Summer barbecues often mean paper plates, plastic forks, disposable cups and overflowing garbage cans, evidence of a growing problem in the United States.

We Americans produce more than 4 pounds of garbage per person each day, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. This adds up to 29 pounds per week and 1,600 pounds a year.

What happens to all that trash?

Most garbage haulers dump the garbage at a transfer station. Recyclables are sorted mainly by hand, on a conveyer belt. Plastics, particularly Nos. 1 trough 7, are crushed and baled by a machine that produces perfect cubes. These cubes are sold on the commodities market for about 60 cents per pound. This plastic is reprocessed using high temperatures that burn off most food particles and paper labels.

Glass is more difficult to recycle, and there is little call for it on the commodities market. Industry is switching to lighter packaging to save money on shipping costs, and replacing glass bottles with plastic. Most recycling facilities actually have to pay an average of $25 per ton, to ship glass to reprocessing facilities.

Aluminum is one of the most recycled items found in garbage, with about 35 percent of all cans on the market living a second or third useful life. "It takes about 12 ounces of energy to make a single 12 ounce can," notes recycling facility manager Bill Cutler. "Never, ever throw one away!"

Polystyrene foam is considered a contaminant in most recycling facilities. It often winds up in garbage but cannot be recycled. Contrary to popular belief, it is not the bulk clogging up our landfills, nor is disposable diapers. The bulk in most landfills is paper, especially newspapers like the one you might be reading this column in right now. It could be recycled.

This little-known fact was discovered by an archaeologist who excavates landfills. William L. Rathje, professor emeritus at the University of Arizona, dug up three landfills in Arizona, California, and Illinois. His team discovered newspapers from the late 1970s that were still readable, green grass clippings, a T-bone steak with lean and fat, and five hot dogs, all fairly fresh.

Rathje exposed the fact that organic matter doesn't really biodegrade in landfill conditions.

"Well-designed and well-managed landfills, in particular, seem to be far more apt to preserve their contents for posterity than to transform them into humus or mulch," says Rathje. "They are not vast composters; rather, they are vast mummifiers."

Two byproducts of landfills are methane gas and carbon-dioxide gas, which contribute to climate change. These gases could be used instead to generate electricity or heat. There are 400 landfill-gas energy projects scattered across the United States, with 73 in California, 36 in Illinois and 27 in Michigan.

"It's too late to do anything about reducing waste by the time it gets to the landfill," notes Cutler, who diverted more 5,000 pounds of recyclables from the waste stream last year. "We need to let go of the disposable mentality. If you don't absolutely need it, don't buy it!"

What to do if you want to reduce your household waste:

— Compost: Separate organic materials like leaves, grass clippings, vegetables peels and scraps and keep them in a composter or pile in the back yard.

— Precycle: Purchase items with the least amount of packaging. Buy items that can be recycled like Tom's toothpaste, the only toothpaste tube that can be recycled.

— Guerilla Recycle: Take apart the layers of pet food bags and discard the plastic inner liner. More than 1 pound of paper can be recycled from one pet food bag!

— Skip the juice box: Items in packaging that combines paper with metal or plastic like juice boxes, milk cartons, paper bags lined with foil, or bubble wrap mailers are all unrecyclable.

— Ask for help: Request that manufacturers to take back products that are spent. For example, most printer ink cartridges can be returned for a discount, why can't printers be returned as well?

— Buy used: Can you find a durable item at a yard sale instead?

— Skip the disposables: Use real cups, plates and napkins at your next party and wash them instead. If it is a large party, budget for a cleaning service or find a caterer who uses real dishes.

— Get in the habit: Learn to carry reusable bags with you, a reusable cup, and your own place setting.

Shawn Dell Joyce is a sustainable artist and activist living in a green home in the Mid-Hudson region of New York. Contact her by e-mail Shawn@ShawnDellJoyce.com To find out more about Shawn Dell Joyce and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2008 CREATORS SYNDICATE, INC.