United States            Solid Waste and
                    Environmental Protection      Emergency Response          EPA/530-SW-90-017C
                    Agency                (OS-305)                 February 1990

                    Office of Solid Waste
v°/EPA         Environmental
                    Fact Sheet
                    PLASTICS:  THE FACTS ON
                    SOURCE REDUCTION

                    FROM EF>A'S REPORT TO CONGRESS ON
                    METHODS TO MANAGE AND CONTROL
                    PLASTIC WASTES
             Discarded plastic products and packaging make up a
          growing proportion of municipal solid waste. By the year 2000,
          the amount of plastic we throw away will increase by 50 percent
          Current volume estimates for plastic waste range from 14 to 21
          percent of the waste stream. By weight plastics contribute seven
          percent, and less than one percent of plastic waste is currently
          recycled.  Additionally, some plastic items end up as litter that
          poses ecological risk to the marine environment and aesthetic
          and economic loss. These facts, and EPA's belief that source
          reduction is the best method for reducing the environmental
          impacts of wastes, have led to considering source reduction of
          plastics.
       Source Reduction Defined
       Source reduction means decreasing the amount or toxicity of the
       materials that we throw away. Effective source reduction promotes the
       use of products that generate the smallest environmental impacts.


       Benefits of Reducing Plastic Wastes
       Plastics are a target for source reduction because of their rapid growth
       in the municipal waste stream. Additionally, plastics contain additives
       (e.g., colorants, stabilizers, plasticizers) that may include toxic
       constituents such as lead and cadmium.  Plastics contribute 28

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percent of all cadmium in municipal solid waste and approximately two
percent of all lead.  EPA is studying substitutes for these two additives of
concern.

Any source reduction of plastics, however, must be accomplished within
the goal of reducing the amount and toxicity of the entire waste stream.
For example, replacing a plastic cup with a paper cup will not necessarily
benefit the waste stream as a whole, even though the amount of plastic
waste is reduced.

How Can We Reduce Plastics in the Waste Stream?
Volume reduction can be accomplished in a number of ways by both
consumers and manufacturers. For example, consumers can reuse
products and packages as much as possible,  avoid use of disposable
items such as cups and dinnerware, and try to buy concentrates, bulk
foods, and products which require less packaging.  Manufacturers can
reduce volumes by using less material in their packages and products
and using economies of scale in packaging (e.g., concentrates or large
"economy size" packaging).

Toxicity reduction must be done by manufacturers of plastic products
by replacing toxic constituents with non-toxic or less harmful materials.

Where Can I Find Additional Information?
Call EPA's RCRA/Superfund hotline for a free copy of the following re-
ports:

   Executive Summary of EPA's Report to Congress on Methods to
   Manage and Control Plastic Waste (EPA/530-SW-89-051A).

   The Solid Waste Dilemma: An Agenda for Action
   (EPA/530-SW-89-019)

The toll-free number is 1-800-424-9346, or TDD 1-800-553-7672 for the
hearing impaired. In Washington D.C., the number is 382-3000 or TDD
475-9652.  Ask the Hotline for information on ordering the full Report to
Congress, and about current efforts on municipal solid waste source
reduction.  The Hotline is open  from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.  EST, Monday
through Friday. Ask the Hotline for information on ordering the full
report.
                                            Original Printing on Recycled Paper

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