&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(OS-305)
EPA/530-SW-90-042
June 1990
Characterization of
Municipal Solid Waste in the
United States: 1990 Update
SYO
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Acknowledgements
This report, Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 1990 Update,
was developed under EPA contract No. 68-01-7310 under the direction of Paul Kaldjian at EPA
Appreciation is extended to the many individuals in the Office of Solid Waste who reviewed and
commented oti drafts of th«». r<»tvM+ PDA ~i --i— — -• - • • thanks to Jo Nord, the artist
of the cover illustratioc
Printed on Recycled Paper
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CHARACTERIZATION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
IN THE UNITED STATES, 1960 TO 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter Page
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ES-1
1 INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY 1
Background 1
New Features of This Report 1
Municipal Solid Waste in Perspective 2
Municipal Solid Waste Defined 2
Other Subtitle D Wastes 3
The Solid Waste Management Hierarchy 4
Methodologies for Characterizing Municipal Solid Waste 4
The Two Methodologies 4
Definition of Terms 5
Materials and Products Not Included in These Estimates 6
Projections • 6
Overview of This Report 7
2 CHARACTERIZATION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
BY WEIGHT 9
Introduction 9
Materials in Municipal Solid Waste 9
Paper and Paperboard 9
Glass 14
Ferrous Metals 16
Aluminum 18
Other Nonferrous Metals 18
Plastics 19
Other Materials 20
Food Wastes 22
Yard Wastes 23
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes 24
Summary of Materials in Municipal Solid Waste 24
Products in Municipal Solid Waste 25
Durable Goods 25
Nondurable Goods 35
Containers and Packaging 41
Summary of Products in Municipal Solid Waste 49
in
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
Combustion of Municipal Solid Waste 50
Combustion with Energy Recovery 51
Combustion without Energy Recovery 53
Changing Rates of MSW Generation 53
Summary of Historical and Projected MSW Management 54
PROJECTIONS OF MSW GENERATION AND MANAGEMENT 57
Introduction 57
Overview of This Chapter 57
Projections of MSW Generation 58
Materials in Municipal Solid Waste 58
Products in Municipal Solid Waste 62
Projections of MSW Recovery 67
Discussion of Assumptions 68
Assumptions and Projections for Specific
Products and Materials 69
Summary of Recovery Projections 71
Projections of MSW Discards 72
Projections of MSW Combustion 73
Summary of MSW Management in 1995 75
4 ADDITIONAL PERSPECTIVES ON MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE 77
Introduction 77
Municipal Solid Waste in 1988 77
Discards by Individuals 77
Combustibles/Noncombustibles 78
5 CHARACTERIZATION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
BY VOLUME 81
Introduction 83
Methodology 82
Experimental Program 82
Density Factors for Landfilled Materials 84
Volume of Products Discarded 86
Volume of Materials Discarded 86
Validity of Results 86
Comparisons to Earlier Work 89
IV
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued)
6 COMPARISON OF MSW ESTIMATES 93
Introduction 93
Comparison with Previous Material Flows Studies 93
Comparison of Current and Previous Estimates Based
on Historical Data 94
Comparison of Current and Previous Projections of
MSW Generation 96
Comparison with Estimates Made by Sampling Studies 99
NOTES AND REFERENCES 101
APPENDIX A: Material Flows Methodology A-l
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LIST OF TABLES
Page
Chapter 2
Materials in the Municipal Waste Stream, 1960 to 1988
1 Generated 10
2 Recovery 11
3 Discarded 12
Products in MSW, 1988
4 Paper and Paperboard 13
5 Glass 15
6 Metal 17
7 Plastics 20
8 Rubber and Leather 21
Categories of Products in the Municipal Solid Waste Stream
9 Generated 28
10 Recovery 29
11 Discarded 30
Products with Detail on Durable Goods
12 Generated 32
13 Recovery 33
14 Discarded 34
Products with Detail on Nondurable Goods
15 Generated 36
16 Recovery 37
17 Discarded 38
Products with Detail on Containers and Packaging
18 Generated (In millions of tons) 42
19 Generated (In percent of total generation) 43
20 Recovery (In millions of tons) 44
21 Recovery (In percent of generation of each product) 45
22 Discarded (In millions of tons) 46
23 Discarded (In percent of total discards) 47
24 Combustion of Municipal Solid Waste, 1960 to 1988 52
25 Average Annual Rates of Increase (or Decrease) of
Generation of Materials in MSW 52
26 Generation, Materials Recovery, Composting, Combustion,
And Discards of Municipal Solid Waste, 1960 to 1988 55
VI
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LIST OF TABLES (continued)
Chapter 3
27 Projections of Materials Generated in the Municipal
Waste Stream, 1995 to 2010 59
28 Average Annual Rates of Projected Increase (or Decrease)
df Generation of Materials in MSW 61
29 Projected Per Capita Generation of MSW, By Material,
1988 to 2010 61
30 Projections of the Categories of Products Generated in the
Municipal Waste Stream, 1995 to 2010 63
Projections of Products Generated in the Municipal Waste
Stream, 1995 to 2010
31 With Detail on Durable Goods 64
32 With Detail on Nondurable Goods 64
33 With Detail on Containers and Packaging 66
34 Estimated Ranges of Recovery and Composting of
Selected Products, 1995 69
35 Projected Generation and Estimated Ranges of Recovery
and Composting, 1995 72
36 Projected Range of Discards of Materials in the Municipal
Waste Stream, 1995 73
37 Projections of Combustion of Municipal Solid Waste,
1988 to 2000 74
38 Generation, Recovery, Combustion, and Disposal of
Municipal Solid Waste, 1988 and 1995 74
Chapter 4
39 Generation, Materials Recovery and Composting, and
Discards of Materials in Municipal Solid Waste, 1988 78
40 Per Capita Generation, Materials Recovery, Combustion,
and Net Discards of Municipal Solid Waste, 1960 to 1988 79
41 Per Capita Generation of Municipal Solid Waste, by Material,
1960 to 1988 79
42 Composition of Municipal Solid Waste Discards by Combustible
and Noncombustible Fractions, 1960 to 1988 80
Chapter 5
43 Summary of Density Factors for Landfilled Materials 85
44 Volume of Products Discarded in MSW, 1988 87
VII
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LIST OF TABLES (continued)
45 Summary of Volume of Products Discarded in MSW, 1988 89
46 Volume of Materials Discarded in MSW, 1988 90
Chapter 6
47 Comparison of the 1988 and the 1990 Estimates for 1986
Materials Generation 95
48 Comparison of the 1988 and the 1990 Projections of Materials
