Looking to the FutureAs environmental awareness and responsibility continues to expand, the impact of recent legislation meant to curb unnecessary waste is starting to be realized. Consequently, landfills around the nation are no longer being subjected to the same sort of recyclable waste as during previous years. In Monroe County, New York, The Solid waste Reuse and Recycling Law of 1991is drastically improving waste management: In the first year of compliance with the law, approximately 246 tons of material in Midtown Plaza, the central business district in downtown Rochester was recycled. From August-December of 1993, roughly 80 tons of cartons, cans and bottles were recovered for future use. Although this is a vast improvement over the previously minute level of recycling, there is still an enormous amount of unnecessary waste being deposited in landfills throughout the U.S. One example of this is the two million tons of waste generated each year by junk mail such as catalogs, advertisements and sweepstake drawings.
While it is necessary to continue to reduce the level of recyclable material entering landfills, another tactic is to prolong the life-span and efficiency of landfills while ensuring environmental responsibility. One such example of a modern, efficient landfill is theMill Seat Solid Waste Landfill,serving the majority of Monroe County, including the city of Rochester. Opened on May 13, 1993, Mill Seat has a landfill area of 95 acres and an overall expected life span of 20 years. It serves "as a state-of-the-art solid waste management facility that employs the most sophisticated and proven environmentally safe design available." With approximately 35-40 tractor trailers depositing refuse daily in winter months and 45-50 daily truckloads in the summer, Mill Seat is one of the larger landfills in the region to be observed.
These pages were constructed by: Mark Beigel and Lenny Hochschild
Last Change: 5 December 1994