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Municipal Solid Waste Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) is becoming an increased concern for the United States. U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (MSW Website n. p. ) defines municipal solid waste as trash or garbage consisting of everyday items such as product packaging, grass clippings, furniture, clothing, bottles, food scraps, newspapers, appliances, paint, and batteries. In 2003 Americans produced more than 236 million tons of municipal waste, which is approximately 4. 5 pounds of waste per person per day (paper 35. 2 %, yard trimmings 12. 1 %, food scraps 11. 7 %, plastics 11. 3 %, metals 80 %, rubber, leather, and textiles 7. 4 %, glass 5. 3 %, wood 5. 8 %, and other garbage 3. 4 %).
There are several Municipal Solid Waste practices used by American government to assist with its growing concern such as composting, recycling, divert or prevent materials from the waste stream, source reduction, to mention a few. Lets examine them more thoroughly. Source Reduction Source Reduction or Waste Prevention means consuming and throwing away less (MSW Website n. p. ). What does it mean?
To purchase long-lasting products; To purchase products and goods with packaging that are as free of toxics as possible (MSW Website n. p. ); To redesign goods and products in order to use less raw material in production, have a longer life, or be used again after its original use (MSW Website n. p. ); Actually, the practice of source reduction prevents generation of MSW in the first place. It is the most preferred way to reduce garbage.
Recycling Recycling turns materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable resources (MSW Website n. p. ). Metal, plastics, paper, and glass are collected, separated and sent to various plants to convert them into new products or goods. MSW Website claims that recycling (including composting) diverted 72 million tons of material away from landfills and incinerators in 2003, up from 34 million tons in 1990. It is generally considered one of the most successful environmental practices for waste reducing.
What are the main benefits of recycling? Recycling reduces the requirement in new landfills and incinerators; Helps to preserve natural resources for future generations; Energy-saving; Creates new jobs; Enhances and stimulates the development of ecology-based technologies; Prevents emissions of many greenhouse gases and water pollutants (MSW Website n. p. ); Composting It is, actually, another form of recycling. As it is described by the U. S.
Environmental Protection Agency, composting is he controlled biological decomposition of organic matter, such as food and yard wastes, into humus, a soil-like material. The main benefits of composting are as follows: Composting protects soils from erosion; Decreases the demand for pesticides and fertilizers; Suppresses and reduces herb diseases; Combustion/Incineration Plants and facilities burning municipal solid waste are able to generate energy while reducing the amount of MSW by up to 75 % in weight. According to the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, in 2001, there were 97 combustor's with energy recovery with the capacity to burn up to 95, 000 tons of MSW per day.
The problem of MSW is really important. Many recycling programs should be operated by government and federal agencies. Public education is also necessary for successful and well-managed solid waste facilities (MSW p. 134). Americans should understand the life cycle of products they purchase and the MSW they generate. Bibliography: U. S.
Environmental Protection Agency. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). Retrieved May 26, 2006. web Municipal Solid Waste. Retrieved May 26, 2006. web
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Research essay sample on Municipal Solid Waste Environmental Protection Agency