Generation in 2000 97
49 Comparison of MSW Discards by Material Flows and
Sampling Methodologies 99
VIM
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LIST OF FIGURES
Chapter 1
1 Municipal solid waste in the universe of Subtitle D wastes 2
Chapter 2
Products generated in MSW, 1988
2 Paper and paperboard 13
3 Glass 15
4 Metal 16
5 Plastic 19
6 Generation of materials in MSW, 1960 to 1988 24
7 Materials recovery and discards of MSW, 1960 to 1988 26
8 Materials recovery, 1988 26
9 Materials generated and discarded in MSW, 1988 27
10 Generation of products in MSW, 1960 to 1988 49
11 Generation and discards of nondurable goods, 1988 50
12 Generation and discards of containers and packaging, 1988 51
13 Municipal solid waste management, 1960 to 1988 56
Chapter 3
14 Materials generated in MSW, 1988 and 2010 59
15 Products generated in MSW, 1988 and 2010 63
16 Materials recovery and composting projections, 1995 71
Chapter 5
17 Volume of major MSW categories, as a percent of total 88
IX
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Many areas of the United States currently face serious problems in
safely and effectively managing the garbage they generate. As a nation, we are
generating more trash than ever before. At the same time, we are finding
that there are limits to traditional trash management practices. As the
generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) continues to increase, the
capacity to handle it is decreasing. Many landfills and combustors have
dosed, and new disposal facilities are often difficult to site. As a result, many
communities face hard choices when weighing trash management options.
Some communities end up paying premium prices to transport their garbage
long distances to available facilities. Others try to site facilities nearby and
encounter intense public conflict. Of course, not all communities face such
problems; numerous communities have found creative solutions through
source reduction and recycling programs. Still, for much of the nation, the
generation and management of garbage presents problems that require our
focused attention.
Identifying the components of the waste stream is an important step
toward solving the problems associated with the generation and management
of garbage. MSW characterizations, which analyze the quantity and
composition of the municipal solid waste stream, involve estimating how
much MSW is generated, recycled, combusted, and disposed of in landfills.
By determining the makeup of the waste stream, waste characterizations also
provide valuable data for setting waste management goals, tracking progress
toward those goals, and supporting planning at the national, state, and local
levels. For example, waste characterizations can be used to highlight
opportunities for source reduction and recycling and provide information on
any special management issues that should be considered.
Features of This Report
This report is the most recent in a series of reports released by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to characterize MSW in the United
States. It characterizes the national waste stream based on data through 1988
and includes:
• Information on MSW generation from 1960 to 1988.
• Information on recovery for recycling, composting, and
combustion from 1960 to 1988.
• Information characterizing MSW by volume as well as by
weight.
• Projections for MSW generation to the year 2010.
• Projections for MSW combustion through 2000.
• Projections (presented as a range) for recovery and recycling
through 1995.
ES-1
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Unlike previous EPA characterization reports, this report does not
include long-range projections for materials recovery. This is due to the
significant uncertainties in making those projections. For example, rapid
changes are now taking place at the federal, state, and local level that may
have profound effects on such projections. In addition, shifts in consumer
attitudes and behaviors, industry practices and efforts, and technological
advances will greatly influence recovery and recycling. The potential impact
of all of these changes is very difficult to predict.
Readers should note that this report characterizes the municipal solid
waste stream of the nation as a whole. The information presented here may
not, therefore, correlate with individual state or local estimates of waste
generation and management.
Methodology
There are two primary methods for conducting a waste characterization
study. The first is a site-specific approach in which the individual
components of the waste stream are sampled, sorted, and weighed. Although
this method is useful for defining a local waste stream, extrapolating from a
limited number of studies can produce a skewed or misleading picture if used
DEFINITIONS
Municipal solid waste includes wastes such as durable goods, nondurable goods,
containers and packaging, food wastes, yard wastes, and miscellaneous inorganic wastes
from residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial sources. Examples of waste
from these categories include appliances, newspapers, clothing, food scraps, boxes,
disposable tableware, office and classroom paper, wood pallets, and cafeteria wastes.
MSW does not include wastes from other sources, such as municipal sludges, combustion
ash, and industrial nonhazardous process wastes that might also be disposed of in
municipal waste landfills or incinerators.
Generation refers to the amount (weight, volume, or percentage of the overall waste
stream) of materials and products as they enter the waste stream and before materials
recovery, composting, or combustion (incineration) takes place.
Recovery refers to materials removed from the waste stream for the purpose of recycling
and/or composting. Recovery does not automatically equal recycling and composting,
however. For example, if markets for recovered materials are not available, the
materials mat were separated from the waste stream for recycling may simply be
stored or, in some cases, sent to a landfill or incinerator.
Discards include the municipal solid waste remaining after recovery for recycling and
composting. These discards are usually combusted or disposed of in landfills, although
some MSW is littered, stored, or disposed of on site, particularly in rural areas.
ES-2
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for a nationwide characterization of waste. Any errors in the sample or
atypical circumstances encountered during sampling would be greatly
magnified when expanded to represent the nation's entire waste stream.
