Five Common Environmental Myths

Myth # 1: Millburn Township’s (non-recyclable) trash goes to a landfill.

Reality: 100 percent of Millburn’s household garbage that is collected curbside is BURNED. The same is true for all of Essex County, 70 percent of all of New Jersey, and approximately 50 percent nationwide. Worse yet, the incineration takes place in Newark, less than 10 aerial miles from where we live and breathe. Hopefully this will compel you to think about the the makeup of the trash you create, and reduce volume overall.

Myth # 2: Recycling is a great way to ‘go green’ as it reduces almost all of the impact of consumption.

Reality: Depending on the material, recycling can be a very energy-intensive process. In addition, there may be a huge amount of transportation involved and the recovery percentage may be much lower than 100 percent.  For example, all of Millburn’s paper and plastic recycling is done in China; this is because of lower cost, higher local demand for recycled goods AND lower environmental standards which contribute to lower costs. Worse yet, in the case of plastic bottles, even after all of the transportation, resources, and pollution caused by the process, for every 10 bottles processed approximately 7 new ones result.  Bottom line: it is certainly better for the environment to submit a recyclable product for recycling rather than throw it in the trash, but it is much more important and effective to Reduce and Reuse.

Myth # 3: A vehicle’s environmental impact may be measured by its MPG.

Reality: Fuel economy is only one factor; what many don't realize is that some vehicles produce much more pollution per gallon than others. SUVs (non-crossovers) and pickup trucks are particularly culpable because, in addition to having high fuel consumption as a group, they are classified as trucks and therefore allowed by law to pollute more than cars. It costs a bit less to manufacture a ‘dirty’ vehicle than a ‘clean’ one, so many manufacturers choose cost over environmental responsibility. Refer to the EPA’s website http://www.fueleconomy.gov/ for emissions and MPG information on all current and prior-year vehicles (you may have to drop a year back if researching a new car).  Emissions information is included on the window sticker for new cars sold in California, and this will become national standard beginning with the 2013 model year.

Myth # 4: Bottled water is superior quality and safer than tap water.

Reality: Generally not true compared to Millburn Township’s tap water, in fact, the standards of treatment and testing practiced by NJ American Water exceed most bottled waters. Our drinking water is perfectly safe, the only exception being if the plumbing in your home is old and tainting the water (rare, and fairly easy to verify through testing). You may not like the taste, but that is easily remediable by use of a water filter, even an inexpensive pitcher-type. In fact most bottled water, including the two most popular brands, Dasani and Aquafina, is nothing more than filtered tap water. Bottom line: for those of us fortunate enough to have good quality tap water (almost all of the USA), bottled water is an unnecessary product which exists purely for convenience.  Of course, given that it is packaged in plastic bottles, only 10 percent of which are recycled (and even those…. see Myth # 2…), it is a travesty for the environment.

Stop wasting your money, breaking your back carrying it and polluting the environment!

Myth # 5: Scientists do not agree on whether human activity has contributed to global warming.

Reality:  According to all published polls of greater than 1,000 scientists or climatologists, the percentage who agree that human activity is a contributing factor to warming falls between 82 percent and 98 percent depending on the survey, with the lower end including experts who are employed or otherwise funded by the fossil fuel industry. There is no debate amongst the experts that the climate is warming; the indisputable fact is that average global temperatures for EACH of the past five decades (the longest period of comprehensive, accurate data) have been the hottest on record. The debate amongst the vast majority of scientists is not whether human activity (primarily greenhouse gas production) is a contributing factor to global warming, but to what extent.  One thing is certain: it is the only factor we can control.

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"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It's not."  -Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

David Harrison has been a member of Millburn’s Environmental Commission and  the New Jersey Groundwater Protection Committee.