Municiple Solid Wastes MSW = Pollution or Resource? Pollution is the contamination of air, water, or soil with undesirable amounts of material or heat. “Ecosystems dispose of wastes and replenish nutrients by recycling all elements”

Factors Contributing to Increasing Amounts of MSW

Increasing populations Changing lifestyles Disposable materials* Excessive packaging* * = two largest contributors to waste volume

Changing Lifestyles of More People

MSW Components in the US

The Fate of MSW in the US

Old Landfills Leachate generation Groundwater Contamination Methane production Incomplete decomposition Settling

Siting: Public Reactions LULU (locally unwanted landuse) NIMBY (not in my backyard) NIMTOO (not in my term of office)

Trash to Treasure Highest (more than 1 million tons) net importers of MSW –Illinois –Indiana –Ohio –Pennsylvania –Virginia

Waste to Energy: WTE

80% MSW burned for electrical energy production 12% recovered and recycled 8% put into landfill Methane capture for electrical energy production.

Reduction and Recycling 75% MSW recyclable if: –Mandatory –Easy to do –$ Benefits

Secondary Recycling Paper Glass Plastic Metals Yard wastes Textiles Old tires Compost Refabrication Synthetic lumber Sand or gravel Insulation Strengthens recycled paper Highways Match

Sustainable MSW Management Waste reduction Safe waste disposal Recycling and reuse Electrical power generation