Waste generation back on the rise, says EPA

[kytwell 179]

Dec. 13 -- Waste generation in 2010 climbed for the first time since 2007, the U.S. EPA said in its recently released annual report.

In the report, the EPA said Americans generated 249.86 million tons of municipal solid waste in 2010, up 6.2 million tons -- or 2.5% -- from the 243.7 million tons generated in 2009. The national recycling rate is also on the rise, with Americans recycling or composting 34% of its waste.

Of the waste generated in 2010, 54.3% of it was landfilled, 34% of it was recovered through recycling or composting and 11.7% of it was turned into energy through a waste-to-energy facility.

When composting is taken out of the recovery figures, 25.9%, or 64.8 million tons, of the waste was recycled, according to the report. While there was an increase in tonnage generation by Americans, the U.S. is still producing less waste than it did in 2005, when 252.7 million tons were generated.

http://www.wasterecyclingnews.com/headlines2.html?id=1323794581&allowcomm=true&headline=Waste+generation+back+on+the+rise%2C+says+EPA

Too much packaging material...

http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/msw_2010_factsheet.pdf

[Obama 2012 1,714]

there is a such thing as "too much" waste...

I went to a fast food establishment the other day and I got a burger that was wrapped in paper and then put in a box, then of course put in a bag.... That's all a bit much.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Dec. 13 -- Waste generation in 2010 climbed for the first time since 2007, the U.S. EPA said in its recently released annual report.

In the report, the EPA said Americans generated 249.86 million tons of municipal solid waste in 2010, up 6.2 million tons -- or 2.5% -- from the 243.7 million tons generated in 2009. The national recycling rate is also on the rise, with Americans recycling or composting 34% of its waste.

Of the waste generated in 2010, 54.3% of it was landfilled, 34% of it was recovered through recycling or composting and 11.7% of it was turned into energy through a waste-to-energy facility.

When composting is taken out of the recovery figures, 25.9%, or 64.8 million tons, of the waste was recycled, according to the report. While there was an increase in tonnage generation by Americans, the U.S. is still producing less waste than it did in 2005, when 252.7 million tons were generated.

http://www.wasterecyclingnews.com/headlines2.html?id=1323794581&allowcomm=true&headline=Waste+generation+back+on+the+rise%2C+says+EPA

Too much packaging material...

http://www.epa.gov/osw/nonhaz/municipal/pubs/msw_2010_factsheet.pdf

I've been cleaning out my garage. Sorry.

[mawilson 2,133]

In the report, the EPA said Americans generated 249.86 million tons of municipal solid waste in 2010

One man's waste is another man's treasure. We should export our waste to third world countries.

[Ban Hammer 13,760]

I've been cleaning out my garage. Sorry.

got any unopened old german beer sitting around?

One man's waste is another man's treasure. We should export our waste to third world countries.

we can call it foreign aid!

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

got any unopened old german beer sitting around?

No such thing in my house. Beer never gets old in a German man's cave.

[Ban Hammer 13,760]

No such thing in my house. Beer never gets old in a German man's cave.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

What? You like old beer?

[Ban Hammer 13,760]

What? You like old beer?

old beer is better than no beer.

[kytwell 179]

One man's waste is another man's treasure. We should export our waste to third world countries.

The biggest importers of waste are: Pennsylvania and Virginia. We should actually start building more WTE(waste to energy) power plants. Since we produce so much trash, we could burn it to make electricity, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. Most modern WTE facilities burn cleaner than coal plants. What's left over is @ 10% the volume in ash, which there are uses for in roadway construction and for temporary daily cover at landfills.

[mawilson 2,133]

The biggest importers of waste are: Pennsylvania and Virginia. We should actually start building more WTE(waste to energy) power plants. Since we produce so much trash, we could burn it to make electricity, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels. Most modern WTE facilities burn cleaner than coal plants. What's left over is @ 10% the volume in ash, which there are uses for in roadway construction and for temporary daily cover at landfills.

Burning waste seems... wasteful. Just imagine how many "broken" TVs or computers could be fixed if someone could be bothered to sort through all that waste.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Could be a sign of economic recovery. The rest of world should be concerned when we are not tossing out boxes that the stuff they made in their country was packed in.

[kytwell 179]

Burning waste seems... wasteful. Just imagine how many "broken" TVs or computers could be fixed if someone could be bothered to sort through all that waste.

TV's and computer monitors (CRT's) aren't allowed to be disposed of at landfills or WTE faclities, at least here in PA. They need to go be disposed of at a HHW(household hazardous waste collection) or returned to purchase site. Thus the reason a comprehensive waste plan includes Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, then Recovery.

Edited December 14, 2011 by kytwell