>>> PRESENTATION OF "SCIENCE
TREK" ON IDAHO PUBLIC TELEVISION
IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE
GENEROUS SUPPORT OF THE LAURA
MOORE CUNNINGHAM FOUNDATION,
COMMITTED TO FULFILLING THE
MOORE FAMILY LEGACY OF BUILDING
THE GREAT STATE OF IDAHO.
>> WHEN YOU TOSS SOMETHING INTO
THE TRASH, SCIENCE TAKES OVER.
SCIENTISTS ARE FINDING WAYS TO
DISPOSE OF TRASH AND PROTECT THE
ENVIRONMENT.
WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER YOUR
QUESTIONS ABOUT GARBAGE.
STAY TUNED, "SCIENCE TREK" IS
NEXT.
*
>>> HI, I'M JOAN CARTAN-HANSEN,
AND WELCOME TO "SCIENCE TREK."
AND WELCOME TO THE ADA COUNTY
LANDFILL.
WE'RE HERE TO ANSWER YOUR
QUESTIONS ABOUT GARBAGE.
BUT BEFORE WE DO, LET'S LEARN A
LITTLE BIT MORE.
>> ALL RIGHT, MOM, I'LL DO IT, I
CAN'T BELIEVE I ALWAYS HAVE TO
TAKE OUT OF TRASH.
>> THE PROBLEM OF DEALING WITH
GARBAGE ISN'T NEW, PEOPLE HAVE
ALWAYS STRUGGLED WITH TAKING OUT
THE TRASH.
>> HAY WHAT, ARE YOU DOING DOWN
IN THERE.
>> WANT TO FIND OUT WHERE YOUR
GARBAGE GOES?
>> OKAY.
>> AMERICANS CREATE MORE GARBAGE
PER CAPITA THAN ANY OTHER
COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.
4.4 POUNDS FOR EVERY MAN, WOMAN
AND CHILD EVERY DAY.
THAT'S A LOT OF GARBAGE AND ALL
THAT TRASH NEEDS TO GO
SOMEWHERE.
TRUCKS LIKE THIS COLLECT TRASH
FROM PEOPLE'S HOMES AND
BUSINESSES.
THIS IS CALLED MUNICIPAL SOLID
WASTE.
MOST GARBAGE IN THIS COMMUNITY
GOES TO A DUMP ALSO KNOWN AS A
SANITARY LANDFILL.
HERE THE GARBAGE IS BURIED.
SANITARY LANDFILLS ARE USUALLY
FAR FROM PEOPLE, LIVESTOCK AND
WATER, BECAUSE GARBAGE CAN CARRY
DISEASE.
LANDFILLS HAVE LOTS OF RULES
THAT HELP PROTECT THE
ENVIRONMENT AND KEEP ALL OF US
SAFE.
TODAY, MORE THAN HALF OF
AMERICA'S GARBAGE ENDS UP IN
LANDFILLS LIKE THIS ONE.
BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.
>> WHAT?
>> WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF ROOM.
BY 2050 SOME ESTIMATE HUMANS
WILL PRODUCE 29.4 BILLION TONS
OF TRASH.
WE CAN'T BURY IT ALL.
SOME GARBAGE IS TAKEN TO A WASTE
AND ENERGY PLANT, A WASTE TO
ENERGY PLANT BURNS THE GARBAGE
TO CREATE ENERGY.
WASTE TO ENERGY PLANTS HAVE BEEN
AROUND SINCE THE LATE 1800s.
TODAY THE UNITED STATES BURN
BUSY 17% OF ITS SOLID WASTE.
BUT BURNING GARBAGE CAN CAUSE
PROBLEMS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND
WE HAVE SO MUCH TRASH WE CAN'T
BURN IT ALL.
WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ELSE
WITH ALL OUR GARBAGE.
IT'S A REAL PROBLEM.
BUT YOU CAN HELP STARTING IN
YOUR OWN HOME.
>> WHOA!
THAT WAS WILD.
NOW I SEE THAT GARBAGE IS A BIG
PROBLEM.
WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?
>> WELL, WE ALL CUT DOWN ON HOW
MUCH TRASH WE MAKE.
START BY REDUCING THE AM OF
WASTE WE PRODUCE IN THE FIRST
PLACE, THIS IS CALL SOURCE
REDUCTION.
THE SECOND WAY TO HELP IS TO
REUSE.
FOR EXAMPLE, SOME PLACES
EXCHANGE FILLED MILK BOTTLES FOR
EMPTY ONES, THEN THE DAIRY CAN
CLEAN AND REUSE THE GLASS
BOTTLED CUTTING DOWN ON WASTE.
THIS MEANS LESS GARBAGE HAS TO
GO TO THE LANDFILL.
