Energy in solid waste: a citizen guide to saving

Book · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1975

OSTI ID:7366587

Voluntary citizen action to recover, recycle, and reuse solid wastes can lead to a national policy based on energy conservation and result in many environmental benefits. Annual savings from recycling, in terms of equivalent gasoline, would be: paper--200 million gallons, household plastics--400 million gallons, glass--170 million gallons, aluminum and steel--1.8 billion gallons. When added to the energy wastes of litter and landfills, this adds up to a potential savings of 12.3 billion gallons of gasoline or 1,397 trillion Btu's. Three strategies for handling wastes--source reduction, source separation, and waste processing--can be used in combination. Separation of reusable products in a household refuse collection center could substantially reduce the 72% of wastes generated in the home. Source reduction will involve changes in purchasing and consumption habits. Waste processing will result from technologies now being developed. A step-by-step plan is presented to guide individual action at home and out into local, state, and federal government. (16 references) (DCK)

• Research Organization: Citizens' Advisory Committee on Environmental Quality, 1700 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20006
• OSTI ID: 7366587
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
09 BIOMASS FUELS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
MATERIALS RECOVERY
SOLID WASTES
RECYCLING
ALUMINIUM
ENERGY SOURCES
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
GLASS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
PAPER
PLASTICS
STEELS
WASTE PROCESSING
ALLOYS
ELEMENTS
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
MANAGEMENT
METALS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES
291000* - Energy Planning & Policy- Conservation
299003 - Energy Planning & Policy- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation- Other- (-1989)
090400 - Solid Waste & Wood Fuels- (-1989)