The second method, used in this report to estimate the waste stream on
a nationwide basis, is called the "material flows methodology." EPA's Office
of Solid Waste and its predecessors in the Public Health Service sponsored
work in the 1960s and early 1970s to develop the material flows methodology.
This methodology is based on production data (by weight) for the materials
and products in the waste stream, with adjustments for imports, exports, and
product lifetimes.
Report Highlights
This report underscores the problems we face in municipal solid waste
management: the generation of MSW continues to increase steadily, both in
overall tonnage and in pounds per capita. In addition, the report indicates
that materials recovery for recycling and the combustion of MSW have
increased in recent years, while discards to landfills have decreased. Major
findings include the following:
• In 1988,180 million tons, or 4.0 pounds per person per day of
MSW were generated. After materials recovery for recycling,
discards were 3.5 pounds per person per day. Virtually all of
these discards were combusted or sent to a landfill.
• Without source reduction, the amount of waste generated in
1995 is expected to reach 200 million tons, or 4.2 pounds per
person per day. By 2000, generation is projected to reach 216
million tons, or 4.4 pounds per person per day. The per capita
figure for the year 2000 is a 10 percent increase over 1988 levels.1
• Based on current trends and information, EPA projects that 20 to
28 percent of MSW will be recovered annually by 1995.
Exceeding this projected range will require fundamental changes
in government programs, technology, and corporate and
consumer behavior.
1 This report updates generation projections and estimates from previous reports. The projected
per capita generation estimate for the year 2000 has been increased from just under 4 pounds to
4.4 pounds. This report also increases the 1986 per capita generation estimate by 6 percent—
from 3.6 to 3.8 pounds. These projections and estimates have been adjusted because the 1990
report includes additional items in the data base, such as automotive batteries and disposable
diapers, corrections for imported packaging materials, and changes in the detail available in
the data base, e.g., natural rubber in tires and additional plastic items.
ES-3
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• Recovery of MSW materials for recycling was 13 percent in 1988.
Combustion was 14 percent of total generation, and the
remaining 73 percent of the municipal solid waste stream was
sent to landfills or otherwise disposed of.2
• For the first time in this series of characterization reports, MSW
is also characterized by volume. The results indicate which
materials in MSW occupy the greatest proportion of volume in
landfills, and compare these percentages to those by weight. For
example, paper and paperboard products make up 34 percent of
the discards (after recovery) by weight and 34 percent by volume;
plastics account for 9 percent by weight and 20 percent by
volume; and yard wastes make up 20 percent by weight and 10
percent by volume.
Municipal Solid Waste in 1988
In 1988, generation of municipal solid waste totaled 179.6 million tons.
Figure ES-1 provides a breakdown by weight of the materials generated in
MSW in 1988. It shows that paper and paperboard products are the largest
component of municipal solid waste by weight (40 percent of generation) and
yard wastes are the second largest component (roughly 18 percent of
generation). Four of the remaining materials in MSW—glass, metals,
plastics, and food wastes—range between 7 and 9 percent each by weight of
total MSW generated. Other materials in MSW include rubber, leather,
textiles, wood, and small amounts of miscellaneous wastes, which each made
up less than 4 percent of MSW in 1988.
The breakdown of how much waste went to recycling, combustion, and
landfills is shown in Figure ES-2. Recovery of materials for recycling and
composting was an estimated 13 percent in 1988. That amount varied
significantly according to the type of waste (Table ES-1). For example, nearly
26 percent of waste paper was recovered in 1988, while less than 2 percent of
plastic wastes were recovered.
The broad categories of materials in MSW are made up of many
individual products. The products are grouped into major product categories
as shown in Figure ES-3. In 1988, containers and packaging were the largest
single product category generated in MSW by weight, at roughly 32 percent of
the total. Nondurable goods (such as newspapers and disposable food service
items) were the second largest category, at 28 percent of the total. Yard wastes
were approximately 18 percent and durable goods (such as furniture and tires)
were 14 percent of total generation in 1988.
2 While essentially all of the 73 percent of the waste stream was sent to landfills, it should be
recognized that some waste may be littered, stored, or disposed of at the site of generation.
ES-4
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MATERIALS GENERATED IN MSW
BY WEIGHT, 1988
Yard Wastes, 17.6%
31.6 million tons
Paper, 40.0%
71.8 million tons
Metals, 8.5%
15.3 million tons
Glass, 7.0%
12.5 million tons
Plastics, 8.0%
14.4 million tons
Other, 11.6%
20.8 million tons
Food Wastes, 7.4 %
13.2 million tons
TOTAL WEIGHT = 179.6 million tons
FIGURE ES-1
ES-5
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MANAGEMENT OF MSW IN U.S.,
1988
Landfill, 72.7%
130.5 million tons
Recovery, 13.1%
23.5 million tons
Incineration, 14.2%
25.5 million tons
TOTAL WEIGHT = 179.6 million tons
FIGURE ES-2
ES-6
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TABLE ES-1
Generation of MSW, Recovery of Materials
and Composting of Food and Yard Waste, 1988
Paper and Paperboard
Glass
Metals
Ferrous
Aluminum
Other Nonferrous
Total Metals
Plastics
Rubber and Leather
Textiles
Wood
Other
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW
Weight
Generated
(in Millions
of Tons)
71.8
12.5
11.6
2.5
1.1
15.3
14.4
4.6
3.9
6.5
3.1
132.1
13.2
31.6
2.7
47.5
179.6
Weight
Recovered
(in Millions
of Tons)
18.4
1.5
0.7
0.8
0.7
2.2
0.2
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.7
23.1
0.0
0.5
0.0
0.5
23.5
Percent of
Generation
of Each
Material
25.6
12.0
5.8
31.7
65.1
14.6
1.1
2.3
0.6
0.0
21.7
17.5
0.0
1.6
0.0
1.1
13.1
ES-7
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PRODUCTS GENERATED IN MSW
BY WEIGHT, 1988
Durable Goods, 13.9%
24.9 million tons
Other, 1.5%
2.7 million tons
Containers/Packaging, 31.6%
56.8 million tons
Nondurable Goods, 28.1%
50.4 million tons
Food Wastes, 7.4%
13.2 million tons
Yard Wastes, 17.6%
31.6 million tons
TOTAL WEIGHT = 179.6 million tons
FIGURE ES-3
ES-8
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MSW Volume Estimates
Although solid waste is usually characterized by weight, information
about volume is important for such issues as determining how quickly
landfill capacity is being filled and identifying the rate at which the volumes
of various materials in the waste stream are changing.