THE THIRD WAY ALL OF US CAN HELP
SOLVENT WORLD'S GARBAGE PROBLEM
IS TO RECYCLE.
RECYCLING MEANS TO USE SOMETHING
AGAIN.
OLD METAL CANS ARE USED TO MAKE
NEW CANS OR OTHER ITEMS THAT
NEED METAL.
OLD NEWSPAPERS ARE RECYCLED TO
MAKE NEW NEWSPAPERS.
LOTS OF PLACES GIVE FAMILIES
SPECIAL CONTAINERS TO SORT ITEMS
SUCH AS LUMINOUS, PLASTIC AND
PAPER.
THESE ITEMS ARE SOMETIMES SENT
OFF TO BE RECYCLED.
OTHER PLACES HAVE COMMON
CONTAINERS WHERE PEOPLE CAN
LEAVE THINGS TO BE PICKED UP AND
RECYCLED.
IT'LL TAKE ALL OF US WORKING
TOGETHER TO HELP THE
ENVIRONMENT.
YOU CAN HELP BY REMEMBERING YOUR
THREE Rs.
REDUCE, REUSE AND RECYCLE.
BY DOING THAT, YOU CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD'S WASTE
PROBLEM.
>> REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE.
THAT'S EASY.
HEY, MOM, HAVE YOU HEARD OF
COMPOSTING?
IT'S A GREAT WAY TO REDUCE OUR
AMOUNT OF GARBAGE.
>> AND JOINING ME TO ANSWER YOUR
QUESTIONS ABOUT GARBAGE, ARE
MEGAN DURRELL, TREASURE
RECYCLING COORDINATOR FOR THE
STIFF BOYCE SEE, AND TED
HUTCHINSON, DEPARTMENT SOLID
WASTE DIRECTOR FOR SOLID WASTE
MANAGEMENT.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE,
APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US.
>> IT'S OUR PLEASURE TO BE HERE.
>> TED, CAN YOU TELL US WHERE WE
ARE?
>> WE ARE AT THE ADA COUNTY
LANDFILL.
WE'RE SITTING ON TOP OF A PILE
OF GARBAGE ABOUT 85 FEET THICK
IN THE NORTH RA VIVE LANDFILL.
>> THANK YOU FOR HOSTING US.
OKAY, LET'S GO TO YOUR
QUESTIONS.
>> HI, MY NAME IS INDIGO, I GO
TO CHARTER SCHOOL.
MY QUESTION IS HOW DOES GARBAGE
AFFECT EARTH'S ECOSYSTEM?
>> I THINK THE PROPER MANAGEMENT
OF GARBAGE IS THE KEY TO NOT
HAVING AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE
ECOSYSTEM.
GARBAGE CAN AS IT DECOMPOSES, OR
THE MATERIALS THAT ARE ACTUALLY
IN THE GARBAGE CAN CAUSE
POLLUTION.
NOT ONLY SOILS BUT WATER AND
ALSO OUR AIR.
THERE'S ALSO A POSSIBILITY OF
DISEASES THAT ARE INSIDE OF
GARBAGE, THAT CAN BE CARRIED BY
BIRDS OR OTHER BUGS, FLIES, THAT
SORT OF THING THAT, CAN ALSO
ADVERSELY IMPACT HUMANS.
>> GARBAGE IS THE END RESULT OF
OUR PURCHASING PRACTICES.
AND SO WE NEED TO CONSIDER THE
WASTE BEFORE WE CALL IT GARBAGE.
WE NEED TO CONSIDER OUR
CONSUMPTIVE PRACTICES, THE
NATURAL RESOURCES THAT GO INTO
WHAT WE BUY AND WHAT WE USE
EVERY DAY TO EXIST.
AND THE BYPRODUCT OF THAT IS
GARBAGE.
SO THE IMPACTS OF WHAT WE BUY
AND WHAT WE DON'T USE FULLY AND
DISCARD AS GARBAGE CERTAINLY HAS
AN IMPACT ON OUR ENVIRONMENT,
BOTH DURING MANUFACTURING AND
DURING DISPOSAL.
>> HI, MY NAME'S RILEY, I GO TO
HILLCREST ELEMENTARY.
WHY DOES GARBAGE SMELL?
>> GARBAGE SMELLS BECAUSE OF THE
DECOMPOSITION PROCESS.
THERE ARE MICROBES AND BACTERIA
THAT LIVE ON GARBAGE.
AS THEY CONSUME THE GARBAGE THEY
CREATE A BYPRODUCT WHICH TENDS
TO BE THE ODORS.
THE FRESH TRASH SMELL, IT SMELLS
LIKE THE INSIDE OF YOUR GARBAGE
CAN, THAT'S WHERE THERE'S OXYGEN
PRESENT AS THE ORGANIC MATERIAL
DECOMPOSES.
