Recycle : resource recovery in Belmont Massachusetts

Abstract

A potential threat to the earth's ecosystem and the people and animals living here is improper disposal of trash. The average American throws away 3.5 pounds of trash daily. While we have focused our concerns on the arms race and other looming and important issues, the day to day levels of trash coming from our homes and industries continues to grow. In many areas of the country landfills are closing and communities are struggling for solutions. : The information uncovered while researching this topic reveals that this situation can be addressed and handled responsibly. In order to achieve such success people must be willing to change their habits, work together, and take the time to retrieve and recover valuable resources from the "waste" stream. By doing so a significant amount of money, energy, and resources will be conserved. This thesis is an exploration into the ways a suburban community might proceed to do this in a useful and a meaningful way. A site in Belmont, Massachusetts was chosen to illustrate this proposal.