Story Archives of 'Waste'

Nearly 10 million Americans use syringes to inject themselves with medications. It could be for diabetes, arthritis, HIV, or infertility – even migraines. Those numbers are on the rise.

And when they’re done, those home users toss some 3 billion syringes into the trash each year. That poses health risks to workers handling that trash.

So state lawmakers are considering a bill that would make it illegal to toss syringes in the trash. And those who sell or distribute them would have to participate in a needle take-back programs.

NHPR’s Dianne Finch has more.

In 2004, according to Maine's Department of Environmental Protection, biomass boilers in that state burned more than 300 thousand tons of construction and demolition debris, or C and D.

In 2005, nearly 150 thousand tons of C and D lumber were sent to Maine for burning from other parts of New England, including New Hampshire.

The businesses that turn the waste into watts say they are making green electricty from wood that would otherwise rot in a landfill.

Opponents of burning c and d argue the process releases toxic chemicals into the air and water.

To find out how the waste is handled, Maine Public Radio's Sara Nics recently visited a sorting and burning site and she filed this report.

Trash is not something most of us want to spend too much time thinking about. We put it into the trash bin, we put it outside on the curb on trash pick-up day, or take it to the dump. And we go through the same routine the next week. But what we are throwing away is something town and city officials across the state are spending a lot of time thinking about. That’s mainly for one reason: getting rid of waste is expensive and that cost is only going up. More and more towns are considering the concept known as pay as you throw to help cut back on what the town sends to the dump. New Hampshire Public Radio’s Rebecca Kaufman reports that the idea does seem to save town’s money. The hardest part is convincing residents that they might too.

Adam Tasker supervises the Wolfeboro Transfer Station. Thanks to recycling programs through the Northeast Resource Recovery Association, the town saves money on its waste and helps keep the earth clean.

A new report by the Governor's Solid Waste Tax Force recommends that the state increase its recycling efforts. The report also suggests that communities band together and create regional waste collection facilities. Despite these findings, some critics say the recommendations did not go far enough.

NHPR's David Darman has more.