THEN ONCE THE GARBAGE HAS BEEN
PLACED IN A LANDFILL AND
COMPACTED AND THE OXYGEN AROUND
THAT TRASH HAS BEEN USED UP,
IT'LL GO TO AN ANAEROBIC
DECOMPOSITION WHERE THE BY
PRODUCT IS LANDFILL GAS A VERY
UNIQUE SMELL.
IT'S RATHER PUNGENT AND NOT VERY
PLEASANT BUT IT'S VERY UNIQUE TO
LANDFILLS.
BUT THAT'S A BYPRODUCT OF THE
DECOMPOSITION ORGANIC MATERIALS.
>> HI, MY NAME IS JACKY AND I'M
FROM MASON ELEMENTARY.
MY QUESTION IS, WHERE DOES
GARBAGE GO AT THE DUMP?
>> THE GARBAGE GOES IN THE DUMP.
IT'S BROUGHT UP IN A VARIETY OF
VEHICLES, TYPICALLY TRASH TRUCKS
THAT GO THROUGH NEIGHBORHOODS
AND BUSINESSES THAT PICK YOU
WANT GARBAGE.
IT IS TAKEN TO LANDFILLS AND
DUMPED INTO A SPECIFIC AREA
WHERE IT IS CRUSHED AND BURIED.
WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, WE'RE
SITTING ON TOP OF A PILE OF
GARBAGE THAT'S ABOUT 85 FEET
THICK.
>> BROOK WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, WHY
DO WE SEPARATE TRASH AND
RECYCLABLES?
>> WE SEPARATE TRASH FROM
RECYCLING MOSTLY TO MAKE IT
EASIEST TO IDENTIFY WHAT CAN BE
RECYCLED, AND WHAT CANNOT.
IT MAKES THE SYSTEM MORE
EFFICIENT IF THE RECYCLING IS
PUT IN ONE PILE AND THE TRASH IS
IN ANOTHER PILE, AND THEY MAKE
THEIR WAY TO THEIR DESTINATIONS
IN SORT OF A CLEAN FORM, YOU
KNOW, A CATEGORY.
IT'S KIND OF LIKE DOING YOUR
LAUNDRY.
IT'S A LOT EASIER IF YOU SORT IT
BEFORE YOU GET TO THE WASHING
MACHINE THAN TO TRY AND SORT IT
ON TOP OF THE WASHING MACHINE.
YOU WANT TO KEEP THOSE THINGS
SEPARATE.
IT ALSO HELPS YOU TO KNOW HOW
MUCH DO I HAVE OF THE RECYCLING
AND HOW MUCH DO I HAVE OF THE
TRASH.
IT GOES INTO THE WHOLE SYSTEM OF
HOW CAN WE BEST, MORE
EFFICIENTLY, MOST AFFORD BLY
PROVIDE TRASH AND RECYCLING
SERVICES.
>> HI, I'M FRANCES AND GOY TO
CHARTER SCHOOL.
MY QUESTION IS, IS THERE ANY WAY
TO GET RID OF GARBAGE OTHER THAN
PUTTING IT IN A LANDFILL?
>> THERE ARE LOTS OF
ALTERNATIVES.
ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO MANAGE
YOUR SOLID WASTE IS NOT TO TURN
IT INTO A WASTE BUT SEE IF
THERE'S A WAY TO RECYCLE THE
MATERIAL.
BUT IF YOU DO HAVE WASTE, IF
IT'S NOT PUT IN A LANDFILL
TYPICALLY IT IS SENT TO AN
INCINERATOR FOR DESTRUCTION IN
THE WASTE GENERATION.
BUT RIGHT NOW THOSE ARE THE
PRIMARY TECHNOLOGIES, EITHER
MASS BURN OR LANDFILL.
>> SUCH MANAGEMENT OF WASTE IS
NOT CREATIVE AT ALL, TO JUST TRY
TO USE AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE,
REUSE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, THEN
RECYCLE AND THEN WHEN ALL ELSE
FAILS, THEN THROW YOUR ITEMS
AWAY.
THERE ARE OPTIONS IN DIFFERENT
COMMUNITIES FOR HOW THAT GARBAGE
IS DISPOSED OF.
IT MIGHT BE A LANDFILL, IT MIGHT
BE AN INCINERATOR, IT MIGHT BE A
GAS FICATION OR PLASMA
TECHNOLOGY.
AND THERE ARE TECHNOLOGIES
DEVELOPING ALL THE TIME ON WAYS
TO MAKE OUR GARBAGE MORE
MANAGEABLE.
IN HIGH TECHNOLOGY TYPE
SITUATIONS THERE ARE ALWAYS
CONSEQUENCES AND CONSIDERATIONS.
SO THE BEST APPROACH TO WASTE
MANAGEMENT IS TO NOT CREATE IT
AT ALL.
>> GABE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW: HOW
DOES GARBAGE DECOMPOSE IN THE
GROUND?
>> GARBAGE DECOMPOSES AS NATURAL
PROCESS.
THE ORGANIC MATERIAL WILL
DECOMPOSE OR BREAK DOWN THERE,
ACTUALLY MICROBES AND BACTERIA
ON THE TRASH CONSUME THE ORGANIC
MATERIALS IN THE TRASH.
IT'S ALSO SUBJECTED TO THINGS
LIKE OXIDATION, WHERE IT RUSTS
AND WHERE IT COMBINES WITH
OXYGEN AND THE METALS WILL BREAK
DOWN.
AND THERE ARE ALSO SOME CHEMICAL
REACTIONS WITHIN A LANDFILL THAT
ALSO WILL BREAK DOWN THE
MATERIAL IN THE LANDFILL.
BUT THE PRIMARY WAY THAT GARBAGE
BREAKS DOWN IN THE LANDFILL IS
THAT THE ORGANIC DECOMP
SIGNIFICANCE HAPPENS.
>> WHAT PRODUCT TAKES UP THE
MOST SPACE IN U.S. LANDFILLS?
IT'S PAPER.
PAPER DOESN'T DEGRADE EASILY
BURIED IN LANDFILLS.
IT CAN LAST FOR DECADES.
PUT PAPER IN A RECYCLING BIN,
NOT THE TRASH.
>> BRODY ASKS: WHY DOES GARBAGE
TRUCK CRUSH THE GARBAGE?
>> GARBAGE COLLECTED OCCURSIDE
FROM YOUR HOME IS PUT INTO A
COMPACTING TRUCK AND IS CRUSHED
TO MAXIMIZE THE SPACE ON THE
TRUCK TO MAKE MORE STOPS IN YOUR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO WE COMPACT IT TO MAKE MORE
ROOM, TO BE MORE EFFICIENT.
>> AND THE MORE THEY PICK UP IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD BEFORE THEY
COME OFF THE ROUTE TO BRING IT
TO THE LANDFILL, THE MORE
EFFICIENT IT IS, THE LESS IMPACT
TO THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH AIR
POLLUTION.
IT TRAVELS FROM THE
NEIGHBORHOODS BACK AND FORTH TO
THE LANDFILL.
SO IF YOU CAN COMPACT IT MORE
AND GET MORE INTO THE TRUCK THEY
MAKE FEWER TRIPS TO THE DAMP.
>> HI, I'M ELISE.
I'M WONDERING WHAT RECYCLING
DOES FOR OUR HEALTH AND THE
HEALTH OF OUR EARTH.
>> RECYCLING IS A GREAT
ALTERNATIVE TO JUST THROWING
YOUR THINGS AWAY.
RECYCLING IS A PROCESS OF
TURNING ONE PRODUCT INTO
SOMETHING NEW AND REUSING IT FOR
A LONG, LONG TIME.
IT MEANS NOT HARVESTING MORE
TREES AND NOT MINING MORE RAW
MATERIALS.
IT'S ABOUT RESOURCE
CONSERVATION, IT'S BUILT INTO
RECYCLING AND THAT IS GOOD FOR
THE ENVIRONMENT NO MATTER HOW
YOU LOOK AT IT.
>> AND BY RECYCLING, IT KEEPS IT
OUT OF THE LANDFILL WHERE IT
WILL GO THROUGH A NATURAL
DECOMPOSITION PROCESS.
THERE'S ALSO CHEMICAL PROCESSES
WITHIN A LANDFILL THAT CAN
COMBINE INTO PRODUCTS THAT CAN
BE HAZARDOUS TO HUMAN HEALTH OR
THE ENVIRONMENT SO.
IF YOU KEEP THOSE THINGS OUT OF
LANDFILL, THERE'S LESS IMPACT ON
OUR ENVIRONMENT, GET IT BACK
INTO REUSE RATHER THAN JUST
THROWING IT AWAY.
>> ISAAC WOULD LIKE TO KNOW:
WHY DO WE BURY GARBAGE?
>> WE BURY OR GARBAGE AS A
FUNCTION OF OUR SOCIETY.
WE'VE GOT MANAGE THE MATERIAL
THAT WE'RE THROWING AWAY.
WE DON'T WANT TO JUST LEAVE IT
OUT WHERE THE WIND WILL BLOW IT
AROUND HE AND ANIMALS CARRY IT
OFF.
WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
CONTROL WHERE THAT MATERIAL GOES
AND HOW IT'S MANAGED FOR THE
LONG TERM.
IT'S -- IT WORKS BEST FOR OUR
SOCIETY TO HAVE BUN PLACE WHERE
THE TRASH GOES.
