64 
F. Alternatives to Present Disposal Practices 
The obvious problem in the New York Bight (especially the inner 
Bight) is that (1) improperly treated sewage is being dumped in ~ 
excessive quantities and (2) wastes entering the area contain 
excessive amounts of toxic biologically active compounds. Society 
now finds this situation intolerable and demands relief. The goal 
is obvious: prevention of further contaminatibdn while working 
toward elimination of existing pollution. Finding acceptable solu- 
tions to achieve this goal is, in the final analysis, perhaps the 
real problem. It is not unique 'to the New York Metropolitan Area. ~ 
An optimal combination of pollution control methods is a very 
complex affair. Industries which release toxic wastes, such as, 
plating factories and photographic processing laboratories, should 
process their waste waters before discharging them into domestic 
sewage systems. No untreated industrial wastes of any type should 
be discharged directly into the aquatic environment. Domestic 
wastes need at least secondary treatment. As a minimum, storm 
sewers which carry petrochemical and other toxic materials should 
be completely separated from systems handling domestic wastes. 
Without such separate systems it will be difficult, if not impos- 
sible, to recycle wastes in an ecologically acceptable manner. 
Dredged spoil from polluted harbors and channels is becoming 
an increasingly difficult disposal problem. Generally, it is not 
adequate for use as fill or construction; and because of its con- 
tamination by metals, petrochemicals, insecticides, and other 
debilitating substances, it has an adverse effect on marine life 
and should not be dumped into the sea. In the meantime, however, 
disposal alternatives that do not damage the marine environment 
need to be worked out. In the Great Lakes, for instance, the 
President has proposed a program of disposing of polluted harbor 
dredgings in diked areas. He has also requested the Corps of 
Engineers to devise other alternatives for use in other areas of 
the country. 
Behind these essentially technological problems lie an assort- 
ment of social, political, legal, and economic constraints. It is 
these institutional factors that will ultimately control the 
degree of success, if any, of a given pollution abatement or 
control activity. The fact of the matter is that technology is 
available for cleaning up pollution in the New York Bight. The 
deterrents are institutional. Few communities or regions have 
ever explored the solution to the problem of waste management 
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