American Studies C: Sustainability --Applied English for American Studies C: Sustainability
Fall 2007- J. E. Seibert -- Tokyo International University of America

Oregonians buy too much and throw away more than ever

The Associated Press -- September 18, 2007

PORTLAND -- Since _____________________ passed the nation's first _____________________ in the early 1970s, it has been touted as a leader in _____________________.

But Oregonians now are _____________________ more than ever -- about _____________________ pounds per person each year -- and state officials are looking at ways to discourage _____________________ so much in the first place. They're also urging people to buy used to _____________________.

The _____________________ is growing and the state's _____________________ efforts are f_____________________. But disposal experts say much of the _____________________ is in the manufacturing process of things that _____________________ and probably aren't necessary.

To cut _____________________ and _____________________ and manufacturing emissions, state regulators are writing a strategy to urge people to consider smaller houses, avoiding buying things they don't need, using _____________________ instead of the stuff in plastic bottles that tends to be tap water anyway, and fixing instead of replacing broken items.

"There's a notion that a full _____________________ bin indicates _____________________ progress," said David Allaway, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality's point man for waste prevention. "But buying large quantities of stuff ... isn't good for the _____________________."

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PORTLAND -- Since Oregon passed the nation's first bottle bill in the early 1970s, it has been touted as a leader in recycling.

But Oregonians now are throwing away more than ever -- about 3,000 pounds per person each year -- and state officials are looking at ways to discourage buying so much in the first place. They're also urging people to buy used to reduce.

The population is growing and the state's recycling efforts are falling behind. But disposal experts say much of the waste is in the manufacturing process of things that don't last and probably aren't necessary.

To cut consumption and waste and manufacturing emissions, state regulators are writing a strategy to urge people to consider smaller houses, avoiding buying things they don't need, using tap water instead of the stuff in plastic bottles that tends to be tap water anyway, and fixing instead of replacing broken items.

"There's a notion that a full recycling bin indicates environmental progress," said David Allaway, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality's point man for waste prevention. "But buying large quantities of stuff ... isn't good for the environment."