More Trash: TV Switch to digital may clog landfills

The switch from analog to digital television in February could bring problems beyond new costs to consumers: clogged landfills and pollution from old televisions.

Consumers expect to dispose of 43.5 million television sets by the end of this year and nearly 120 million through 2010, according to a survey by the Consumer Electronics Association, which represents manufacturers.

The deluge of garbage has prompted a handful of states to consider legislation to deal with the hazardous byproducts, and Congress is starting to get into the act by considering federal legislation to address the problem. The cast-off of outmoded televisions already has begun with the arrival of high-definition and flat-screen TVs.

This means more problems for trash haulers.

Recycling Facts

Garbage in landfills is tightly packed and covered, preventing quick decomposition. U.S. residents and businesses generate 4.4 pounds of waste per person per day(EPA, 2001).

Missouri residents divert approximately2.6 million tons of waste from the landfill through recycling valuable resources (DNR, 2001).

Every day American businesses generate enough paper to circle the earth 20 times! (Resourceful Schools, 1999).

Each ton of recycled paper can save 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, 4,000 kilowatts of energy and 7,000 gallons of water! (Resourceful Schools, 1999).

One tree can filter up to 60 pounds of pollutants from the air each year. (Resourceful Schools, 1999).


Each year, Americans throw away 25 trillion styrofoam cups. (Resourceful Schools, 1999).


The energy saved from recycling one aluminum can will run your TV for 3 hours (Smurfit-Stone).


Five 2-liter plastic PET bottles (#1) can make 1 sq. ft. of polyester carpet and an XLG T-shirt! (Smurfit-Stone)


When you recycle one glass bottle, you save the amount of energy needed to light a 100-watt bulb for 4 hours (Smurfit-Stone).
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Government Should Do Only What People Can't

Regarding the editorial "Government and garbage" (Dec. 18 in the Post Dispatch), about the merits and demerits of St. Louis County's new forced trash-districting plan: We did a double take upon reading the quote from Garry Earls, St. Louis County chief operating officer, who said, "It's almost a no-brainer. The government can do this much better." Incredulously, Mr. Earls went on to say, "We can be the agent of the people in getting them good prices and good service."

We're not quite sure of the state of Mr. Earls' brain, but our respective brains recall that there are few things that government performs better than private industry, and at a lesser cost and better service. People correctly rely on government for things they cannot do for themselves, such as providing military protection, safe highways, etc. Putting trash service in this category is a real stretch.

Surely, St. Louis County has better things to do with its time and our money. Thousands of St. Louis County residents have contracted for their own trash service for more than 50 years. If everything must "go green," St. Louis County should have encouraged citizens to recycle and given them the chance to comply. Instead, County Executive Charlie Dooley has found a way to benefit several large trash haulers to the financial detriment of taxpayers and the bankruptcy of our small trash haulers, all under the guise of recycling.Luckily, many citizens in unincorporated St. Louis County understand what is really going on, which is why thousands of us are coming to the aid of our small trash haulers in their time of financial ruination.

St. Louis County should not be in the business of ruining small businesses.
. . . Kurt and Celeste Witzel, Oakville

9 Tips on How to Handle Nasty Neighbors

Even the most beautiful home, in the most serene town can become a nightmare if you live next door to the wrong kind of people. And dealing with nasty neighbors can be enough to drive even the most peaceable person to distraction. If you find yourself in this situation or would like to do your very best to avoid it, take some practical advice — here are the five big offenders in the world of nasty neighbors and tips on how to deal with them:

1. The racket maker — screaming moms, fighting spouses, horn honking and tire squealing drivers, loud music fanatics and late-night partiers

2. The property line fanatic — someone who trims boundary trees and sends you the bill

3. The slob, like one who lets the grass grow, puts trash out days in advance, and leaves garbage cans unlocked

4. The careless pet owner

5. The extreme weirdo — drunks, drug dealers, and the neighbor that never says anything

Spot them out. If you don’t want to end up with one of the above as your new neighbor, here’s what you can do to spot them early:

1. Cruise the neighborhood at night. You’ll see the guy next door while he’s at home (rather than at work). Most people make the mistake of seeing a home during the day and looking again during the same time a few days later.

2. Talk with the local store owners. They’re always the first to tell you who the pains are, who stiffed them, and who’s involved in a lawsuit. (“I’m thinking of buying the Smith house. Do you know it? Know the street? What are the neighbors like?”)

3. Walk the neighborhood during rush hour. Not just block, but the four blocks surrounding yours. Befriend a few neighbors along the way. (“I’m thinking of buying the Smith House at 12 Maple Avenue. Do you know the neighbors? What are they like?”).

4. Look for basketball hoops, skateboard ramps, and trampolines, all tell-tale signs of the racket-maker.

5. Watch and listen for the barking and unleashed neighborhood dogs.

6. Poke around the town clerk’s office to find out which neighbors have filed for what, like permits for building a house extension over the next 12 months, a noisy new tennis court, or a new pool.

7. Take a cyberspace tour on ‘Google Street View’ to check out empty lots and backyards that look like a landfill.

8. Check on-line registries for the location of any local sex offenders.

Don’t buy next door to certain establishmentsBe sure to stay away from the following:
Country clubsEmpty lotsBus stopsHalfway housesGarbage routesIntersections with stop signs
How to handle bad neighborsIf you are already in the situation of having nasty neighbors, here are some failsafe strategies:

1. Call ahead and pick a time to talk.

2. Meet on the sidewalk or on the property line.

3. Don’t accuse; let them know how the problem bothers you and suggest ways to solve it together.

4. If that doesn’t work, check out local noise and disturbance ordinances and write a personal letter. Offer a solution.

5. Consult your condo or block association. Ask them to send a standard letter citing the ordinance or by-law. A condominium association’s right of first refusal is a little-known clause that can be used to buy your neighbor out.

6. Should that fail, call your local precinct. Keep a record of your complaint.

7. Call in an expert mediator. (To find a mediator, check with your local courthouse, police precinct, or bar association).

8. As a last resort, file a complaint in court.

9. For the property line fanatic, walk the property line together to determine what belongs to whom; consider having the property surveyed to nip the problem in the bud.

Do you have any tips on how to cope with nasty neighbors? Click on COMMENTS below and share them with us. You can also read comments left by others.