Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Ta b l e 7 . 2
Generation, Materials Recovery, Composting, Combustion with Energy Recovery, and Discards of
MSW, 1960-2006 in United States (in pounds per person per day)
Activity
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2002
2004
2005
2006
4
.
50
4
.
64
4
.
55
4
.
65
4
.
59
4
.
60
Generation
2.68
3.25
3.66
0
.
64
1
.
03
1
.
02
1
.
07
1
.
08
1
.
12
Recovery for
Recycling
0.17
0.22
0.35
Recovery for
composting
∗
Negligible Negligible Negligible
0
.
09
0
.
32
0
.
32
0
.
38
0
.
38
0
.
38
Total materials
recovery
0.17
0.22
0.35
0
.
73
1
.
35
1
.
34
1
.
45
1
.
46
1
.
50
Combustion with
energy recovery
†
0.0
0.1
0.07
0
.
63
0
.
66
0
.
63
0
.
64
0
.
62
0
.
57
Discards to landfill,
other disposal
‡
2.51
3.02
3.24
3
.
12
2
.
63
2
.
58
2
.
55
2
.
51
2
.
53
Population
(millions)
179.979
203.984
227.255
249
.
907 281
.
442 287
.
985 293
.
660 296
.
410 299
.
398
∗
Composting of yard trimmings, food scraps, and other MSW organic material. Does not include backyard composting.
†
Includes combustion of MSW in mass burn or refuse derived fuel form, and combustion with energy recovery of
source-separated materials in MSW (e.g., wood pallets and tire-derived fuel).
‡
Discards after recovery minus combustion with energy recovery. Discards include combustion without energy recovery.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source
: U.S. EPA (2007).
2
WASTE QUANTITIES AND TRENDS
Waste generation patterns and characteristics play an important role in planning,
design, operation, and postclosure care of sanitary landfills. Waste quantities and
waste composition at the source, although not controllable, can be influenced by
public education, local policies, and ordinances. The hierarchy of waste manage-
ment usually is as follows:
1.
Waste minimization/reduction at the source
2.
Recycling
3.
Waste processing (with recovery of materials and energy)
4.
Landfilling
Solid waste management involves the following steps:
1.
Collection
. The waste collection involves gathering and transporting solid
waste to a materials processing facility, a transfer station, or a landfill.
2.
Sorting and processing of solid waste
. The sorting, processing, and trans-
formation of solid waste materials may involve separation of bulky items,
separation based on size, and separation of recyclable materials such as
metals, plastic, and glass.
3.
Transfer and transport
. The transfer and transport involves the transfer
of wastes to larger transport vehicle to move the waste to a processing
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