IT'S VERY CHEAP TO LANDFILL IT.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE OTHER
ALTERNATIVES OUT THERE THAT DO
COST A BIT MORE.
THINGS LIKE WASTE TO ENERGY OR
GASIIF I CAN INDICATION,
ELECTRICAL COGEN RATION.
BUT THOSE TEND TO BE VERY
EXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVES.
HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE A
TECHNOLOGY CHANGE OVER TIME THAT
WILL REMOVE THE NECESSITY TO PUT
TRASH INTO A LANDFILL.
>> HI, MY NAME IS CAILIN.
I'M FROM BASIN ELEMENTARY.
MY QUESTION IS HOW DO GARBAGE
TRUCKS GET ALL THE GARBAGE IN
ONE DAY?
THERE ARE A LOT THAT PICK UP
GARBAGE EACH DAY.
TYPICALLY WE'LL TAKE A
NEIGHBORHOOD AND CARVE IT UP
LIKE A PIE INTO EQUAL PORTIONS,
AND THEN WE'LL MAKE SURE WE HAVE
THE RIGHT NUMBER OF TRUCKS AND
THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF STAFF TO BE
ABLE TO COLLECT YOUR GARBAGE ON
YOUR COLLECTION DAY OF THE WEEK.
WE DON'T PICK UP EVERY HOUSEHOLD
ON MONDAY.
WE PICK UP ONE FIFTH OF THE
HOUSEHOLDS IN YOUR COMMUNITY ON
MONDAY AND ANOTHER FIFTH ON
TUESDAY.
WE DIVIDE IT UP.
>> MY NAME IS IAN, I'M FROM
BASIN ELEMENTARY.
HOW DOES RECYCLING WORK?
>> IT IS THE PROCESS OF TURNING
AN ITEM INTO SOMETHING NEW, TO
REMANUFACTURE IT INTO SOMETHING
NEW.
SO FOR EXAMPLE AN ALUMINUM CAN
FIRST HAD YOUR SODA POP IN IT.
THEN YOU RECYCLED IT INTO THE
SCREEN THAT'S IN YOUR SCREEN
DOOR ON THE FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE.
SO THE PROCESS OF RECYCLING
USUALLY INVOLVES WATER AND
ENERGY AND OTHER ELEMENTS TO
TURN WHAT WAS ONCE A PIECE OF
PAPER INTO TOILET PAPER OR CLEAN
NEXT.
EACH PROCESS IS UNIQUE TO THE
TYPE OF MATERIAL IT IS AND
WHAT'S REQUIRED OF IT TO MAKE
THAT NEW PRODUCT FROM THE OLD
PRODUCT.
>> JACKSON WOULD LIKE TO KNOW:
WHY CAN'T WE RECYCLE ALL THESE
PRODUCTS?
>> THE POTENTIAL TO RECYCLE
EVERYTHING EXISTS.
BUT WHAT IT TAKES, IT TAKES
SOMEONE TO DEVELOP AN IDEA THAT
USES THAT MATERIAL, AND THEN TO
BE BE ABLE TO PUT THAT MATERIAL
THROUGH ITS MANUFACTURING
PROCESS, AND HAVE PEOPLE BUY THE
PRODUCT.
IT'LL SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
>> IT'S JUST BASICALLY A
FUNCTION OF ECONOMICS.
IF THERE'S NOT A DEMAND FOR A
MATERIAL, IT DOESN'T GET
RECYCLED.
IT'S THEN WHAT WE CLASSIFY
CURRENTLY AS A WASTE MATERIAL.
WE TEND TO THROW THAT AWAY IN
THE LANDFILL.
BUT IF YOU CAN DEVELOP A PRODUCT
THAT HAS A VALUE TO IT, SO THAT
IT'S NOT -- IT MAKES MORE SENSE
TO RECYCLE IT RATHER THAN WASTE
IT, THEN YOU'VE GOT YOUR
RECYCLABLE COMMODITY INSTEAD OF
A WASTED PRODUCT.
>> RECYCLING AND FINDING NEW
USES FOR OUR TRASH ARE GOOD WAYS
TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF WASTE IN
OUR LANDFILLS.
THE CITY OF BOISE COLLECTS GLASS
IN DESIGNATED BINS AND DUMPS IT
INTO A GIANT PILE AT A SPECIAL
COLLECTION SITE.
>> JOINING ME IS CHRIS NELSON
WITH ENVIRONMENTAL ABRASIVES.
THEY DUMP THE GLASS HERE.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
>> IT GOES FROM HERE AND WE PICK
IT UP IN OUR LITTLE BOBCAT AND
RUN IT THROUGH THIS PRIMARY
SYSTEM HERE.
IT BREAKS UP THE COARSE BOTTLES,
BRINGS THEM DOWN TO A MEDIUM
MIXTURE WE CAN THEN PROCESS INTO
OUR FINAL PRODUCT, WHICH IS A
ABRASIVE SAND.
THEN WE TAKE IT OVER HERE TO
THESE PILES AND THOSE PILES OVER
THERE ARE PROBABLY A WEEK'S
WORTH OF RUNNING THIS LITTLE
PLANT.
OH IDEALLY WE WOULD MAKE THAT
PILE IN A DAY AND THEN PROCESS
THROUGH A PILE IN A DAY.
WE'LL THEN MOVE FROM IT THAT
PILE INTO THAT GREEN BIN, AND IT
BASICALLY RUNS THROUGH THAT
CIRCUIT ALL THE A WAY OVER TO
THIS HOUSE WHERE WE HAVE THE
FINAL SCREEN PROCESS.
IT SCREENS IT DOWN TO OUR FINAL
PRODUCT.
WE HAVE THREE MAIN PRODUCTS THAT
WE CREATE.
AND THEY ARE ALL MADE THERE AND
THEY GO OFF TO OUR MAIN BAGGING
FACILITY FOR FINAL PACKAGING.
>> WHAT ARE THE END PRODUCTS
USED FOR?
>> WE USE IT FOR ABRASIVE SAND
USED IN THE SAND-BLASTING
INDUSTRY.
IT'S A RATHER VAST INDUSTRY.
ANYBODY WHO PAINTS OR COATS --
WHETHER IT BE BRIDGES OR CARS OR
AUTO PARTS, ABRASIVE SANDS ARE
USED TO FIRST BLAST OFF OLD
STUFF, PREP THE SURFACE FOR
WHATEVER COATING YOU'RE GOING
PUT ON IT, PAINT OR CLEAR OR
POWDER COATING.
>> THE CREW HAS TO RUN THE
CRUSHED GLASS THROUGH THE
SCREENING PROCESS SEVERAL TIMES
BECAUSE PEOPLE PUT THINGS OTHER
THAN GLASS INTO THE RECYCLING
BINS.
>> YOU CAN SEE THIS IS HOW WE
GET IT.
UNFORTUNATELY, PEOPLE THROW
BOXES, PAPER, PLASTIC BAGS,
WE'VE HAD MATTRESSES, CAR PELL
PET ROLLS, YOU NAME IT, IT'S
BEEN IN THERE.
IT JUST UPSETS THE PROCESS.
WE HAVE TO MANUALLY PULL THAT
STUFF OUT.
THE CLEANER THE COLLECTION CAN
BE ET MORE FISH THE PROCESS CAN
BE.
>> WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO
RECYCLE GLASS?
>> IF YOU CAN IMAGINE THESE
BOTTLES ALL END UP BURIED IN THE
DIRT SOMEWHERE.
AND WHEN WE TAKE THIS BOTTLE AND
PRODUCE IT INTO AN ABRASIVE
SAND, WE COLLAPSE THIS AND MAKE
IT -- IF THIS WERE, SAY, ONE CUP
OF GLASS, BY THE TIME WE PRODUCE
IT WE GET IT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO
PROBABLY SOMETHING LESS THAN AN
OUNCE.
AND BY THE TIME IT'S THROWN AWAY
AT THE END, WE WOULD HOPE IT'S
10% LESS THAN ITS ORIGINAL
VOLUME.
>> CHRIS, THANK YOU SO MUCH,
APPRECIATE THE TOUR.
LET'S GO BACK TO YOUR QUESTIONS.
>> HELLO, MY NAME IS LAURA AND
GOY TO CHARTER SCHOOL.
I WAS WONDERING WHAT MAKES
SOMETHING RECYCLABLE.
>> SOMETHING'S RECYCLABLE IF
THERE IS A DEMAND OR A MARKET
FOR THE PRODUCT THAT IS LEFT
OVER AFTER IT'S BEEN USED FOR
ITS ORIGINAL PURPOSE.
>> THE CHALLENGE IS TO BE AN
INVENTER, TO CREATE AN IDEA AND
DEVELOP A NEW PRODUCT THAT TAKES
A RESOURCE THAT ISN'T CURRENTLY
RECYCLED, THAT YOU CAN BE AN
INVENTORS AND DREAM UP SOMETHING
NEW WITH THAT PRODUCT.
THAT'S KIND OF HOW RECYCLING IS
CREATED.
SOMEONE HAS AN IDEA, THEY SEE IT
THROUGH, AND THEN AS CONSUMERS
WE SHOP FOR AND BUY THOSE
PRODUCTS MADE FROM RECYCLED AND
RECLAIMED MATERIALS.
THAT CLOSES THE LOOP ON THE
RECYCLE ABILITY OF ANY MATERIAL.