Volume estimates of solid waste, however, are far more difficult to
make than weight estimates. A pound of paper is a pound of paper whether
it is in flat sheets, crumpled into a wad, or compacted into a bale, but the
volume occupied in each case will be very different. The figures in this report
are estimations of the volume of materials as they would typically be found
in a landfill (a significant amount of compaction occurs in a landfill). These
estimates are based largely on empirical data that are then used to estimate
density factors (pounds per cubic yard) for components of solid waste under
simulated landfill conditions, with corroboration from actual landfill studies.
Figure ES-4 shows the materials in MSW by volume as a percent of
total MSW discards in 1988. The paper and paperboard category ranks first in
volume of MSW discarded (34 percent). Plastics rank second in volume, at 20
percent of the total, and yard wastes are third, at 10 percent. Paper and plastics
combined account for over one-half of the volume of MSW discarded in 1988.
Table ES-2 compares 1988 volume and weight estimates for materials
in MSW contained in the report The right-hand column shows the ratio of
volume to weight for each material. A ratio of 1.0 means that the material
occupies the same proportion by volume as by weight. Values greater than 1.0
mean that the material occupies a larger proportion of volume than weight.
Four materials have ratios greater than 2.0: plastics, rubber and leather,
textiles, and aluminum. By contrast, yard wastes, food, and glass each have
ratios of 0.5 or less, indicating that these materials are quite dense and occupy
proportionately less volume in landfills.
Figure ES-5 shows the product categories that make up MSW by
volume of total discards in 1988. Nondurable goods rank first in volume
percentage at 34 percent. Containers and packaging are second in volume
(roughly 30 percent), and durable goods are third (approximately 22 percent).
Trends in MSW Generation, Recovery, and Discards
Generation of municipal solid waste grew steadily between 1960 and
1988, from 88 million to nearly 180 million tons per year. Per capita
generation of MSW increased from 2.7 pounds per person per day in 1960 to
4.0 pounds per person per day in 1988. Between 1986 and 1988, generation
increased from 3.8 to 4.0 pounds per person per day (167 million to 180
million tons per year). By 2000, projected per capita MSW generation is 4.4
ES-9
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LANDFILL VOLUME OF DISCARDS
IN MSW, 1988
Metals, 12.1%
48.3 million cubic yards
Yard Wastes, 10.3%
41.3 million
cubic yards /
Glass, 2.0%
7.9 million cubic yards
Paper, 34.1%
136.2 million cubic yards
Plastics, 19.9%
79.7 million
cubic yards
Other, 18.4%
73.4 million
cubic yards
Food Wastes, 3.3 %
13.2 million cubic yards
TOTAL VOLUME = 400 million cubic yards
FIGURE ES-4
ES-10
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TABLE ES-2
Volume of Materials Discarded in MSW, 1988
Paper and Paperboard
Plastics
Yard Wastes
Ferrous Metals
Rubber and Leather
Textiles
Wood
Food Wastes
Other
Aluminum
Glass
TOTALS
1988
Discards
(mil tons)
53.4
14.3
31.0
10.9
4.4
3.8
6.5
13.2
5.6
1.7
11.1
156
Weight
(%ofMSW
total)
34.2
9.2
19.9
7.0
2.9
2.5
4.2
8.5
3.6
1.1
7.1
100
Volume
(%ofMSW
total)
34.1
19.9
10.3
9.8
6.4
5.3
4.1
3.3
2.5
2.3
2.0
100
Ratio
(vol %/
wt%)
1.0
2.2
0.5
1.4
2.3
2.1
1.0
0.4
0.7
2.1
0.3
1.0
ES-11
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PRODUCTS DISCARDED IN MSW
BY VOLUME, 1988
Durable Goods, 22.2%
88.5 million
cubic yards
Containers/Packaging, 29.6%
118.1 million cubic yards
Other, 0,6% v
2.2 million
cubic yards
Food Wastes, 3.3%
13.2 million
cubic yards
Yard Wastes, 10.4%
41,3 million
cubic yards
Nondurable Goods 34.0%
135.6 million cubic yards
TOTAL = 400 yards
ES-12
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pounds per person per day (216 million tons). Projected MSW generation in
the year 2010 is over 250 million tons, or 4.9 pounds per person per day.
Figure ES-6 shows the generation (in millions of tons) of materials in MSW
between 1960 and 1988 with projections to 2010.
Recovery has increased gradually from about 7 percent of the waste
generated in 1960 to 13 percent in 1988. Recovery is projected to reach
between 20 percent and 28 percent of MSW generated in 1995. These
projections are presented as a range because of the many unpredictable factors
that might influence the growth of recovery and recycling over the next 5
years. These factors include possible changes in the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA), which regulates the treatment, storage, and
disposal of the nation's solid waste; other federal and state legislative
proposals; deposit bills; bans; regional and local efforts; municipal waste
combustion and landfill source separation proposals; municipal source
reduction and recycling programs; industry efforts and recycling technology.
While specific predictions about recycling might be misleading, EPA believes
that with fundamental changes in activities and programs related to recycling,
we can achieve even higher recycling rates than those projected.
Combustors handled an estimated 30 percent of MSW generated in
I960, most of them with no energy recovery and no air pollution controls. In
the 1960s and 1970s, combustion dropped steadily as the old incinerators were
closed, reaching a low of less than 10 percent of MSW generated by 1980.
