| GRN Recycle Talk FAQ Answer |
Date: Wed, 9 Apr 97 10:54 WET DST From: FRIEDMAN.FRED@EPAMAIL.EPA.GOV (Fred Friedman) Subject: Re: Dumping in space and oceans
- Why not dump in space? Well, first we do, but only materials that went on space missions, not regular garbage. For that, the costs would be prohibitive. It would be extremely energy-materials-etc. inefficient to drop a few tons of garbage in space. Its more the stuff of sci fi than real.
- Why not dump in the oceans? Again, we do. Marine debris washups from cruise ships and naval ships of all nations is already a big problem. Marine dumping of wastes is frequently an international issue. The stuff floats to land and gives us the need to get rid of it all over again. Dumping also damages fish, wildlife and vessels and fishing gear.
There is a report on this Report of the Interagency Task Force on Persistent Marine Debris that s probably available from the National Technical Information Service. It is at least 5 years old.
- Why is recycling not practices on a large-scale of some industries? Well, it is and it isn t. It is by e.g. some motor vehicle companies, by some communications companies, utilities, and others. But, I know what you mean. When industry doesn t do something innovative, its usually because its not been proposed, not been studied, not really in their corporate culture or merely that innovation isn t in their corporate culture unless its money-making potential is visible to the untrained eye
There are many other reasons why industries don t recycle on a large scale, usually having to do with knowledge or money or interest. And there are plenty of reasons why some of them do having to do with the same things.
-- Research Library for RCRA