>> TO GO ONE STEP FURTHER WITH
THAT, IT'S NOT JUST THE NEW
PRODUCT YOU'RE MAKING OUT OF
MATERIALS WE'RE NOT RECYCLING
NOW.
BUT TO COME UP WITH A BRAND-NEW
PRODUCT WHERE THE ONLY MATERIAL
SOURCE FOR THAT PRODUCT IS
ACTUALLY BURIED IN YOUR OLD
LAND.
THEN YOU MINE OUT YOUR OLD
LANDFILL, GET THE MATERIALS BACK
OUT AND TRULY RECYCLE THAT STUFF
THAT HAS PRESUMABLY BEEN WASTED
IN THE LANDFILL.
A REAL CHALLENGE TO DEVELOP
NEW TECHNOLOGIES, BOTH ON THE
NEW PRODUCT AND THE LONG RANGE
TECHNOLOGY.
>> JAMES WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, HOW
DO WE DISPOSE OF BATTERIES
PROPERLY?
>> BATTERIES, IF THEY ARE
RECHARGEABLE, ARE VERY EASILY
RECYCLED.
THERE ARE A LOT OF STORES AND
RETAIL OUTLETS THAT WILL TAKE
BACK RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES.
THEY ARE TYPICALLY CONSIDERED A
HAZARDOUS WASTE IF THEY ARE NOT
PROPERLY DISPOSED OF.
IT'S BEST TO HAVE THEM COLLECTED
AND SHIPPED TO A BATTERY
RECYCLING FACILITY.
THERE ARE SOME BATTERIES,
ALKALINE BATTERIES, THERE'S --
THOSE ARE NO LONGER RECYCLED,
THEY JUST END UP IN THE TRASH.
>> DAVIS ASKS, WHY CAN'T BIO
HAZARDOUSES GO INTO THE GARBAGE?
>> THEY ARE TYPICALLY CAME
NATURE WITH A PATH GENERAL THAT
CAN DAMAGE HUMAN HEALTH.
WE DON'T WANT THAT IN OUR
LANDFILL WHERE IT CAN BE CARRIED
OFF BY A BIRD OR HAVE A FLY LAND
ON IT AND CARRY THAT
DISEASE-CAUSING MATERIAL AWAY
FROM THE LANDFILL.
SO BEFORE BIOHAZARD MATERIAL CAN
BE DISPOSED OF, IT'S EITHER RUN
THROUGH AN AUTO CLAVE WHERE IT'S
HEATED TO A TEMPERATURE THAT
WILL DESTROYED THE BACTERIA, OR
IT'S TYPICALLY SENT TO AN
INCINERATOR WHERE IT'S
DESTROYED.
BUT IT'S JUST FOR THE GENERAL
SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC THAT WE
PREVENT BIOHAZARD MATERIALS FROM
OUR LANDFILL.
>> HIGH, MY NAME IS DRAKE AND
I'M FROM BASIN ELEMENTARY.
MY QUESTION IS, HOW MUCH GARBAGE
FILL AS GARBAGE TRUCK?
>> THE AVERAGE GARBAGE TRUCK IN
OUR COMMUNITY IS BETWEEN 20 AND
25 CUBIC -- COMPACTED CUBIC
YARDS.
>> ABBIE ASKS, WHY IS COMPOST A
GREAT FERTILIZER?
>> COMPOST IS A NATURAL PRODUCT
THAT FEEDS OTHER PLANTS.
WHEN LEAVES BREAK DOWN AND TURN
INTO EXCEPT, IT FEEDS THE SOIL
AND MAKES THE SOIL RICH WITH
NUTRIENTS.
AND IT PROVIDES FOR AIR POCKETS
AND PLACES FOR MOISTURE TO
RETAIN, TO ACTUALLY FEED THE
PLANT AND FEED THE WORMS AND
OTHER ORGANISMS THAT LIVE WITHIN
THE SOIL.
>> IT ALSO HELPS BY BEING A WEED
BARRIER.
A LOT OF COMPOST MATERIALS ARE
NATURALLY EFFECTIVE AT REDUCING
THE AMOUNT OF WEEDS OR HELPING
WITH THE WEEDS GROWING IN AMONG
DESIRED PLANTS.
>> HI, MY NAME'S McKENZIE FROM
A NTHRO CHARTER SCHOOL.
HAVE SCIENTISTS COME UP WITH A
WAY TO DECOMPOSE GARBAGE THAT'S
NOT NATURALLY KEY COMPOSING.
>> YES.
A LOT OF THE PLASTIC MATERIALS
MADE IN TODAY'S MARKETS HAVE
BEEN THE ORIGINAL CHEMICAL
COMPOSITION OF THOSE WAS
DESIGNED FOR LONGEVITY.
