Municipal Solid Waste Management

Front

Municipal solid waste is the everyday garbage and refuse produced by homes, schools, businesses, and institutions. It includes items like food waste, packaging, paper, plastics, yard trimmings, and electronics.

Back

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)

Front

MSW is managed through sanitary landfills, recycling, composting, and incineration (sometimes with energy recovery).

Back

Management of MSW in the United States

Front

The best way is source reduction—reducing the amount of waste created in the first place through less packaging, reusable items, and conscious consumer choices.

Back

Best way to stop or slow the generation of solid waste

Front

Per day: About 4.9 pounds per person. Annually: Around 1,788 pounds per person per year.

Back

Average waste generation in the US

Front

Approximately 607 billion pounds (or 303.5 million tons) based on a population of 340 million.

Back

Annual waste generation in the US

Front

The main types of waste include food waste, packaging, paper, plastics, yard trimmings, and electronics.

Back

Main types of waste generated in the United States

Front

The four R's that divert the amount of solid waste

Back

1. Reduce – Use less to prevent waste. 2. Reuse – Use items more than once. 3. Recycle – Convert waste into new products. 4. Repurpose – Find an alternative use.

Front

Percentage of MSW recycled in the United States

Back

Only about 32% of MSW is recycled.

Front

Reasons for low recycling percentage in the United States

Back

- Lack of infrastructure - Contamination of recyclables - Consumer confusion and lack of participation

Front

Cradle-to-Grave Life Cycle

Back

Tracks a product's entire life from resource extraction to disposal, assessing full environmental impact.