Waste Reduction: Stop Throwing Things Out
A simple and obvious choice is to cut back on the amount of waste by using and throwing out less in the first place. Some states have adopted regulatory strategies to discourage dependence on landfills. In 1990, for example, California enacted a law that established a baseline for the amount of solid waste its cities and towns send to landfills. By 1995, that amount was to be reduced by 25 percent; by the year 2000, by 50 percent. California now diverts more than 25 percent of its waste, resulting in disposal of approximately 33 million tons per year. Such heavy cuts are usually accomplished by recycling.