Wasting away: Policies to reduce trash toxicity and quantity

Journal Article · Thu Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1990 · Environment; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00139157.1990.9929006· OSTI ID:6282186

Levenson, H ^[1]

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1. Office of Technology Assessment, Washington, DC (USA)

Communities all around the world are facing growing mounds of trash, or municipal solid waste (MSW). Media coverage of the shrinking landfill capacity has greatly increased awareness of the need to improve management of MSW when it is generated. Many U.S. businesses, public-interest groups, states, and municipalities, which have primary responsibility for managing MSW, are trying to increase the collection, processing, and marketing of recyclable material partly to relieve the pressures on municipal landfills. While such management activities should be increased and intensified, another challenge, a more difficult one, is to change the way this society makes products and generates MSW in the first place - that is, to reduce the toxicity and/or quantity of MSW. There are two basic routes to reducing toxicity and quantity: manufacturers can modify the design of products (and packaging) to reduce their toxicity or quantity, and consumers can modify their purchasing decisions, for example, by buying products that are less toxic, more durable, or more repairable. Both routes are described, and government programs and policy options which could lift obstacles are discussed.

• OSTI ID: 6282186
• Journal Information: Environment; (USA), Vol. 32:2; ISSN 0013-9157
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
MINIMIZATION
MUNICIPAL WASTES
WASTE MANAGEMENT
BIODEGRADATION
CONSTRAINTS
CONSUMER PRODUCTS
DECISION MAKING
DESIGN
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INSECTICIDES
LEAD
MANUFACTURING
MATERIAL SUBSTITUTION
MERCURY
MODIFICATIONS
ORGANIC SOLVENTS
PAPER
RECYCLING
SANITARY LANDFILLS
SOLID WASTES
SORTING
TIRES
TOXICITY
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE PROCESSING
WEIGHT
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELEMENTS
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS
METALS
PESTICIDES
PROCESSING
SOLVENTS
WASTES
320604* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Municipalities & Community Systems- Municipal Waste Management- (1980-)
290300 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety