The Positive Effects of SWACO Landfill in Comparison with other Grove City Landfills - Research Paper Example

Your The The Positive Effects of SWACO Landfill in Comparison with other Grove Landfills It is interesting to have noticed that different landfills produce different effects: while SWACO landfill produces positive effects on the people and environment; other landfills appear to endanger people’s lives as well as destroying the environment. There are some factors responsible for these differences in operations, and they are carefully highlighted in this paper as discovered during my field research. The City Officials at the Grove City in Ohio State have historically worked hard to make the streets and surrounding of the City clean and habitable. The City mainly handles its waste management by contracting them out to Local Waste Services. There are some local waste services in the city that operate some landfills, but Grove City majorly allowed SWACO to handle its waste management procedures, which involves the collection and disposal of solid waste at the Franklin County Landfill (Grove City 2011). Apart from SWACO, other waste management companies that are used by people in Grove City 2 include Tri-County Industries, Inc., and Franklin Road Recycling Solution, both of which also operate landfills. Studies have shown that one of the problems of the 21st century in the United States is waste—the country is going through a phase of mountainous waste-production, which is estimated to be millions of tons of waste yearly (Rahm 1-2). As a result of this, city administrators often find themselves at the crossroads to design a functional process for collecting and disposing of these waste materials. For many years now, landfills have been the appropriate systems for the disposal of waste in the United States. However, environmental experts believe that the most important issue now is finding a perfect waste disposal strategy managed by a good waste disposal company—a waste-disposal system that can produce positive benefits for people in that locality and the environment (Kreith and Tchobanoglous 4) . Grove City may have chosen SWACO because of its comparative advantages when compared with Local Waste Services like Tri-County Industries, Inc., and Franklin Road Recycling Solutions. Some of the positive effects of SWACO landfill admired by the Grove City administration are highlighted in the remaining part of this paper, comparing them with that of other local waste services. Tri-County Industries handle the waste materials for residential, industrial and commercial clients located in Grove City, Ohio. The company utilizes its big size and years of experience to help clients cut the cost of disposing of their waste in landfill (Tri-County Industries, Inc. 2011). But Tri-County Industries Landfill has some negative impacts on 3 Grove City residents: according to a recent court case against Tr-County, its landfills located at Pine and Liberty have strong bad odor, lighting issues and noises could be heard at night (Allied News 2011). Similarly, Frank Road Recycling Solutions, for over 75 years, has provided its customers in Grove City, Ohio with good waste-disposal and recycling solutions. These solutions were aimed at helping them do away with their operational waste and protect the environment (Frank Road Recycling Solutions 2011). But Frank Road Recycling Solutions Landfill does not provide the green opportunities offered by SWACO Landfill. Therefore, both Tri-County Industries, Inc., and Frank Road Recycling Solutions do not match the positive effects of SWACO as described below. Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio (SWACO) was created as a waste-management agency with other 51 solid waste districts by Ohio General Assembly in 1989. SWACO was specifically established to help Ohio residents proactively dispose of their waste materials (SWACO 2011). And SWACO landfill provides the following positive effects in Grove City, Ohio. Solid waste materials are disposed of at SWACO landfill while customers are strongly encouraged to recycle some recyclable materials are Some of the recyclable materials include Fiber – For examples, cardboard, newspaper, junk mail, magazines, computer paper, office paper, telephone books, and paperboard: cereal boxes and beverage boxes, pizza boxes with insert removed and no food waste; Aluminum - Beverage and food cans; Steel - Soup and food cans; Glass Bottles & Jars - Green, clear, blue and brown 4 colors taken; Plastic - All bottles and jugs of all sizes; However, the following materials are not recyclable: Oil jugs, plastic bags, plastics other than bottles and jugs, window and drinking glass, pots, pans, coat hangers, tissues and paint cans. They are dumped at SWACO landfill to prevent environmental pollution and help Grove City maintain cleanliness in all it streets. SWACO landfill also help to prevent the depletion of natural resources as the landfill soil becomes rich of minerals after many years of deposit (Pieter 3). Another great positive effect of