More recently, combustion of MSW has been increasing again (to 25.5 million
tons, or roughly 14 percent of generation, in 1988). All major new facilities
have energy recovery and are designed to meet air pollution standards.
The report projects that more than 45 million tons of MSW will be
combusted in 1995, and 55 million tons will be combusted in 2000. It should
be noted that because of the long lead time in planning, permitting, and
constructing incineration facilities, projections for combustion are easier to
make than projections for recovery. Estimates of combustion projections are
based on assumptions that assume the facilities will operate at 80 percent of
capacity.
Landfill use fluctuates with changes in the use of alternative solid
waste management methods. For example, when the use of incineration for
MSW management declines and recovery rates are low, the MSW percentage
sent to landfills increases. Alternatively, when recovery and combustion of
MSW increase, the percentage of MSW discarded to landfills declines. In
1960, approximately 62 percent of MSW was sent to landfills. This increased
to 81 percent in 1980, then decreased to 73 percent in 1988 due to changing
trends in municipal solid waste management.
ES-13
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U.S. MSW GENERATION,
1960-2010
300
1970
Paper
Other
1980 1988 2000
YEAR
• Glass/Metal EU Food/Yard
iH Plastics
2010
FIGURE ES-6
ES-14
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As we approach the twenty-first century, integrated waste management
is clearly the solution to our growing waste needs. Through source reduction
and recycling, we can reduce generation and increase recovery, and, in turn,
reduce our reliance on combustors and landfills.
ES-15
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Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY
BACKGROUND
This report is the most recent in a 20-year series of reports sponsored by
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to characterize municipal solid
waste (MSW) in the United States. Together with the previous reports
(References 1 through 13), this report provides an updated database for a 50-
year characterization (by weight) of the materials and products in MSW.
EPA has used these reports for planning purposes over the years. As
an additional benefit, many other individuals and organizations have used
the data for their own purposes. This updated version of the MSW
characterization report includes many new features, outlined below.
NEW FEATURES OF THIS REPORT
In addition to the data series that have been previously published by
EPA in these MSW characterization reports, the following information and
features have been added:
• While earlier reports focused primarily on discards of MSW after
materials recovery, this report includes detailed tables on MSW
generation and materials recovery.
• Estimates of waste recovery for composting have been included for
the first time.
• Estimates of MSW combustion without energy recovery have been
included for the first time.
• More categories of wastes have been accounted for. Lead-acid
batteries (automotive) and disposable diapers have been added as
line items. Some products that in the past have been included in
"Miscellaneous Nondurables" also have been broken out as line
items; these include paper and plastic plates and cups. Paper and
plastics containers and packaging have been accounted for in more
detail going back to 1980.
• New information permitted more plastic items in MSW to be
accounted for.
• Projections of MSW generation have been extended to the year 2010.
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• A chapter characterizing MSW by volume (cubic yards) has been
included in addition to the traditional characterization by weight
(tons).
As an overall result of these additions, the historical and projected
estimates of MSW generation and discards are higher than those made in
earlier versions of this characterization report. (This is explained in more
detail in Chapter 6.)
MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE IN PERSPECTIVE
Municipal Solid Waste Defined
EPA's 1989 Agenda for Action report states that municipal solid wastes
come from residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial sources
(Reference 14). (The Agenda for Action drew from the MSW characterization
study completed in 1988, which characterized the waste stream through 1986.)
As shown in Figure 1, municipal solid waste includes durable goods,
nondurable goods, containers and packaging, food and yard wastes, and
miscellaneous inorganic wastes.
Subtitle D Wastes
Municipal solid waste L^_
Household hazardous waste
Municipal sludge
Municipal waste combustion ash
Industrial nonhazardous waste
Small Quantity Generator waste
Construction and demolition waste
Agricultural waste
Oil and gas waste
Mining waste
Municipal Solid Waste
Product* in MSW
Durable Good*
Nondurable Goods
Container* and Packaging
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Misc. Inorganic Waste*
Example*
Appliance*, furniture, tires, consumer electronic*
Newspapers, doth ing, paper towels, single service cup*
Boxes, bottle*, can*, bag*, pallets, polystyrene cushioning
Vegetable peelings, corn cob*, uneaten food
Grass dipping*, leaves, brush trimmings
Stone*, piece* of concrete, potting soil
Figure 1. Municipal solid waste in the universe of Subtitle D wastes.
-------
Some examples of the types of MSW that come from each of the broad
categories of sources are:
Source Example Products
Residential Appliances, newspapers, clothing,
disposable tableware, cereal boxes,
microwavable and frozen food
packaging, cans and bottles, food scraps,
yard wastes, some household hazardous
wastes (batteries)
Commercial Corrugated boxes, food wastes, office
papers, disposable tableware, paper
napkins, yard wastes
Institutional Cafeteria and restroom trash can wastes,
office papers, classroom wastes, yard
wastes
Industrial Corrugated boxes, plastic film, wood
pallets, lunchroom wastes, office papers.
The material flows methodology used in this report does not permit
the quantification of wastes according to their source. For example,
corrugated boxes may be unpacked and discarded from residences,
commercial establishments such as grocery stores, institutions such as
schools, or from factories. The methodology estimates only the total quantity
of such boxes disposed, not their places of discard or recovery for recycling.
Other Subtitle D Wastes
Some people assume that "municipal solid waste" must include
everything that is landfilled in Subtitle D landfills. (Subtitle D of the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act deals with wastes other than the
hazardous wastes covered under Subtitle C.) As shown in Figure 1, however,
many kinds of wastes are included under Subtitle D (Reference 15). It has
been common practice to landfill wastes such as municipal sludge, ash from
combustion of municipal solid waste, nonhazardous industrial wastes, fluff
from automobile salvage operations, and construction and demolition wastes
along with MSW, but these other kinds of wastes are not included in the
estimates presented in this report. In the past, some solid waste management
planners have used earlier reports in this series to estimate the total waste
stream in a locality, with the result that they seriously underestimate the
amounts of waste to be managed.
