ILoveTrash
14 Years Experience
Harrisburg, PA
Female, 48
No, really, I am a state employee working in our Environmental Protection program. I have worked in the Waste Management program for nearly fifteen years. I have looked at the waste handling practices from about any type of facility you can think of, from food producers to hospitals to plating shops, and where the waste goes, like incinerators and landfills. My days are rarely dull, as I supervise ten inspectors and am usually the regulatory tie-breaker. My ideal day is a day in the field.
Not that I have ever heard. I think by that point it would be way too late! It would be so mixed in with everything else that was placed that day it would be your "needle in a haystack" situation. I have, however, seen escorted loads of valuable or proprietary items going to the landfill for a "witnessed" disposal.
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Unfortunately (or fortunately I think), I have not been on that type of search. Very tragic. Here in PA, landfills are required to track the waste coming in each day on a grid. So if it can be narrowed down to a span of days, a certain section of the grid could be searched. We would also know what type of waste came from where. This record-keeping is required by regulation.
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Usually the magnet comes after the incineration. Easier to get at the metals that way, after the burn. Don't usually see a dump associated directly with an incinerator.
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Due to public opposition in a lot of permitting attempts, I think that the use of landfills will eventually come to an end. They are finite facilities, with only a certain amount of property and allowable heights that must be conformed to under their permits. Incinerators are probably the next best choice. The technology has improved over the years, so the operation is becoming more efficient. Many generate electricity directly to the grid. The issue is what to do with the ash. I have yet to hear of a great use, and it is usually landfilled. I have read about plasma incineration, and know that there are a few facilities in an experimental capacity out there. The ones I read about produce energy, and due to constant addition to trash, are basically self-perpetuating, not needing an outside fuel for more than start-up. These produce an obsidian-type glass as a waste product. I am hoping never to see ocean disposal ever again...
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Depends on the material. The glass market has been pretty bad for about 25 years. Very little price change, but at least folks are starting to get creative and are starting to use it for different building materials. Its still cheaper to manufacture glass from raw materials than to recycle. 1&2 plastics, cardboard, and certain e-wastes seem to be up in demand right now. These seem to be paying for themselves many times over.
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I'm guessing its full-on poo...
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Typically it is only municipal (or household-type trash) that goes to an incinerator. It is usually pretty dry and is small enough to easily move to the conveyors from the floor. It is difficult to deal with large items there. We are not dealing with waste that could ultimately contribute to air quality violations. Technology is getting better, but I think we could make some improvements. Landfills, due to their construction and management are suited to handle not only the household waste, but also bulky items and waste from non-hazardous industrial processes. A lot of the waste must go through approvals prior to acceptance so that it is in compliance with the permit. Tires, liquids, yard waste, and hazardous wastes are not allowed.
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