Study shows landfilled resources worth billions

摘要

There's a saying in the waste industry that trash smells like money. Recyclables have that same odor, too. But much of that treasure is being buried. In 2010, $11.4 billion worth of recy- clable packaging ended up in U.S. landfills, according to a recent study. "Unfinished Business: The Case for Extended Producer Responsibility for Post-Consumer Packaging" was published by As You Sow, a nonprofit organization that promotes environmental and social corporate responsibility through shareholder advocacy, coalition building and legal strategies. "I really want this to be a resource to add to this debate ... on whether and how big consumer packaged goods companies should be taking responsibility for their packaging," said Conrad MacKerron, senior director of As You Sow and the report's author.