The United States produces more trash than any other country in the world. In 1993, the average U.S. citizen generated 4.4 pounds of trash each day, more than double the amount in 1963. During this time, the cost of new landfills has skyrocketed. Today, new landfills can cost up to 500,000 per acre for design and construction. This expense is translated into additional fees or taxes for the community. There are also environmental costs involved with landfills. Many older landfills do not have the environmental safeguards of new facilities and all landfills have the potential to contaminate ground water. Added to these costs is the difficulty in siting new landfills. "Not in my backyard," or "NIMBY", is a common protest in communities where landfills are proposed.

In response to these problems, many communities have initiated recycling programs. While landfills will always be necessary. The life of a landfill can be extended 20-24 years by meeting a recycling goal of just 205. In addition to this, recycling conserves natural resources. For some industries, it is much cheaper and easier to use recycled material instead of processing new stock. Aluminum producers use 96% less energy by reprocessing recycled aluminum than by producing the same amount of metal from bauxite ore. Recycled oil can be re-refined and reused, reducing our country's dependence on oil by thousands of barrels each day. Considering the costs and hassles involved with constructing new landfills and the benefits to industry, recycling does make a difference in everyone's life.

Use your purchasing power to purchase products that are recycled and products that can be recycled is the beginning of the process. Buy fewer products. Purchase quality goods that will last longer.

Choose products with least packaging and buy economy size. Avoid products with excessive packaging. The more packaging, the more energy and resources a product consumes. Buy products made from renewable or recycled materials, including paper, motor oil, and carpeting. Refuse bags or bring your own shopping bags to the store Avoid throwaway cups, plates, utensils, napkins, sponges and dishcloths. Reuse bags and containers.

Recycle. Recycle paper, cardboard, aluminum and tin cans, glass and plastic to help preserve natural resources. Newspapers are recycled for insulation, folders, more newspapers. Glass is recycled for new jars and bottles; aluminum for more aluminum.

• Plastic #1 is recycled into new bottles, carpeting, polyester, fiberfill
• Plastic #2 is recycled into new bottles, flower pots, trash cans, traffic cones, curbside recycle bins
• Plastic #4 is recycled into new plastic bags, and garbage bags.

Take used appliances, like stoves and refrigerators, to companies that recycle them. Donate unwanted items to charity and shop at antique, salvation army, or any store selling second-hand items. Don't throw them out. In turn, purchase items at yard sales, antique, thrift and consignment stores, and pawn shops. The US produces more trash than any country in the world.

Worcester Recycling Centers

• Berlin Transfer station, Flower Street
• Central Landfill, Central Site Lane at Route 113, Newark
• Pocomoke City, 7th and Young Street
• Pocomoke Transfer Station, Byrd Road
• Snow Hill Transfer Station, Timmons Street at Holly Lane
• West Ocean City Harbor

Worcester County 24-hour drop off/recycle bins

• White Marlin Mall
• Stockton Fire House
• Public Landing Boat Ramp
• Bishopville Park
• Whaleysville Park

In Ocean City:

• Corner of Worcester and Philadelphia Ave.
• 39th Street Municipal Parking Lot
• 94th Street Mall Parking Lot
• 28th Street Bayside
• 137th Street and Sinepuxent Ave.
• 66th Street Bayside
• 130th Street Mall Parking Lot
• 2nd Street and Philadelphia Ave. at bus station
• Ocean City Fishing Center at Shantytown Road and Route 50

Other

• Food City Plaza
• Pocomoke Plaza
• Goff's Supermarket parking Lot
• Snow Hill Post Office

Things to consider

• Using 1000 throwaway plastic teaspoons consumes over 10 times more energy and natural resources than making one stainless steel teaspoon and washing it 1000 times.
• Avg American throws out 1,800 plastic products, 13,000 paper products, 500 aluminum products and 500 glass bottles every year.
• Every year each person discards 1,500 pounds of trash
• Making products from recycled material uses less energy. 30-55% less for paper, 33% less for glass, 90% less for aluminum
• Every 115 pounds of newspaper saves one tree
• In 1993, the average U.S. citizen generated 4.4 pounds of trash each day, more than double the amount in 1963.
• During this time, the cost of new landfills has skyrocketed. Today, new landfills can cost up to 500,000 per acre for design and construction.
• The US produces more trash than any country in the world
• More than 50 percent of landfill waste could have been recycled. (Cost?)
• Plastics dumped in landfills take 200-400 years to decompose.