20%.
Garden and food Waste 27%.
Glass 11.50%.
Metal 10%.
Plastic 9.20%.
other 2.10%.
100.00%.
.
II. Puerto Rico's Land Fills: a Temporary solution running out of time.
Studies conducted by the Caribbean Recycling Foundation have proved that almost 1 acre of land is lost to land filling daily resulting in over 18 million cubic yards being sacrificed for land filling on a yearly basis. At the beginning of the year 1995, there were 68 Land fills operating in Puerto Rico. By the end of the year, 36 of them were closed leaving 32 landfills operating for the entire island. 3 more have closed and currently there are 29 landfills operating in Puerto Rico. A recent study conducted by the local newspaper "El Nuevo Dí- in conjunction with the JCA (Junta de Calidad Ambiental) demonstrates the estimated life span of the current operating land fills and rates them based on an evaluation conducted by JCA. Please observe Table 2 for details. Estimated land filling costs according to information obtained from the government's Solid Waste Authority are $5.50 per yard plus approximately $100 dollars per ton. If recycling systems are properly implemented, land filling requirements can be reduced up to 80%. Another issue working against land fills is the fact that many of them are operating in poor conditions not complying with the local laws in effect. Government authorities have announced they will begin to fine these land fills heavily until they reach compliance.
Land Fill Expected Life JCA Evaluation.
Añasco 6 to 10 Fair.
Arecibo 6 to 10 Fair.
Arroyo 1 to 5 Fair.
Barranquitas 1 to 5 Poor.
Cabo Rojo 11+ Fair.
Carolina 1 to 5 Satisfactory.
Cayey 6 to 10 Fair.
Culebra 6 to 10 Fair.
Fajardo 6 to 10 Fair.
Florida 6 to 10 Poor.
Guayama 6 to 10 Fair.
Guaynabo 1 to 5 Fair.
Hormigueros 11+ Fair.
Humacao 11+ Fair.
Isabela 1 to 5 Fair.
Jayuya 1 to 5 Poor.
Juana diaz 6 to 10 Poor.
Juncos 1 to 5 Poor.
Lajas 6 to 10 Satisfactory.
Mayaguez 6 to 10 Satisfactory.