Spilyay Tymoo
Warm Springs, Oregon
January 26, 1990 PAGE 5
Garbage continued from page 1 Disposable diapers total two percent of waste
Uuerin, meets Environmental Pro
tection Agency standards and will
continue to do so, says Graybael.
Warm Springs doesn't need to ad
here to those standards, but, says
Graybael, "Warm Springs wants to
comply."
At one time garbage dump sites
were randomly located in rural
areas of Warm Springs. Those sites
have been covered and residents
who haul their own garbage may
take their refuse to the public land
fill if they do not wish to have a
tribal truck haul it.
The landfill is available for most
household waste but toxic wastes
and vehicles are not accepted. Ac
cording to Graybael, vehicles can
be removed by calling Ira's Wreck
ing in Madras and toxic wastes can
be discarded at the Bend, Oregon
landfill where proper receptacles
are available. Proper disposal of
these items prevents accidents from
occurring.
Recycling is currently unavaila
ble at the Warm Springs landfill. It
requires volumes of paper and
metals to be cost effective, Gray
bael explains. However, individu
als can reduce waste at home and
with awareness reduce garbage
production.
The public has a major respon
sibly regarding proper waste dis
posal and reducing waste. Grounds
keepers keep many of the tribal
grounds free of litter but public use
rural areas are not patroled. These
areas, used for recreation by area
residents, require the care of users.
They are not disposal sites and
articles left in these places detract
from the area and make it unat
tractive to other visitors. Public
use areas are not places. to deposit
large quantities of debris or pop
bottles or disposable diapers.
Warm Springs citizens have a
reponsibility, also, to investigate
ways to reduce garbage, to look
into recycling and make decisions
regarding re-use of resources and
peserving resources. Like all citi
zens, they must consider the effect '
of continued waste on the future of
the nation and the nation's resour
ces and on the future of the planet.
Through awareness Warm Springs
residents can contribute to the
solution.
Teacher Guides
available
Teacher curriculum guides about
recycling are available from the
Oregon Department of Environ
mental Quality, 811 S.W. Sixth
Avenue, Portland, Oregon. Call I-800-452-401
1 for more information.
Ask for Thinking Recycling An
Oregon Waste Reduction Cur
riculum. Recycle oil
Oregonians currently recycle six
million gallons of motor oil out of
a possible 11-15 available gallons
each year. Oil that is not recycled is
often deposited on the ground and
poses environmental problems to
groundwater, streams and lakes. It
is estimated that recycling oil could
save some 1.3 million barrels of oil
every day.
Single use disposable diapers are
clogging the nation's landfills and
making public-use areas unsightly.
Throw-away diapers invaded the
markets 27 years ago, and while
diaper pails and safety pins disap
peared, indestructible, plastic and
paper human waste packages have
emerged.
The disposable diaper may be a
god-send for mothers who must
keep baby clean but is is a scourge
for the nation's la nd ill operations.
The diaper may not be toxic but
disposables account for one to two
percent of refuse produced each
year. They can be disposed of only
by burning or burial. And when
added to incresing numbers of dis
carded paper, plastic, bottles and
cans, the problems become more
significant.
Disposable diapers cause prob
lems of contamination and de
composition. The main environ
mental concern is quantity. Sixteen
billion used diapers went to land
fills and two billion were burned
last year. To cite a comparison, 16
billion used diapers would cover 25
football fields, 30 stories high. The
life of a disposable diaper is ap
proximately two hours and it con
situtes two percent of solid waste.
And because disposable diapers
are a combination of paper fiber,
plastic, and human waste, it is a
difficult product to deal with. The
ground water supplies.
Although some bio-degradable
diapers are manufactured, they are
usually buried at landfills and are
not exposed to oxygen, necessary
for their disintegration.
Taxing non-disposable diapers
and plastics may eventually result
to pay for handling these items.
Recvclers are also looking at wavs
to sterilize diapers, strip them down
and recycle them.
Municipalities that must deal
with increasing waste are also look
ingateducatingthepublic, making
them aware ol the eltect their lite
styles have on the environment and
the consequences of using disposa
ble diapers and other non-decaying
disposable products.
