University of Virginia Library

Laws Of Matter

The problem of waste
treatment and disposal in this
nation is one of steady
increase, as a direct result of
population increase. The use of
the word 'consumerism' to
describe our present society
could not be any farther from
the truth. There is no such
thing as a consumer. We are
users, who discard the same
mass we begin with.

This fundamental law of
matter seems to elude many
people. They neither consider
nor care where the garbage
goes after they put it out, or
what happens after they flush
the toilet. The time has come

to begin thinking about these
things. The goal of this country
should be one of complete
recycling of resources.

The benefits are obvious.
The decrease in garbage
cluttering our land and water
would be accompanied by the
cleansing of our waterways,
and would lead to less
dependence on foreign nations
for certain key resources.

The costs are also great. A
major upheaval in the thinking
patterns of the American
people is required. We must be
aware of the problem and act
upon it before it ranges out of
control. That is why President
Nixon's refusal to spend $6
billion on waste treatment and
other problems, is so
distressing. The problems
remain, and grow greater every
day they are ignored. The
American people will have to
act sooner or later, and the
cost of solving the problem
increases for every moment of
inaction.

Several cities and states are
embarking on exciting new
programs in waste disposal, and
hopefully will lead others out
of their lethargy if they prove
successful. St. Louis is partially
solving both its garbage and
energy problems by replacing
coal with trash at one of its
power plants. New Orleans will
soon attempt to demonstrate
that recycling can be profitable
to the city, not an unwanted'
expense. The state of Oregon
has outlawed disposable bottles
and aluminum cans, a measure
that will hopefully be adopted
by other states in the near
future.