GGRA03H3 Lecture : Lec 9
Document Summary
From 1960 to 1990 us garbage production per capita almost doubled form 2. 7lbs/capita per day to 4. 5 lbs/capita. This was primarily due to increases in wealth, increased consumption, and increased packaging waste. Also changes in the retail system [-toothbrush package with big paper pack since don t want people to steal it easily, home hardware use plastic pack-] There was also major change in the composition of waste, with the growth of plastic products and packaging, increased use of household chemicals, paints, tires, aerosol cans, & disposable products such as toothbrushes. During the first half of the 20th century most dumps were simple pits in valley or off cliffs. Increased concern about rats, disease, etc led to the development of sanitary landfill technology. This was basically the use of soil layers spread on top of each day s dumping to prevent animals from scavenging, smells, wind dispersal.