Until solutions are found, how
ever, man's waste continues to ac
cumulate and can be seen not only
in landfills but along streams, in
parks and by the roadside. The
plastics and disposable diapers will,
if left there, be seen there for
hundreds of years to come.
Students learn value of recycling
Recycling is becoming a way of
life for Madras Jr. High SMILE
students. The Science and Math
Investigative Learning Experience
club has been collecting paper and
bundling it to send to the Red
mond recycling center for over a
year.
Students began recycling after
discussing ways to conserve the
nation's resources. They discovered
that seventeen trees are necessary
to produce one ton of paper. The
students estimate that Madras Jr.
High uses 4'$ tons of paper each
year.
Approximately 50 percent of the
paper used at MJH is now being
recycled by the SMILE students.
They would like to see that amount
increased.
Boxes are provided in work areas
around the school. Teachers and
students have the opportunity to
deposit
dianers also contain acrvlic crvs- Pa.Pcr ,n ine wasiepaper
tals to absorb moisture which form bket or 'ne recycling boxes Not
a thick gel when wet. a11 tvPes of paper can be recycled so
Another concern is the viruses students make teachers and stu
that may be carried by human d?nts aware of th,e kinds of paper
feces, including those which cause tnat can be "cycled. Every Mon
polio, hepatitis and meningitis.
Diapers could easily contaminate Continued on page 8
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SMILE students (left to right) Jennifer Tufti, Sunmiet Minnick, and
Rhea Pierre plan a poster using paper they ground and recycled
themselves.
ecycling can help save animals, animal habitats
I Many animals and animal habitats are on their way to extinc
tion. Ways do exist to prevent this and save some of the species
I now on that track. Reducing the demand for and waste of elec
Itricity, petroleum products, metals, land, paper and wood and by
I becoming aware that when we descard toxic, non-biodegradable
I wastes we are creating pollution that comes back to haunt people
I and animals alike.
I Here is a list of ways to make a difference:
I In your home
I Recycle everything you can; newspapers, cans, glass, aluminum
. I foil and pans, motor oil, scrap metal, etQ.
I Investigate recycling centers that take items.
I Save your kitchen scraps for the compost pile
I Try to use phospate-free laundry and dish soaps.
I Avoid the use of household pesticides. Use a flyswatter.
I Clean your windows with vinegar and water instead of chemical
I products.
I "Use cold water in the washer unless it's necessary to use warm or
hot.
I Use washable rags, not paper towels, for cleaning up spills and
I other household chores.
I Crumpled-up newspapers are great for washing windows.
I Use cloth diapers. The plastic in disposable diapers doesn't
I break down in landfills.
I Use cloth, not paper, napkins.
(Don't put hazardous substances down you drain or in your
I trash (paint thinner, furniture polish, etc.). Dispose of them on
I designated hazardous waste collection sites.
Don't use electrical appliances for things you can easily do by
I hand.
I Re-use brown paper bags to lineyourtrashcan instead of plastic
I liners. Re-use bread bags, butter tubs, etc.
I Use re-usable containers to store foods. ..not plastic wraps and
foil.
I Write to companies that send unwanted junk mail. ..ask them to
I take you off their list.
I Save your coat hangers and return them to the cleaners.
I Take unwanted, re-useable items to a charitable organization or
I thrift shop.
I Don't leave water running needlessly.
I ""Install a water saying shower head.
I Set your water heater at 130 degrees.
I Have your water heater insulated free of charge by your utility
I company.
I Turn the heat down and wear a sweater.
I Lower your house temperature by one degree per hour for every
I hour you'll be away or asleep.
I Turn the lights off when you're out of the room and the TV.
I Get a free energy audit from your utility company.
I Burn only seasoned wood in your woodstove or fireplace.
In your yard
Start a compost pile
Plant shrubs and trees in your backyard that provide food and
shelter for birds and other creatures.
Feed the birds.
Put up bird houses and baths.
Pull weeds instead of using herbicides.
Learn about natural insect controls as alternatives to pesticides.
Landscape with plants that aren't prone to insect and fungus
problems.
Ignore caterpillars and most native leaf chewing insects. I ct
birds and insect predators take care of them.
Use beer traps for slugs instead of baiting with poisons.
