Tag Archives: landfills

Building solar farms on closed landfills in Massachusetts

As the list directly below demonstrates, over the past decade more than 80 communities in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have successfully turned their closed brownfield landfills into green energy producing “bright fields.” Acton Landfill = 1.59 megawatt solar array on … Continue reading

Posted in adaptive reuse, Advocacy, Astronomy, business, cities, civics, climate, climate change, economic development, economics, ecosystems, energy, engineering, environment, geography, history, infrastructure, land use, Maps, nature, pictures, planning, politics, product design, Renewable Energy, Science, solar, spatial design, States, Statistics, sustainability, technology, urban planning, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mapping America’s Dumping Grounds

At what point are we going to change our wasteful ways? At what point will we take recycling, repurposing, and reuse seriously? The two (2) maps provided should break every American’s heart. Sometimes, while driving our nation’s highways, I am … Continue reading

Posted in commerce, environment, geography, government, health, infrastructure, land use, Maps, planning, politics, pollution, recycling, Statistics, Trade, urban planning, visual pollution | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Your community is dumpy when…

Landfill acreage exceeds park acreage. There are residents with the first name of Humpty. No refuse is refused. People can smell it before they arrive. Pig Pen is Mayor. Junk and salvage yards are welcome in any zoning district. Activities … Continue reading

Posted in advertising, cities, civics, civility, culture, entertainment, environment, fun, geography, government, history, humanity, infrastructure, land use, landscape architecture, marketing, planning, pollution, product design, psychology, Recycling, satire, sustainability, Television, urban planning, visual pollution, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Waste not, want not

The old adage used for the post title needs to be applied more forcefully to the food service industry, particularly quick-serve (fast food) restaurants, coffee shops, and similar dining establishments. I cannot count the number of times I have been … Continue reading

Posted in civics, climate change, coffee shops/cafes, commerce, consumerism, Cuisine, culture, energy, environment, Food, food systems, health, humanity, infrastructure, logistics, nature, planning, pollution, product design, recycling, Small business, sustainability, technology, visual pollution | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Garbage gateways: waste at first sight

Sanitary landfills (now there’s an oxymoron) are quite often situated along the primary gateways to the community they serve. Sure, an expressway allows for easy access to the dump by those dingy looking and overloaded welcome wagons of trash. They converge on these mini-mountains like … Continue reading

Posted in Alternative energy, cities, climate change, consumerism, culture, energy, environment, geography, humanity, infrastructure, land use, placemaking, planning, pollution, spatial design, sustainability, technology, tourism, Travel, urban planning, zoning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Are we becoming a scavenger society?

Last night, I stopped by Michigan State University’s state-of-the art Public Recycling Center to drop off my recyclables.  While there, I happened to notice a woman was carrying a metal object with three-prongs at the end of it. As I … Continue reading

Posted in charities, civility, consumerism, economics, Economy, Environment, health, homelessness, humanity, politics, poverty, Recycling, unemployment | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“Dustbindiana” and “Landfillinois”

Below is a list of the ten states that produce the most garbage per person in the United States. I am not proud to say my birth state, Indiana leads this shameful list, with Illinois following close behind. States that … Continue reading

Posted in Environment, land use, pollution | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

We need more readable recycling logos!

Have you ever tried to determine if a plastic item is recyclable? I have 20/20 vision for reading, but often the recycling symbol and corresponding number is so small I could use the help of a magnifying glass to read … Continue reading

Posted in Environment, pollution, Recycling | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments