The following appeared in a memorandum written by the chairperson of the West Egg Town Council."Two years ago, consultants predicted that West Egg's landfill, which is used for garbage disposal, would be completely filled within five years. During the pas

The chairperson of the West Egg Town Committee asserts that due to the town's adherence to recycling, the West Egg's landfill will not filled for appreciably longer period than it was forecasted. This conclusion is buttressed by the evidence which should be closely scrutinized in order to give a comprehensive estimation of the argument soundness.

First of all, we are told that local residents have recycled two times as much as they did before. However, the author avoids giving information about the initial volume of garbage recycled, perhaps the volume of the material recycled before was insignificant and in this case, the increase will be negligible as well. Additionally to it, the argument claims that the amount of the litter recycled will increase in the future due to the fact that charge for pickup of other garbage will twice as much as before. Despite the author's belief the prediction may be incorrect, for instance, people may resist and protest against the change or the increase will be too small to change dwellers' conduct. Moreover, even if the policy works and the amount of recycled material further enhances, we do not know what percentage such materials as paper, plastic and metal are. If these material only a small part of the garbage the available space in the landfill will not last long.

Besides, we know that a recent study has demonstrated that more than 90 per cent of local residents assert that they are going to recycle more in the future. Despite the fact that these data sound overwhelmingly, the survey has some loopholes. For instance, in the future is a ambiguous statement, perhaps they will have started to do it by 2050. Additionally to it, the desire to do something does not equal a real action. In other words, the likeliness exists that these respondents will not change their behavior soon as the author believes and thus this survey does not create a sound support for the author's conclusion.

Finally, the writer concludes that owing to the local residents' commitment to recycling, the West Egg's landfill will not be filled soon and the available space will last appreciably longer than it was predicted. However, the argument's writer tends to neglect industrial sector, perhaps the major originator of the local garbage is local business and manufacturing. Are these business committed to recycling? Probably, the answer on this question is "no"; consequently, the author's conclusion is not supported properly.

In conclusion, the writer of the argument avers that due to the possibility that town's residents are committed to recycling, the prediction of consultants will not come true; however, the argument does not prove that the alteration is significant enough to change the prediction. Moreover, the arguer concerns with households and neglects industrial sector which perhaps is the main source of garbage. Thus, the argument and conclusion is unwarranted.