv l, _..“_”.___D ..._thnw _.l_. . .r-------for solid waste management in his community do a good job now and adequately plan to ensure that a good job will be done in the years to come. Mr. and MIS. Citizen can also voice their displeasure to those industries that do not handle their own wastes properly, or continue to develop products without concern about their environmental effect. Because effec one’s problem, it the problem.
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Acting Commissioner of the new EPA’S Solid Wastes Management Office. He was formerly the Director of the Bureau of Solid Wastes Management under HEW
Volume 5, Number 4, April 1911 293
