United States Solid Waste and
Environmental Protection Emergency Response EPA/530-SW-90-002
Agency (OS-305) October 1989
Office of Solid Waste
AEPA Environmental
Fact Sheet
AMERICA'S WAR ON WASTE
In the past few years, environmentally sound disposal of municipal
solid waste has become a major issue in the United States as
thousands of landfills have closed and as new waste management
facilities have become increasingly difficult to site. In February 1989,
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published The Solid
Waste Dilemma: An Agenda for Action, which presents a national
strategy for tackling the nation's garbage crisis.
The Agenda articulates EPA's national goal to reduce and recycle 25
percent of the waste we generate by 1992 and describes steps that
government, industry, and the public can take to help meet this goal.
Since the Agenda's publication, EPA has completed a number of those
steps, and several others are well under way. This fact sheet identifies
some of the documents EPA has published since then and summarizes
many of EPA's current and future activities.
For more information on these activities or to receive copies of the
publications, contact the RCRA hotline Monday through Friday, 8:30
a.m. to 7:30 p.m. EST. The national toll free number is (800)
424-9346; for the hearing impaired, it is TDD (800) 553-7672. In
Washington, D.C., the number is (202) 382-3000 or TDD
(202) 475-9652.
printed on recycled paper
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COMPLETED PUBLICATIONS
Recycling Works t
Recycling
A concise citizen's brochure on recycling and its role in
solid waste management.
Bibliography of Municipal Solid Waste Management Alternatives
A listing of approximately 200 publications available from industry
government, and environmental groups.
How to Set Up a Local Used Oil Recycling Program
An easy-to-follow manual for local decisionmakers, environmental
groups, and community organizations.
Used Oil Recycling Brochures
A series of three brochures describing: how the general public can
participate in used oil recycling; how citizens can change their car oil-
and how service station owners can play a key role in facilitating
used oil recycling.
Yard Waste Composting: A Study of Eight Programs
A report describing successful composting programs across the
country.
Characterization of Products Containing Lead and Cadmium
in Municipal Solid Waste in the United States. 1970 to 200O
A report characterizing all products that contribute at least
1 percent of the lead and cadmium found in municipal solid waste.
The Solid Waste Crisis
An issue of the EPA Journal exploring America's garbage crisis and
presenting a variety of viewpoints about how to handle it.
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CURRENT ACTIVITIES
Peer Matching Program
Matches the expertise available in municipalities, trade groups, universi-
ties, and EPA regional offices with the needs of inquiring communities.
The program is now available through the International City Management
Association, and through a cooperative venture between the National
Recycling Coalition and the Governmental Refuse Collection and
Disposal Association.
Decisionmakers's Guide
Updates the popular 1976 version for local waste managers. Volume I,
available this fall, provides broad coverage on integrated waste plan-
ning and choosing among various waste management options. Volume II, avail-
able in 1990, will describe the many details to consider when setting up a waste
management system.
National Recycling Media Campaign
Fosters recycling through ongoing radio, television, and print advertising. EPA
is providing financial and technical assistance for a recycling campaign spon-
sored by the Environmental Defense Fund in conjunction with the Ad Council.
A citizen's brochure on recycling, entitled "If You're Not Recycling, You're
Throwing It All Away," is also available from EDF. (Call 1-800-CALL EDF for
more information.) EPA is also assisting the U.S. Forest Service in finalizing
arid distributing a public service announcement to encourage recycling.
Municipal Solid Waste Documentary
Raises the public's awareness of the municipal solid waste dilemma through
a 30-minute educational! video. EPA provided financial and technical support
to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which developed the video for the
Learning Channel and distributed it to local public broadcasting affiliates.
Waste Reduction Grants
Supports the Coalition of Northeastern Governors and the Conservation
Foundation in evaluating opportunities for reducing both the quantity
and the toxicity of waste that is generated in this country. The Coalition's
final report, with its recommendations concerning preferred packaging
and opportunities for implementing waste reduction, is due to be published
this fall. The Conservation Foundation is now pulling together a steering
committee, which will evaluate options for setting up a nationwide waste
reduction program.
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FUTURE ACTIVITIES
EPA has many other activities and publications planned or under way. Most of the
following will be available later this year or early next year:
o First U.S. Conference on Municipal Solid Waste Management, scheduled for
June 13-16, 1990 In Washington, D.C..
o municipal solid waste Information clearinghouse;
o National Recycling Institute;
o guidebook on effectively involving the public in siting municipal solid waste
facilities;
o Report to Congress on plastics;
o several recycling market studies;
o manual for office paper recovery;
o variety of training materials for recycling coordinators;
o final revised criteria for municipal landfills, and
o technical guidance and training materials to improve
landfill practices.
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