DAVE GAROFALO -- Mayor’s Column

America has never been a nation afraid to address a good challenge.

Take the problem of protecting the environment and preserving natural

resources. In addition to setting aside natural places as national parks,

the United States has seriously addressed the problem of reducing waste

in landfills.

In fact, in 1996 alone, recycling nationwide diverted a total of 57

million tons of material away from landfills and incinerators -- more

than a quarter of our country’s annual municipal solid waste.

In addition to reducing the waste that we throw away, recycling is

equally important. For example, producing one ton of paper from recycled

pulp saves 17 trees, three cubic yards of landfill space and 700 gallons

of water. It also reduces air pollutants by 60 pounds, saves 390 gallons

of oil and conserves 4,200 kilowatt hours of energy -- enough to heat a

home for half a year.

And those interested in maintaining our strong economy should also

take heart. Estimates show that nine jobs are created for every 15,000

tons of solid waste recycled into new products. Here are a few simple

things all of us can do to help preserve our quality of life long into

the 21st century:

* purchase products in refillable or reusable containers;

* choose products with the least amount of packaging;

* buy fresh produce -- including at our farmers market at Pier Plaza

every Friday -- without packaging;

* bring your own shopping bag to the store;

* plant slow-growing shrubs and trees that require less water and less

trimming.

With the century that brought recycling into consumer homes over,

let’s hope 2001 brings the dawn of an even brighter -- and cleaner --

future for our children.* DAVE GAROFALO is mayor of Huntington Beach.