Disposing of Society’s Byproducts

The present issue of the Sunshine Canyon landfill expansion is symptomatic of a much greater and significant area of difficulty that faces the entire Southern California region, the disposal of the various wastes that are generated by our society.

These wastes, whether sewage, hazardous materials, household or industrial trash and refuse, building materials or general rubbish, are the undesirable byproducts of our society.

They have historically been burned, buried or put out of sight. Today, disposal decisions are heavily affected by: (1) the advent of the “disposable” society emphasizing “no deposit--no return” for materials that are not biodegradable, (2) a conscious decision by elected officials many years ago to forgo the separation of trash into “recyclable” materials and simple trash, (3) the significant increase of plastics and other synthetics that cannot be disposed of and (4) the increasing awareness of the potential health hazards of materials heretofore commonly used in our industrial developments.

It is obvious just from the range of waste materials that there is no simple solution to the immediate problem of disposal. This difficulty has grown year by year, and we must now weigh short-term decisions, which are admittedly Band-Aids, until comprehensive programs can be instituted. These solutions will be expensive in both capital as well as in the changing of established methods of waste disposal.

We, whether in the home or business, must be prepared to accept short-term difficulties while long-term solutions are developed and implemented. It is unfortunate some segments of the city and county may have to bear a heavier burden for the short term, but in the context of solving this difficulty, there is little choice.

Through the utilization of the best available control technology, it is hoped the continued use of canyon landfills will be a minimal problem for local residents for the short term. It is further incumbent upon all elected officials and the agencies involved to implement programs that will resolve the multiplicity of difficulties all types of waste disposal present.

DAVID HONDA

Van Nuys Honda is chairman of the legislative committee of the Van Nuys Chamber of Commerce .