Web Quest Project:

The Solid Waste Crisis in New York City

As created by Tony Thoman, JFK High School

Introduction:

In March of 2001, New York City officially closed down its landfill at Fresh Kills, Staten Island. When this garbage dump was closed, many were concerned about the destiny of the city’s waste.

No place in the world creates more garbage than New York City. Finding a way to deal with huge volumes of garbage poses a challenge to city policy makers. The garbage has to go somewhere. How can we find a solution to this problem that is politically, economically, and environmentally acceptable?

Focusing on the New York State mandate for Global Studies to study Environment and Society, decision making, and the issues of justice and power, this webquest will examine the various alternatives, and allow you, using the PPA model, decide as to the best policy the city can use at this time.

Task:

You are going to have the chance to learn what options the city is exploring in setting up a policy regarding how to properly dispose our city’s garbage. Of course, it is best to learn about how the city has dealt with it’s garbage for the last half century, before looking into new options. After looking at Fresh Kills, you will explore the current options available, by looking at the internet. In the end, you are going to arrive at a solution that is the most politically expedient, cost effective, and environmentally sound.

Process:

1. In making an analysis as to whether the policy of water filtration in the Bronx is the best policy to adapt, first refer to the PPA (Public Policy Analyst), to follow the step by step process of evaluating a proposal.

Click www.maxwell.syr.edu/plegal/TIPs

This step by step process was created by political scientists at the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, in Syracuse, New York. This process will allow you to investigate this crisis in a focused and structured manner.

The following steps in this site outlines the general process of PPA, in terms of gathering information, and analyzing the proposal in relation to the alternatives.

2. Identification of the problem: Read this newsflash on the Fresh Kills Landfill

In making an analysis as to whether the policy of water filtration in the Bronx is the best policy to adapt, first refer to the PPA (Public Policy Analyst), to follow the step by step process of evaluating a proposal.

Fresh Kills Closes, March 14, 2001

· May 29, 1996 New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani and  New York Governor George Pataki announced that they had reached an agreement to close the City's only landfill, called
Fresh Kills, by 2001.

· Fresh Kills, located on 3,000 acres in Staten island, is the largest landfill in the world, taking in 14,000 tons per day, or 4.3 million tons per year.   The landfill's mountains of trash tower over the Statue of Liberty by 25 feet.

· Landfill neighbors have tried to shut down the dump since before it opened in 1948, with opposition escalating over the years.  Today, Fresh Kills spews 2,650 tons of methane gas daily, 5.7% of all U.S. methane emissions.  The landfill is commonly referred to as an "environmental nightmare."

· If Fresh Kills exports 15 % of  its 14,000 tons per day, and it comes to Virginia, then Virginia will import 1950-2100 tons every DAY.  An average of 2025 tons of imported trash a day... an average of 101.25 trucks per day.

· Fresh Kills means "fresh streams" in Dutch.

Question 1: Why did this landfill have to get closed if it met the needs of the city?

View the following sites to find your answer!

http://www.concernedcitizens.homestead.com/FKfacts.html

http://www.statenislandusa.com

http://eieio.org/landfills/freshkills.html

3. The proposed policy:

Exporting garbage to other states using trucks, rail, and barge, using waste transfer stations throughout New York City as temporary depots for garbage.

waste transfer statation in the South Bronx

Question #2: How acceptable is this policy? Looking at the sites below, examine this question by focusing on costs and benefits in the following categories

a. Political

b. Economic

c. Environmental

In your answer, also regard how the residents near Waster Transfer stations feel about this policy, how residents of Virginia and Pennsylvania, where the garbage is now going, feel as well?

View the following sites to find answers to this question! Expect to spend a few periods on this one.

http://www.ci.nyc.us/html/dos

http://www.astc.org/exhibitions/rotten/rthome.htm

http://johnmccrory.com/bags/v1/n05_news.html

4. Alternative Policies:

What are the alternatives available should this current policy of exportation

be found to be unacceptable?

Question #3: What are the alternative policies, and how do they measure up to the current policy used by New York City? Why has New York City held back or not fully implemented these policies?

A. Increasing Recycling

B. Garbage Incineration

C. Composting all our food wastes

Explore the following sites to learn about these options.

1. Recycling:

http://www.earthsystems.org/list/recycle

http://www.ci.nyc.us/html.dos

http://www.astc.org/exhibitions/rotten/rthome.htm

http://www.asme.org/lab/oct99report.htm

http://www.ilsr.org/

2. Garbage incineration

http://www.gpnj.org/pol_waste.htm

http://www.scientism2000.com/wx.htm

http://www.eastnorthumberland.com/news/newsjuly2000

3. composting

http://www.cornell.edu/compost

Evaluation:

1. The student will be expected to present two products as a result of the research.

A written report following the steps as listed in the Process section of this webquest. The following values will be used in assessing the report:

20 pts: thesis: there must be a clearly stated position

20 pts: organization: the argument must have a logical and progressive flow

40 pts: extent of research: the information collected for this project must be thorough at least five resources, either / or internet or newspaper should be used

20 pts: presentation of alternatives: three options beyond the initial stand must also be presented and evaluated

___ 100 points total

2. The student will be expected to present his point of view in a class debate. The students will form two teams, one side favoring the current policy, involving the exportation of garbage. The other side is opposed, presenting the alternative views. After the students have gathered in two large groups, tasks are assigned, with each student assigned an area of expertise. Some might be experts on waste transfer stations, others on garbage incineration or recycling.

The debate is conducted in a manner that suits the teacher and the class. It should allow for opening and concluding remarks, and set time limits for each side. An impartial jury of students should be selected to judge which side debated their point of view more effectively. Those students on average, receive higher marks. Beyond that, those students who debate their points effectively, and counter students on the opposing side will receive the best marks.

Conclusion

This webquest will hopefully heighten your awareness of an issue that is not easily addressed. While it is important to have a concrete policy for the proper disposal of solid waste in New York City, is our current policy really acceptable? As you should see with your research, closing Fresh Kills and exporting our garbage is a policy with many benefits, also it can negatively impact the people living in New York City (and the Bronx in particular). As is the case with many public policy decisions, many are left unhappy with the outcome. If this policy continues to be pursued, will you be happy with outcome?

Anthony Thoman, May 13, 2001