Atlanta, Texas has more than 30 million tires stockpiled. The stockpiles are up to 25 feet high and people are concerned over fire issues. The tires were originally collected to recycle the rubber. The owner filed for bankruptcy when he could not get the tires recycled and provide a profitable business. The Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission took control of the site. They wanted to bury the tires, but local business leaders blocked this idea. They feared that if the tires caught fire underground, the problem would be worse. Security guards monitor the site around the clock to watch for any signs of fire.

The National Soft Drink Association has statistics that show consumers waste more glass and plastic bottles even though recycling centers have tripled since 1990. MSNBC.com reported that there are now more aluminum cans thrown away than recycled. The Aluminum Association claims this is due to the low scrap value for aluminum. Last year, 49 percent of the aluminum cans sold were recycled compared to 60 percent 10 years ago.

The Mayor of New York stated this past June that the city would stop picking up plastic and glass because it was too expensive and most of the material ended up in the landfill anyway.