Use organic fertilizers. I
If you use pesticides, herbicides or fungicides, don't throw lef
tovers in the tr;sh down vour drain or into :i vtnrtn vrm r
Dispose ol I hem on a nuarcious waste site.
Compost your leaves and yard debris. Burning them creates air
pollution and putting them out with the trash is a waste of landfill
space.
Use mulch to conserve water in your garden.
Plant things that don't require so much water.
Take extra plastic and rubber pots back to the nursery.
Large expanses of lawn are not good habitat lor other creatures,
plus they usually must be maintained with chemicals and exten
sive .watering.. Plant native shrubs or trees instead. ; . .;. n.y. t
Plan short, dense shrubs close to your home's foundation to
help insulate against cold.
On vacation
Turn down the heat and turn off the water heater before you go.
Carry re-usable cups, dishes and flatware.
Make sure your plastic trash doesn't end up in the,?treams.
Don't pick flowers or collect wild creatures lor pets.. .leave
animals and plants where you find them.
Don't buy souvenirs made from wild animals.
Watch out for wildlife. ..give consideration to all living things
you see crossing the road.
Build smaller camp fires.
Stay on the trail.
In your car
Drive sensibly.
Keep your car tuned up.
Carpool.
Ride a bike or walk.
Buy a more gas efficient car. , .
Recycle your engine oil.
Keep your tires properly inflated to save gas.
Recycle your old tires.
Keep your wheels in alignment to save your tires.
Don't litter.
At work
Start an office recycling program for office and computer paper.
cardboard, etc.
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Don't litter! It's unsightly.
Use scrap paper for informal notes to yourself and others.
Print things on recycled paper.
Print or copy on both sides of the paper.
Use smaller paper for smaller memos.
Re-use manila envelopes and file folders.
Hide the throw-away cups and train people to bring their mugs
to meetings.
Route things around the office or post non-urgent communica
tions rather than making multiple copies.
Plant trees and shrubs around office buildings instead of lawns
and bedding plants.
Put a bird feeder outside the office window.
While shopping
Don't buy food or household products in plastic or styrofoam
containers if there's an alternative (milk and egg cartons, vegeta
ble oil, butter tubs, etc.) They can t be recycled and they don t
break down in the environment.
Don't buy "disposable" anything. Paper plates and towels, sty
rofoam cups, etc. are extravagant wastes of the world's resources.
If you must buy disposables. ..buy paper products rather than
plastics or styroloam. The manufacture of styrofoam depletes the
ozone layer. t '
Buy durable products and keep them a little longer. Cheap
furniture, clothes and appliances often have short life spans.
Check the energy rating on ma jor appliances you buy.
Read labels and buy the least toxic product available for clean
ing, pest control and other jobs.
Put your parcels into one big sack instead of collecting several
small ones.
Don't buy things with excess packaging (individually wrapped
cheese slices, apples on a paper tray wrapped with cellophane,
etc.)
Buy in bulk: reduce pollution that comes from the manufacture
and disposal of many small packages.
Ask questions. ..don't buy products that are hazardous to the
environment or that were manufactured at the expense of impor
tant animal habitat.
Buy locally grown food and locally made products when
possible.
Don't buy products that come from endangered animals.
Don't keep "exotic pets."
Personal efforts
Join a conservation organization.
Volunteer your time to conservation projects.
Give money to worthy conservation environmental causes.
Check your lifestyle. ..think about the effects of your daily
actions on the environment.
Take advantage of the non-game wildlife checkoff on your
Oregon tax form.
Vote for candidates that share your sentiments.
Read books and articles on wildlife and environmental issues.
Watch nature programs on TV.
Subscribe to conservation or environmental publications or
purchase them as gifts.
Spread the word
Convert by example. ..encourage other people to save resources,
too.
Tease, cajole, persuade or shame your family, friends and
neighbors for not recycling, not being energy conscious, etc.
Complain to merchants about excess packaging, use of plastics,
etc. Write letters to companies, Patronic merchants who are
cnvironmentlly conscious.
Write your legislators when you have an opinion about pending
legislation on environmental, land use and other issues.
Teach children to respect nature and the environment. Take
them on a hike, help them plant a tree or build a bird house, buy
them a nature book or subscription to a w ildlife magazine.
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