Passage II

The Best Kept Secret in Town

When I was growing up, my parents did not allow me to go to the county dump. In my imagination, it was a place where huge piles of garbage emitted an overpowering stench. I could picture everything rotting, rusty, and in complete ruins.

Recently, my view of garbage dumps—or landfills, as they are usually called now—changed dramatically. This happened after I heard some residents in the community where I now live talk favorable about the landfill. They said it is much more than a place to dispose of garbage. They were right. On a Saturday morning outing, I discovered a surprisingly orderly facility, it was at the end of a short drive from the center of town.

I was a little bewildered when I arrived until I received directions to the many stations on the premises. In addition, to a place for unsalvageable debris, there were separate areas for materials that are suitable for reuse. For instance, I saw designated spots for this and that. Not only could visitors drop off what they didn't need, they could haul away what they did need. Nevertheless, piles of wood chips, ideal for use as garden mulch were available too. I helped myself to enough to cover my backyard flower beds.

Now a landfill fan, a particular appreciation exists for the section for hazardous household materials, where visitors are permitted to select anything from household paint to mosquito repellent. If I have leftover red from painting my porch, for instance, one can trade it for someone else's leftover yellow to paint my bookshelves. Everybody benefits from this system. Fewer toxic substances go into the ground, and more people save money by reusing perfectly good materials.

In some cases it is necessary to call ahead for an appointment, and there may be a small fee to drop off or certain items are picked up. However, the landfill operates during convenient hours, and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The biggest waste would be to overlook the existence of this community resource.