240 



per capita per year averaged from about a half a ton to nearly two- 

 thirds of a tone. Thus, nearly 11 million tons of residential solid wastes 

 were generated in the New York metropolitan area in 1965. By the 

 year 2000, it is estimated that residential solid wastes may triple. 



Solid waste by business was also found to be significant. An esti- 

 mated 61^ million tons were generated in the study area in 1965 and 

 the high projection for 2000 indicates a solid waste load for that year 

 of over 22 million tons. 



Within comparative limits, the New York example is being repeated 

 throughout the Nation, and p'articularly in metropolitan areas asso- 

 ciated with the estuaries. 



Factors affecting the extent of the solid waste disposal problem, in- 

 cluding internal processing techniques and external changes arising 

 from social, economic, marketing, and consumption trends, indicate 

 that solid wastes will expand at a rate substantially exceeding popula- 

 tion growth in the foreseeable future and radically change both in 

 volume and character. This projected situation is graphically high- 

 lighted by figure IV.4.19. It should be noted that the gross amounts 

 of nondegradable packaging materials such as plastics will also greatly 

 expand, and the trend toward disposable containers will also contribute 

 to the solid waste that must be accommodated by the environment. 



This brief review of the future of the estuarine zone as a receptacle 

 for man-ciaused wastes leads to the conclusion that the continuation of 

 current trends will ultimately bring about the destruction of much of 

 the estuarine system as we know it. A great commitment of money, 

 manpower, and technology will olearly be required to alleviate the ill 

 effects of current practices and to prevent damages in the future, 



SUMMARY 



The anticipated continuing increase in population and industrial 

 development in the estuarine zone will increase the strong pressures 

 presently existing on the estuarine biophysical environment. The eco- 

 nomic pressures will lead as coastal resources are exploited in more 

 ways and more intensively, and as commercial exploitation of the deep 

 ocean makes itself felt through use of the estuarine zone as a staging 

 area. 



As the economic pressures increase, more and more estuarine areas 

 will be preempted for commercial purposes, to the detriment of the 

 intrinsic social value of the estuarine zone. The anticipated great 

 increase in recreational need will tend to follow economic development ; 

 therefore, recreational use may very well be relegated to small areas 

 useless for other purposes imless effective overall management of the 

 entire resource can be established and maintained. 



The great projected increases in waste discharges from all sources 

 may do far more than usurp other uses — ithese wastes cian destroy part 

 of the environment itself land thereby damage the very ecosystem of 

 which man is an integral part and from which his sustenance comes. 