-------
The Solid Waste Management Hierarchy
EPA's Agenda for Action endorsed the concept of integrated waste
management, by which municipal solid waste is managed through several
different practices, which can be tailored to fit a particular community's needs
(Reference 14). The components of the hierarchy, in order of preference, are:
• Source reduction (including reuse of products and backyard
composting of yard wastes)
• Recycling of materials (including composting)
• Waste combustion (preferably with energy recovery) and
• Landfilling.
With the exception of source reduction, this updated characterization
report includes estimates of the quantities of MSW managed by each practice
in the hierarchy. (Source reduction is being addressed in other projects
sponsored by EPA and others.) Estimates of composting and combustion
without energy recovery are being included for the first time.
METHODOLOGIES FOR CHARACTERIZING MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
The Two Methodologies
There are two basic approaches to estimating quantities of municipal
solid waste. The first method, which is site-specific, involves sampling,
sorting, and weighing the individual components of the waste stream. This
method is useful in defining a local waste stream, especially if large numbers
of samples are taken over several seasons. Results of sampling also increase
the body of knowledge about variations due to climatic and seasonal changes,
population density, regional differences, and the like. In addition, quantities
of MSW components such as food and yard wastes can only be estimated
through sampling and weighing studies.
On the "down side," sampling studies based on a very limited number
of samples may be skewed and misleading if, for example, atypical
circumstances were experienced during the sampling. These circumstances
could include an unusually wet or dry season, delivery of some unusual
wastes during the sampling period, or errors in the sampling methodology.
Any errors of this kind will be greatly magnified when a limited number of
samples are taken to represent a community's entire waste stream for a year.
The second approach to quantifying and characterizing the municipal
solid waste stream—the method used for this report—utilizes a material
flows approach to estimate the waste stream on a nationwide basis. In the
late 1960s and early 1970s, EPA's Office of Solid Waste and its predecessors at
the Public Health Service sponsored work that began to develop this
-------
methodology, and this report represents the latest version of this database
that has been evolving for 20 years.
The material flows methodology is based on production data (by
weight) for the materials and products in the waste stream. Adjustments are
made for imports and exports and for diversions from MSW (e.g., for paper
products used as building materials). Adjustments are also made for the
lifetimes of products. Finally, food and yard wastes and a small amount of
miscellaneous inorganic wastes are accounted for by compiling data from a
variety of waste sampling studies.
A detailed description of the material flows methodology is included as
Appendix A.
Definition of Terms
The material flows methodology produces an estimate of the total
municipal solid waste generation in the United States, by material categories
and by product categories.
The term "generation" as used in this report refers to the weight of
materials and products as they enter the waste stream from residential,
commercial, and institutional sources and before materials recovery,
composting, or combustion takes place. (In earlier reports in this series and
the work sheets for this report, the term "gross discards" is the same as
generation.)
"Recovery of materials" as estimated in this report includes materials
removed from the waste stream for the purpose of recycling, although
recovery does not automatically equal recycling. Recycling processes generally
leave some residues (e.g., sludges from deinking paper), but estimation of
these residues was beyond the scope of this study.
Recovery of materials for composting was estimated for the first time
in this series of reports. Yard wastes and food wastes were treated separately.
As in the case of materials recovery, some residues may be left in the
composting process, but these were not estimated.
Combustion (incineration) of MSW was estimated with and without
energy recovery. Estimates of combustion without energy recovery were not
previously included in these reports, but this was an important form of MSW
management in the 1960s and early 1970s. Combustion with energy recovery
is often called "waste-to-energy" or incineration with heat recovery.
"Discards" include the MSW remaining after recovery for recycling and
composting. These discards would presumably be combusted or landfilled,
-------
although some MSW is littered, stored or disposed on-site, or burned on-site,
particularly in rural areas. No good estimates of these other disposal practices
are available, but they are presumed to be small.
MATERIALS AND PRODUCTS NOT INCLUDED IN THESE ESTIMATES
As.noted earlier, the other Subtitle D wastes (illustrated in Figure 1) are
not included in these estimates, even though some may be managed along
with MSW (e.g., by combustion or landfilling).
One problem with the material flows methodology is that product
residues associated with other items in MSW (usually containers) are not
accounted for. These residues would include, for example, food left in a jar,
detergent left in a box or bottle, dried paint in a can, etc. Some household
hazardous wastes, e.g., pesticide left in a can, are included among these
product residues.
Certain other materials associated with products in MSW are not
accounted for because the appropriate data series have not yet been
developed. These include, for example, inks and other pigments, staples,
adhesives, and additives associated with plastic resins. Considerable
additional research would be required to estimate these materials, which
constitute a relatively small percentage of the waste stream.
In past reports in this series, some packaging of imported goods was
included, others were not. While there is no precise methodology or data
series available for determining the packaging of imported goods, additional
estimates based on the best data available were added for this current report.
PROJECTIONS
The projections of MSW generation to the year 2010 were not based on
total quantities, but were built up from projections for each product and
material separately. Thus, while most products are projected to grow in
tonnage, this is not universally true, and some are projected to decline.
The projections are based on trend analysis of the 28-year historical
database developed for each product, government sources such as the
Industrial Outlook published by the Department of Commerce, and, in some
cases, best professional judgment.
It should be emphasized that projections are not predictions.
Projections are based on an assumption that there will be no unforeseen
changes in current trends. Thus, the economy is assumed to remain stable
and population trends are assumed to be as projected by the Bureau of the
Census.
-------
Additional discussions of projection assumptions are included in
Chapter 3.