SCIENTISTS HAVE BEEN WORKING
VERY DILIGENTLY AT COMING UP
WITH NEW COMPOUNDS THAT MAKE THE
SAME BASIC PLASTIC STRUCTURE OR
OTHER MATERIALS THAT WILL
ACTUALLY DECOMPOSE MUCH MORE
QUICKLY THAN SOME OF THE EARLIER
STAGES OF THAT MATERIAL.
>> TECHNOL IS ALWAYS BEING
DEVELOPED TO HELP US MANAGE OUR
WASTE STREAMS.
THERE'S PLASMA TECHNOLOGY AND
EVEN INCINERATION, WHICH IS AN
OLD TECHNOLOGY TODAY.
IT'S ANOTHER WAY TO MANAGE
WASTES THAT WILL TERMINAL
DECOMPOSE.
WE ARE ALSO INVENTING NEW
PRODUCTS ALL THE TIME, OR
PRODUCT SUBSTITUTIONS THAT MAY
LOOK LIKE PLASTIC BUT IT'S ALSO
MADE FROM CORNER STARCH.
IT ACTUALLY IS A NATURAL PRODUCT
THAT CAN BIODEGRADE UNDER THE
RIGHT CONDITIONS.
>> MEGAN, BEFORE WE RUN OUT OF
TIME, LET ME ASK, WHY DID YOU
DECIDE TO PICK A JOB THAT DEALS
WITH GARBAGE?
>> I STUDIED ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENCE IN COLLEGE.
I FIRST HAD THE GRAND HOPE OF
STUDYING TREES FISH AND, YOU
KNOW, RIVERS AND STREAMS.
AND I FOUND THIS JOB IN SOLID
WASTE FOR THE CITY OF BOISE.
I REALIZED THAT IS A NATURAL
RESOURCE THAT WILL FOREVER NEED
TO BE MANAGED AND I CAN MAKE A
BIGGER IMPACT BY HELPING MANAGE
GARBAGE AND PROMOTE RECYCLING
THAN IN PRESERVING OUR
ENVIRONMENT, I CAN MAKE A BIGGER
DIFFERENCE THAT WAY THAN MAYBE
ANYWHERE ELSE.
>> TED F SOMEONE IS INTERESTED
IN DOING THIS FOR A LIVING, WHAT
SHOULD SHE OR HE STUDY IN
SCHOOL?
>> ACTUALLY SOLID WASTE
MANAGEMENT COVER AS HUGE VARIETY
OF EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUNDS AND
EXPERIENCES.
IT COVERS ALL SORTS OF
ENGINEERING, ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERS, STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS.
ALL OF THE TRADES, PLUMBING AND
ELECTRIC, ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES,
CHEMISTRY, BIOLOGY.
IT'S ALL PART OF A SOLID WASTE
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.
IF YOU'RE JUST INTERESTED IN
EQUIPMENT OPERATORS, THERE'S A
LOT OF DEMAND FOR THAT.
ANYTHING THAT'S GOING ADD TO
ONE'S EXPERIENCE AND BACKGROUND
AND EDUCATION WILL DEFINITELY BE
A BIG HELP IF THEY ARE LOOKING
FOR A JOB IN SOLID WASTE
MANAGEMENT.
>> I'M SORRY, WE'VE RUN OUT OF
TIME.
I APPRECIATE YOU JOINING US
TODAY.
>> IT'S OUR PRIVILEGE.
>> THANKS FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
>> YOU CAN LEARN MUCH MORE ABOUT
GARBAGE AND OTHER SCIENCE TOPICS
ON THE SCIENCE SCIEN WEBSITE.
WE'LL ANSWER MORE ON "SCIENCE
TREK," THE WEB SHOW.
TO SUBMIT A QUESTION TO "SCIENCE
TREK," IT'S EASY AND YOU AND
YOUR CLASS WITH WIN PRIZES.
SEND AS AN EMAIL OR VIDEO
QUESTION, RECORD ON YOUR WEBCAM
OR CELL PHONE.
OUR LAST PRIZE WINNER WAS ALLIE
IN MRS. PEARCE'S CLASS AT SPRING
VALLEY ELEMENTARY IN DURHAM,
NORTH CAROLINA.
TO FIND OUT ALL ABOUT GAUGER,
HOW TO SEND IN QUESTIONS AND WIN
GO, TO THE "SCIENCE TREK"
WEBSITE.
EACH WEEK CHECK OUT MY BLOG FOR
THE LATEST SCIENCE NEWS FOR
KIDS.
IT'S ALL AT
IDAHOPTV.ORG/SCIENCETREK.
THANKS FOR JOINING US, WE'LL SEE
YOU NEXT TIME ON "SCIENCE TREK."
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LNS Captioning
www.LNScaptioning.com
*
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