Materials and energy from municipal waste
The United States annually generates more than 135 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW). Its disposal is a rapidly growing problem for many areas of the country, where such traditional methods as open dumping, landfill, uncontrolled incineration, and ocean burial are too expensive or environmentally unacceptable. Resource recovery and recycling materials and energy from MSW can play significant roles in helping to solve waste generation and disposal problems. In addition, resource recovery, recycling, and reuse can contribute to the wise and efficient use of materials, to conserving energy, to preserving the environment, and to improving the balance of trade by reducing our dependence on imported natural resources. By using materials more than once, virgin resources can be conserved for ourselves and for future generations. The feasibility of various approaches to resource recovery, recycling, and reuse are discussed. The results of an examination of influential technological, economic, and institutional factors are presented. Federal policies that might stimulate resource recovery, recycling, and reuse were identified and their effectiveness and impacts were assessed. The criteria used for assessing the policy options include technical and administrative feasibility (effectiveness), economic efficiency, equity, security, and diversity. Only those problems and opportunities associated with the disposal of ordinary MSW in the United States were studied. The management of hazardous wastes, sewage sludges, and other special wastes; remanufacturing, reworking, or refurbishing products for reuse; recycling industrial scrap; and recovering materials or energy from agricultural, forestry, mining, or industrial residues, were specifically excluded.
- Research Organization:
- Office of Technology Assessment (U.S. Congress), Washington, DC
- OSTI ID:
- 5222623
- Report Number(s):
- OTA-M-93
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Materials and energy from municipal waste: resource recovery and recycling from municipal solid waste and beverage container deposit legislation
Data summary of municipal solid waste management alternatives
Related Subjects
320604* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Municipalities & Community Systems-- Municipal Waste Management-- (1980-)
CONTAINERS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ECONOMICS
ENERGY FACILITIES
ENERGY RECOVERY
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS
LEGISLATION
MANAGEMENT
MARKET
MATERIALS RECOVERY
MUNICIPAL WASTES
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
RECYCLING
RESOURCE RECOVERY FACILITIES
SOLID WASTES
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WASTE PROCESSING PLANTS
WASTES