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BREAKING THE LANDFILL HABIT MINNESOTA'S GARBAGE PROBLEM Each of us produces an average of four pounds of garbage a day. This may not seem like much. However, when it is added to the trash from manufacturers, service businesses, schools and government offices, the total amounts to between three and four million tons of garbage each year. That's enough to fill a convoy of garbage trucks, five abreast, from Lake of the Woods to the Iowa border. Where does all this garbage go? And more importantly, where will it go next year and after that? DUMPS: PROBLEMS OF THE PAST For years, garbage was disposed of in open dumps where rats and flies thrived on the uncovered refuse. These dumps were often located in swamplands and sinkholes where they polluted surface water and ground water. Open burning, common at most dumps, polluted the air as well. LANDFILLS: A FIRST STEP Most of Minnesota's 1,200 open dumps have been closed and replaced with about 130 landfills. Landfills are an improvement over dumps because the refuse is covered each day to control pests and fires. Proper design and operation of landfills reduces the amount of water that seeps through buried garbage and becomes contaminated with chemicals and organic materials in the trash. When landfills are poorly located, designed and operated, more water seeps in and is contaminated. At least one third of Minnesota's landfills are known to be leaking contaminants into the ground water. Our existing landfills are filling up fast, and many will run out of room in the next five years. New sites are difficult to find because areas with the best soil and drainage for landfilling are also good for farming. Most Minnesotans also oppose the development of new landfills...at least in their neighborhoods. Unfortunately, we cannot reduce our use of valuable property as landfills until we begin using alternatives for getting rid of our garbage. Landfills have been widely used because they appear to be an inexpensive way to dispose of our garbage -- about $10 a ton. However, this cost is artificially cheap because it only includes the dumping fee haulers pay at the landfill. The bill for landfilling rises to $75 a ton when collecting, hauling and burying the garbage properly are added in. It increases to more than $90 a ton when the "hidden costs" of long-term monitoring and cleanup of ground water are included. In most cases, we are not yet paying these hidden costs of landfilling. ALTERNATIVES TO LANDFILLS: READY FOR THE NEXT STEP Fortunately, Minnesotans do not have to simply accept the high cost and environmental risks of widespread landfilling. There are four environmentally safer alternatives to landfills, each costing less or about the same as the true cost of burying our garbage: Waste Reduction is simply creating less garbage by using fewer throw-away items and reusing some wastes. Up to 3% of the state's garbage (about 100,000 tons) could be eliminated using techniques such as reusing office paper as scratch paper, leaving grass clippings on the lawn, and not buying disposable products. Besides reducing the amount of garbage going to landfills, waste reduction saves consumers money when they buy reusable products and returnable containers and avoids the disposal costs for throw-away items. Recycling is separating items in our garbage which can be reused or reclaimed. Recycling can be practiced in homes, offices, restaurants, schools and any other place that has garbage. Glass, metal, paper, motor oil and other recyclables are collected and used to make new products. Recycling could reduce Minnesota's landfilling of garbage as much as 20% by weight. Recycling also can lower the cost of manufacturing new products and can conserve energy and natural resources. Composting is a method for reusing leaves, grass clippings, vegetable scraps and other organic wastes. Naturally occurring microorganisms decompose these wastes into a compost that can be used on yards, gardens and fields as a soil conditioner and fertilizer. Composting can be done in backyard compost piles, in community compost centers or in high-technology "composters" that decompose the organic wastes of an entire city. Composting could eliminate 20% to 60% of the state's garbage, by weight. Waste-to-Energy Incineration is burning garbage to produce electricity or steam heat and to reduce the total volume of the waste. In some systems, glass and metal are removed for recycling, but most incinerators burn some recyclable materials, such a spaper and cardboard. The ash and unburnable wastes from in- cinerators are usually landfilled. Even the carefully controlled incineration of garbage can produce air pollu- tion that must be controlled by special equipment. By weight, 35% to 60% of the state's garbage could be eliminated by incineration. Together, these four alternatives can potentially remove or reuse up to 80% of Minnesota's garbage. Land- fills would still be needed for incinerator ash and for wastes that could not be recycled, com posted or burn- ed; however, burying our garbage would be the last choice rather than the first. Everyone contributes to our growing pile of garbage. These landfill alternatives will shrink that pile if we all make the commitment to use them -- and to break the landfill habit. MORE INFORMATION Contact your county solid waste office or the nearest Minnesota Pollution Control Agency office for more information: Twin Cities 612/296-7373 THE RAMSEY JAYCEES MEMBERSHIP: PURPOSE: AFFILIATION: HISTORY: Approximately 25 young men and women ages 18 through 35. Personal growth through community service. The Minnesota Jaycees, The U.S. Jaycees, Jaycees International. The Ramsey Jaycees Chapter was chartered by the U.S. Jaycees in 1983 and has remained a major force in state awards competitions since its affiliation. A few of the accomplishments of the Ramsey Jaycees include: Community Christmas Wreath Sales Firearm Safety Education of nearly 50 youth Co-Hosting Teen Nights and Teen Dances with Ramsey Community Schools Jaycee Recycling Center at landfill Installation of lights, tables in parks Programs on Stress Endurance, Financial Planning, Communication Skills, C.P.R. Family Socials Fundraising for charitable organizations including: Muscular Dystrophy Assoc., Aid to Retarded Citizens, Leukemia Society of America, Vik- ing's Children's Fund Karen Bush - 421-3562 First and Third Wednesday of every month. 7:30 Ramsey City Hall BE ALL YOU CAN BE - BE A JAYCEE!!!! ACTIVITIES: PRESIDENT: MEETINGS: ~ YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS COUNTY COMMISSIONER District No. 1 Natalie Haas 325 East Main St. Anoka, MN 55303 clo Administration Anoka County Courthouse 421-4760, etx. 1171 STATE LEGISLATORS District No. 50 Senator Greg Dahl Room 24J, State Capitol St. Paul, MN 55155 296-5003 District No. 50A Rep. John Hartinger Room 413, State Office Bldg. St. Paul, MN 55155 296-5369 NATIONAL LEGISLATORS Senator David Durenberger 375 Russel Senator Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Local Phone 349-5111 Senator Rudy Boschwitz 506 Senate Hart Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Local Phone 221-0904 CONGRESSIONAL District No.6 Congressman Gerry Sikorski 414 Cannon House Office Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20510 Local Phone 780-5801 RIVER BANK IMPROVEMENTS REQUIRE CITY APPROVAL Any land alteration or construction on the Mississippi River or Rum River must have City approval. Call 427-1410 for further information. TIRED OF ALCOHOL AFFECTING YOUR LIFE? JOIN US. RAMSEY AA Thursdays, 8:00 p.m. Sundays, 7:30 p.m. RAMSEY AL-ANON Thursdays, 8:00 p.m. Sundays, 7:30 p.m. RAMSEY CITY HALL - LOWER LEVEL - REAR ENTRANCE. RAMSEY SENIOR CITIZENS CLUB The Ramsey Senior Citizens Club met on July 2 for their regular monthly pot luck luncheon. There was only a small group of members present as many of the members were out of town for the holiday weekend. A representative of Sunshine Travel Com- pany, Inc. gave a slide presentation on a tour to Door County, Wisconsin which they will be sponsoring on October 1 st through October 3rd. Because of many other activities taking place at about meeting time in August and, because of the possibility of poor attendance, it was decided to cancel the regular meeting of the Senior Citizens Club in August. The Senior Citizens Club will meet at it's regular time on Wednesday, September 3rd for a pot luck luncheon and entertainment. The club welcomes new members and anyone interested in joining should contact Dorothy Scroggins at 421-4414.