https://archive.epa.

gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/web/html/

Wastes - Non-Hazardous Waste - Municipal Solid

Waste

Municipal Solid Waste

Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)—more commonly known as trash or garbage—consists of everyday

items we use and then throw away, such as product packaging, grass clippings, furniture, clothing,
bottles, food scraps, newspapers, appliances, paint, and batteries. This comes from our homes,
schools, hospitals, and businesses.

Each year EPA produces a report called Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: Facts and
Figures 2013, formerly called Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: Facts and Figures. It includes
information on MSW generation, recycling, and disposal.

After 30 years of tracking MSW, the report has been expanded to include additional information on
source reduction (waste prevention) of MSW, information on historical landfill tipping fees for MSW,
and information on construction and demolition debris generation, which is outside of the scope of
MSW.

The new name also emphasizes the importance of sustainable materials management (SMM). SMM
refers to the use and reuse of materials in the most productive and sustainable ways across their
entire life cycle. SMM practices conserve resources, reduce wastes, slow climate change and minimize
the environmental impacts of the materials we use.

In 2013, Americans generated about 254 million tons of trash and recycled and composted about 87
million tons of this material, equivalent to a 34.3 percent recycling rate. On average, we recycled and
composted 1.51 pounds of our individual waste generation of 4.40 pounds per person per day (Figure
1 and Figure 2).

EPA encourages practices that reduce the amount of waste needing to be disposed of, such as waste
prevention, recycling, and composting.

 Source reduction, or waste prevention, is designing products to reduce the amount of waste
that will later need to be thrown away and also to make the resulting waste less toxic.
  Recycling is the recovery of useful materials, such as paper, glass, plastic, and metals, from
the trash to use to make new products, reducing the amount of virgin raw materials needed.

 Composting involves collecting organic waste, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, and
storing it under conditions designed to help it break down naturally. This resulting compost
can then be used as a natural fertilizer.

In 2013, newspapers/mechanical papers recovery was about 67 percent (5.4 million tons), and about
60 percent of yard trimmings were recovered (Figure 3). Organic materials continue to be the largest
component of MSW. Paper and paperboard account for 27 percent and yard trimmings and food
account for another 28 percent. Plastics comprise about 13 percent; metals make up 9 percent; and
rubber, leather, and textiles account for 9 percent. Wood follows at around 6 percent and glass at 5
percent. Other miscellaneous wastes make up approximately 3 percent of the MSW generated in 2013
(Figure 4).

This section describes the requirements for disposal and combustion of Municipal Solid Waste:

 Landfills are engineered areas where waste is placed into the land. Landfills usually have liner
systems and other safeguards to prevent polluting the groundwater.

 Energy Recovery from Waste is the conversion of non-recyclable waste materials into useable
heat, electricity, or fuel.

 Transfer Stations are facilities where municipal solid waste is unloaded from collection vehicles
and briefly held while it is reloaded onto larger, long-distance transport vehicles for shipment
to landfills or other treatment or disposal facilities.

Resource Conservation
Recycling and composting prevented 87.2 million tons of material away from being disposed in 2013,
up from 15 million tons in 1980. This prevented the release of approximately 186 million metric tons
of carbon dioxide equivalent into the air in 2013—equivalent to taking over 39 million cars off the road
for a year. Learn more about how common wastes and materials, including food and yard wastes,
paper, metals, and electronics, contribute to MSW generation and how they can be recycled.
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/teacher_resources/webfieldtrips/bio_nonbio_materials/

Biodegradable and Non-

biodegradable materials
As we become more technologically advanced, we produce materials that can
withstand extreme temperatures, are durable and easy to use. Plastic bags,
synthetics, plastic bottles, tin cans, and computer hardware- these are some of the
things that make life easy for us.

But what we forget is that these advanced products do not break down naturally. When we
dispose them in a garbage pile, the air, moisture, climate, or soil cannot break them down
naturally to be dissolved with the surrounding land. They are not biodegradable. However
natural waste and products made from nature break down easily when they are disposed as
waste.

But as more and more biodegradable materials pile up, there is increased threat to the
environment. Visit the sites mentioned below to know about what is biodegradable and what
is not and to understand how non-biodegradable materials affect the environment.

This site is one of the best introductions to what is biodegradable and non-biodegradable
material and recycling. Especially the three Rs: reuse, reduce and recycle. Study this
decomposition chart and you will may be surprised at how long and if common things like
glass bottles take to decompose!

For some good definitions of the related terms used in this field, visit this site.

To understand the seriousness of the problem caused by non-biodegradable waste, you

can read about what's happening to particular places where plastic and other materials are
used for almost everything.

One of the most common household waste is polythene- mostly used as polythese bags for
shopping and carrying light things. Since they are cheap, they are used by almost
everyone- from the local vegetable seller to the supermarket bread shelf.

The hazard that polythene causes to the environment is very serious. This site is a research
study undertaken by students about waste management in Uganda. But it has some interest
information on what polythene waste does to the environment and what measures we can
take to help stop this kind of pollution.

On the other hand, biodegradable waste also has some effect on the environment. To
understand how biodegradable waste is a factor in greenhouse effect visit the site. The
problems it describes are common to all regions where there is the greenhouse effect.

Keeping in mind the potential hazard of biodegradable waste, it is important for you to know
in what way you can help to make sure that less non-biodegradable material is left on the
planet. Become an environment friendly consumer by following the everyday tips at on how
we can contribute to less non-biodegradable materials.
https://www.jaagore.com/current-issues/5-simple-ways-to-practise-waste-segregation

5 SIMPLE WAYS TO PRACTISE WASTE SEGREGATION

What is waste segregation?

Waste segregation refers to the separation of wet waste and dry waste, the purpose is to recycle dry
waste easily and to use wet waste as compost.

Why should we segregate waste?

When we segregate waste, there is reduction of waste that gets landfilled and occupies space, air
and water pollution rates are considerably lowered. Segregating waste also makes it easier to apply
different processes - composting, recycling and incineration can be applied to different kinds of
waste.

Here are some steps to manage and segregate waste:

1. Keep separate containers for dry and wet waste in the kitchen.

2. Keep two bags for dry waste collection- paper and plastic, for the rest of the household waste

3. Keep plastic from the kitchen clean and dry and drop into the dry waste bin. Keep glass/plastic
containers rinsed of food matter.

4. Send wet waste out of your home daily. Store and send dry waste out of the home, once a week.

5. Keep a paper bag for throwing the sanitary waste.

Practising waste management and segregation as a community -

The best way to practise waste management is to form a group of like minded people. The process
of waste segregation should be thoroughly explained to family/neighbours in your apartment building
or neighbourhood. Create awareness amongst the staff in the apartment building/neighbourhood to
help make the process easier. Acquiring separate storage drums for storing the dry waste and wet
waste will be a great way to store bulk waste. Contact the local scrap dealer to collect the dry waste.