Econ Ed Link: Dumptown, Usa: Making a Ton of Difference

The amount of trash produced in the United States is mounting with each passing year. Communities are finding it increasingly difficult and costly to handle trash disposal. Recycling is considered a key solution to the garbage problem. In this lesson, students explore the extent to which various types of solid waste contribute to the problem. They then assume the role of city managers who must choose recycling programs that will fit within a community's financial constraints. Students use marginal analysis to determine the most cost-effective solutions.