OVERVIEW OF THIS REPORT
Following this introductory chapter, Chapter 2 presents the results of
the municipal solid waste characterization (by weight). Estimates of MSW
generation, recovery, and discards are presented in a series of tables, with
discussion. Detailed tables summarizing 1988 generation, recovery, and
discards of products in each material category are included.
Estimates of MSW combustion with and without energy recovery
follow. A final table in this series presents a summary of MSW generation,
recovery for recycling and composting, combustion, and discards to landfill
or other disposal.
In Chapter 3 of the report, projections of MSW generation, materials
recovery, and combustion are presented.
Chapter 4 of the report provides some additional perspectives on the
MSW characterization. Summary tables showing more detail for MSW
management in 1988 are presented. A table showing discards on a per person
basis is provided. In addition, a table categorizing the materials in MSW into
combustible and noncombustible fractions is included.
In Chapter 5, a characterization of MSW discards in 1988 by volume
(cubic yards) is presented.
The final chapter of this report provides an overview comparison of
the results of MSW characterization by the material flows methodology with
the results of a number of field sampling studies. Also, the differences
between the current update and previous material flows reports are
explained.
-------
Chapter 2
CHARACTERIZATION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE BY WEIGHT
INTRODUCTION
The tables and figures in this chapter present the results of the 1990
update of EPA's municipal solid waste characterization study through 1988.
The findings are presented in two ways: a breakdown of MSW by material,
and a breakdown by product (both by weight and percentage). While some
products, e.g., newspapers, are made up of a single material—paper—other
products, e.g., rubber tires, contain more than one material, such as rubber,
ferrous metals, and textiles. Thus the materials summary tables represent an
aggregation of the materials that go into all the products in MSW. (Note that
the totals for the materials and the products tables are the same.)
The summary tables and figures provide information on the
generation of each material and product, and the recovery for recycling and
composting (if any). Tables and figures displaying discards of materials and
products after recovery for recycling and composting follow. Recovery means
the materials have been removed from the waste stream. Recovery does not
automatically mean recycling, and some residues may result from the
recycling, although these are not accounted for in this report.
Additional detail is provided for some of the materials and products in
MSW that are of the most interest to planners: paper, glass, metals, plastics,
and rubber and leather.
Another set of tables and figures in this chapter presents estimates of
combustion of MSW and its effect on discards. Finally, a summary table and
figure provide an overview of municipal solid waste management in the
United States.
MATERIALS IN MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
Generation, recovery, and discards of materials in MSW, by weight and
by percentage, are summarized in Tables 1 through 3. Following these tables,
each material is discussed in detail.
Paper and Paperboard
By any measure, the many products made of paper and paperboard,
taken collectively, are the largest component of MSW. The wide variety of
products that comprise the paper and paperboard materials total is illustrated
in Table 4 and Figure 2. In this report, these products are classified as either
-------
Table 1
MATERIALS GENERATED* IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 1988
(In millions of tons and percent of total generation)
Materials
Paper and Paperfooard
Glass
Metals
Ferrous
Aluminum
Other Nonferrous
Total Metals
Plastics
Rubber and Leather
Textiles
Wood
Other
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
TotalMSWGenerated- Weight
Materials
Paper and Paperboard
Glass
Metals
Ferrous
Aluminum
Other Nonferrous
Total Metals
Plastics
Rubber and Leather
Textiles
Wood
Other
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Generated • Percent
Millions of Tons
1960
29.9
6.7
9.9
0.4
0.2
10.5
0.4
2.0
1.7
3.0
0.1
54.3
12.2
20.0
1.3
33.5
87.8
1965
38.0
8.7
10.1
0.5
0.5
11.1
1.4
2.6
1.9
3.5
0.3
67.5
12.7
21.6
1.6
35.9
103.4
1970
44.2
12.7
12.6
0.8
0.7
14.1
3.1
3.2
2.0
4.0
0.8
84.1
12.8
23.2
1.8
37.8
121.9
1975
43.0
13.5
12.3
1.1
0.9
14.3
4.5
3.9
2.2
4.4
1.7
87.5
13.4
25.2
2.0
40.6
128.1
1980
54.7
15.0
11.6
1.8
1.1
14.5
7.8
4.3
2.6
4.9
2.9
106.7
13.2
27.5
2.2
42.9
149.6
1985
61.5
13.2
10.9
2.3
1.0
14.2
11.6
3.8
2.8
5.4
3.4
115.9
13.2
30.0
2.5
45.7
161.6
1988
71.8
12.5
11.6
2.5
1.1
15.3
14.4
4.6
3.9
6.5
3.1
132.1
13.2
31.6
2.7
47.5
179.6
Percent of Total Generation
1960
34.1
7.6
11.3
0.5
0.2
12.0
0.5
2.3
1.9
3.4
0.1
61.8
13.9
22.8
1.5
38.2
100.0
1965
36.8
8.4
9.8
0.5
0.5
10.7
1.4
2.5
1.8
3.4
0.3
65.3
12.3
20.9
1.5
34.7
100.0
1970
36.3
10.4
10.3
0.7
0.6
11.6
2.5
2.6
1.6
3.3
0.7
69.0
10.5
19.0
1.5
31.0
100.0
1975
33.6
10.5
9.6
0.9
0.7