SWACO landfill is the conversion of landfill gas to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to fuel SWACO cars, trucks and other CNG vehicles (SWACO 2011). Before, the landfill gas was left to evaporate into the atmosphere and pollute the air people breathe in. But with the new technology, SWACO is able to capture this gas and turned it into usable fuel to power its vehicles. The Compressed Natural Gas has been regarded as a clean-air fuel that would probably not release pollutants into the air like fossil fuels. Experts believe that CNG has the capability to reduce the global warming problem if used in large scale instead of the fossil fuel that constantly heats up our world (Saddleback Educational Publishing 34). In other words, the environment is cleaner owing to the technology used by SWACO, and people can breathe in fresh and unpolluted air. In order to reach its customers and impact them positively, SWACO also offers leadership training for businesses and other categories of customers to let them be aware of the latest waste management technology and strategies for carrying out waste disposal (SWACO 2011). This is a kind of educational program that constantly reminds 5 Ohio residents the benefits of disposing their waste materials to SWACO landfill. This is why SWACO is different from the other local waste services; SWACO maintains constant cooperation with its customers so as to provide them the best waste-disposal services. SWACO is undertaking several activities to further create awareness among Ohio residents about the importance of its landfill. The Company carries out its social responsibility in various manners-- Central Ohio sports fans back recycling at many of the local arenas and stadiums. The SWACO message is sent during games of the NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets, Major League Soccer’s Columbus Crew, and the International Baseball League’s Columbus Clippers. SWACO recycling containers dot the concourses, while fans are encouraged to recycle via message boards and public address announcements. Displaying how old landfills can see new use, the former Franklin County landfill just south of Columbus has been turned into the 19-hole Phoenix Golf Links by SWACO. The Company has a community outreach and partnerships in Central Ohio also which include exhibits at the world renown Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, COSI (The Center for Science and Industry), and The Martin Luther King Arts Complex. SWACO educate Ohio residents by organizing tours of SWACO’s Franklin County Landfill, which has become a big hit with students of all ages. Thousands of students every year see firsthand the results of our throwaway society. There is also a SWACO lending library for teachers and students (SWACO 2011). 6 In conclusion, SWACO landfill offers more positive impacts for Grove City residents than any other Waste Management Companies discussed above. Landfill has so many benefits as shown in SWACO examples. Disposing of waste materials in landfill help protect the environment from pollution, diseases and other harmful things that come with dirtiness. Landfill gas can also be converted into Compressed Natural Gas which CNG cars and vehicles can use without polluting the air—this is because CNG has been found to be source of clean-air energy. Most importantly, landfills can be turned into gardens or green fields for agricultural purpose after some time. SWACO landfill was also turned into a golf course that many golfers go there to play their games (Lehmann 83). SWACO landfill offers more positive effects than any other landfill in the area; and this is why the Company is so famous among Grove City residents. 7 Works Cited Allied News. Outlets present case in ongoing landfill hearings: reopening talks to continue next week, 2011. Web. 22 May, 2011. (http://alliednews.com/local/x740876774/Outlets-present-case-in-ongoing-landfill-hearings/print) Frank Road Recycling Solutions. About us, 2011. Web. 22 May, 2011. (http://www.recycle-solution.com/about_us.html). Grove City Government. Trash pickup/recycling/ yard waste, 2011. Web. 22 May, 2011. (http://service.grovecityohio.gov/collection/). Lehmann, Ernest. Landfill research focus. New York: Nova Publishers, 2007. Print. Kreith, Frank, and Tchobanoglous, George. Handbook of solid waste management. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Professional, 2002. Print. Pieter, van Beukeriq ng. Recycling, international trade, and the environment: empirical analysis. New York, NY: Spinger. Rahm, Dianne. Toxic waste and environmental policy in the 21st century United States. Jefferson, NC: MacFarland, 2002. Print. Saddleback Educational Publishing. Alternative fuels. Costa Mesa, CA: Saddleback Educational Publishing, 2008. Print. 8 Solid Waste Authority of Central Ohio. Welcome to SWACO, 2011. Web. 22 May, 2011. (http://www.swaco.org/SmartSWACO/AboutSWACO.aspx). Tri-County Industries, Inc. Welcome to Tri-County Industries, 2011. Web. 22 May, 2011. (http://www.tricountyind.com/Default.aspx). Read More