Trash

I watched the early evening news today January 15,2008 and here are some items that I took note of:
In Naples, Italy. residents are complaining because of trash that remain uncollected for the last three weeks. The City dump has been closed and the government has brought in the Army to help. Some of the City's trash were loaded onto trucks and brought by ferry boat to Sicily. As can be expected, protesters angrily met the truckloads of rubbish. City magistrates are still to decide on whether incinerators should be allowed just so to solve the worsening problem.

In Meycauayan City, Bulacan, a few kilometers North of Manila, Philippines, the City dump was closed down due to incessant complaints from residents. According to the manager of the facility, the 3 hectare dumpsite suffered from little or no maintenance at all due limited funds. As a result of this, the trash remained untreated in the open pits and created a stench that affected the nearby village.

In Davao City, Philippines, at least two houses were crushed when a mountain of trash fell on them. The incident happened in the old City dump. No other details were provided.

Theses events were unrelated and they happened hundreds of kilometers away from one another, but a common thread runs through them. Trash! Unsegregated garbage dumped into landfills. Non-biodegradable materials and biodegradable items mixed and thrown into open pits.

Some problems are brought to light. One, absolute failure to undertake segregation. Two, the inefficiency of landfills. Three, the temptation to resort to quick fix solutions that may bring about greater problems like incineration. Four, lack of government funds for proper garbage disposal.

We need to make a collective effort to come up with solutions to these problems. Unless we do that, the incidents narrated above will be repeated and repeated and repeated and repeated and repeated and repeated ...