Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 18-7:
The
Arctic National
Wildlife Reserve
in Alaska.
Garbage and NIMBY
At the end of the day you take out the garbage. But where does it go? Or where should it go? A pop-
ular refrain is NIMBY — not in my back yard. “Put it somewhere, but not next to me.”
Refuse is very geographical on at least two accounts. First, a direct relationship exists between the
geography of wealth and the geography of garbage. That is, the more affluent the society, the greater
the amount and durability of its garbage. Because the United States is the world's most developed
country, it should come as no surprise that it ranks as the world leader in garbage production, whether
measured nationally or per capita.
Second,garbagehasgottogosomewhere.Butwhere?Landfillsandincinerationarethemostpopular
responses, but both are susceptible to dynamic mechanisms — percolating water in the case of land-
fills, and wind as regards incinerators. Nobody wants it in their backyard, but increasingly the cities
and counties that generate it are being forced to dispose of it somewhere within their own jurisdic-
tions, as opposed, say, to empty lands far away. And once again, the question of “Where?” will be
answered by public officials that one hopes are elected by and responsive to a geographically savvy
citizenry.
