(Des Moines, Iowa) A study of garbage, shows some interesting trends in what Iowans throw away. Food waste was number one, and plastic bags was number two, according to Tom Anderson with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Land Quality Bureau.
The Waste Characterization Study is done every six years. The results this time show more than a half million tons of food waste in landfills, a 50-percent increase compared to 2011 findings.
Anderson says the concern about food waste, is that when it breaks down without oxygen, it produces methane gas. Some facilities, including Polk County's Metro East Landfill converts methane into energy, but other facilities do not. He says the gas has a harmful effect on the environment, and contributes to climate change.
The study found the amount of plastics, including plastic sacks, was up 15-percent compared to the 2011 study.
Anderson says they found the amount of corrugated cardboard in landfills was down 50-percent, he credits companies expanding their recycling programs.
Anderson says the study also looked at the economic impact of increased diversion of recyclable paper, plastic, metal and glass that are commonly collected through curbside and drop-off recycling programs.
He says based on regional market prices at the time of the study (October 2017), the value of the common recyclable paper and containers Iowans are landfilling is more than $60 million.
“Should these materials be diverted, processed and sold to the manufacturing sector for the production of new products, it’s estimated nearly 6,000 jobs could be created,” said Anderson.