11.2
3.5
3.0
1.7
3.4
1.3
68.3
10.5
19.7
1.6
31.7
100.0
1980
36.6
10.0
7.8
1.2
0.7
9.7
5.2
29
1.7
3.3
1.9
71.3
8.8
18.4
1.5
28.7
100.0
1985
38.1
8.2
6.7
1.4
0.6
8.8
7.2
2.4
1.7
3.3
2.1
71.7
8.2
18.6
1.5
28.3
100.0
1988
40.0
7.0
6.5
1.4
0.6
8.5
8.0
2.5
2.1
3.6
1.7
73.5
7.4
17.6
1.5
26.5
100.0
* Generation before materials recovery or combustion.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
10
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Table 2
RECOVERY* OF MATERIALS AND
COMPOSTING OF FOOD AND YARD WASTE, 1960 TO 1988
(In millions of tons and percent of generation of each material)
Millions of Tons
Materials
Paper and Paperboard
Glass
Metals
Ferrous
Aluminum
Other Nonferrous
Total Metals
Plastics
Rubber and Leather
Textiles
Wood
Other"
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Recovered-Weight
Materials
Paper and Paperboard
Glass
Metals
Ferrous
Aluminum
Other Nonferrous
Total Metals
Plastics
Rubber and Leather
Textiles
Wood
Other
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total HSW Recovered • Percent
1960
5.4
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
5.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
5.9
1965
5.7
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.3
0.4
0.0
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.3
6.8
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
6.8
1970
7.4
0.2
0.1
0.0
0.3
0.4
0.0
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.3
8.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
8.6
1975
8.2
0.4
0.2
0.1
0.4
0.7
0.0
0.2
0.0
0.0
0.4
9.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
9.9
Percent of Generation of
1960
18.1
1.5
1.0
0.0
0.0
1.0
0.0
15.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
10.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
6.7
1965
15.0
1.1
1.0
0.0
60.0
3.6
0.0
11.5
0.0
0.0
80.4
10.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
6.6
1970
16.7
1.6
0.8
0.0
42.9
2.8
0.0
9.4
0.0
0.0
36.8
10.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
7.1
1975
19.1
3.0
1.6
9.1
44.4
4.9
0.0
5.1
0.0
0.0
21.5
11.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
7.7
1980
11.9
0.8
0.4
0.3
0.5
1.2
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.5
14.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
14.5
Each Material
1980
21.8
5.3
3.4
16.7
45.5
8.3
0.0
2.3
0.0
0.0
17.4
13.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
9.7
1985
13.1
1.0
0.4
0.6
0.5
1.5
0.1
0.2
0.0
0.0
0.5
16.4
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
16.4
1985
21.3
7.6
3.7
26.1
50.0
10.6
0.9
5.3
0.0
0.0
14.0
14.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
10.1
1988
18.4
1.5
0.7
0.8
0.7
2.2
0.2
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.7
23.1
0.0
0.5
0.0
0.5
23.5
1988
25.6
12.0
5.8
31.7
65.1
14.6
1.1
2.3
0.6
0.0
21.7
17.5
0.0
1.6
0.0
1.1
13.1
* Recovery of postconsumer wastes; does not include converting/fabrication scrap.
** Recovery of electrolytes in batteries; probably not recycled.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
1 1
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Table 3
MATERIALS DISCARDED* IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 1988
(In millions of tons and percent of total discards)
Materials
Paper and Paperboard
Glass
Metals
Ferrous
Aluminum
Other Nonferrous
Total Metals
Plastics
Rubber and Leather
Textiles
Wood
Other
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Discarded - Weight
Materials
Paper and Paperboard
Glass
Metals
Ferrous
Aluminum
Other Nonferrous
Total Metals
Plastics
Rubber and Leather
Textiles
Wood
Other
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Discarded • Percent
Millions of Tons
1960
24.5
6.6
9.8
0.4
0.2
10.4
0.4
1.7
1.7
3.0
0.1
48.4
12.2
20.0
1.3
33.5
81.9
1965
32.3
8.6
10.0
0.5
0.2
10.7
1.4
2.3
1.9
3.5
0.0
60.7
12.7
21.6
1.6
35.9
96.6
1970
36.8
12.5
12.5
0.8
0.4
13.7
3.1
2.9
2.0
4.0
0.5
75.5
12.8
23.2
1.8
37.8
113.3
1975
34.8
13.1
12.1
1.0
0.5
13.6
4.5
3.7
2.2
4.4
1.3
77.6
13.4
25.2
2.0
40.6
118.2
Percent of Total
1960
29.9
8.1
12.0
0.5
127
0.5
2.1
2.1
3.7
0.1
59.1
14.9
24.4
1.6
40.9
100.0
1965
33.4
8.9
10.4
0.5
0.2
11.1
1.4
2.4
2.0
3.6
0.0
62.8
13.1
224
1.7
37.2
100.0
1970
32.5
11.0
11.0
0.7
0.4
12.1
2.7
2.6
1.8
3.5
0.4
66.6
11.3
20.5
1.6
33.4
100.0
1975
29.4
11.1
10.2
0.8
0.4
11.5
3.8
3.1
1.9
3.7
1.1
65.7
11.3
21.3
1.7
34.3
100.0
1980
42.8
14.2
11.2
1.5
0.6
13.3
7.8
4.2
2.6
4.9
2.4
92.2
13.2
27.5
2.2
42.9
135.1
Discards
1980
31.7
10.5
8.3
1.1
0.4
9.8
5.8
3.1
1.9
3.6
1.8
68.2
9.8
20.4
1.6
31.8
100.0
1985
48.4
12.2
10.5
1.7
0.5
12.7
11.5
3.6
2.8
5.4
2.9
99.5
13.2
30.0
2.5
45.7
145.2
1985
33.3
8.4
7.2
1.2
0.3
8.7
7.9
2.5
1.9
3.7
2.0
68.5
9.1
20.7
1.7
31.5
100.0
1988
53.4
11.0
10.9
1.7
0.4
13.1
14.3
4.4
3.8
6.5
2.4
109.0
13.2
31.1
2.7
47.0
156.0
1988
34.2
7.1
7.0
1.1
BA
9.1
2.9
2.5
4.2
1.6
69.9
8.5
20.0
1.7
30.1
100.0
* Discards after materials and compost recovery.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
12
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Table 4
PAPER AND PAPERBOARD PRODUCTS IN MSW, 1988
(In millions of tons and percent of generation)
Product Category
Nondurable Goods
Newspapers
Books and Magazines
Office Papers
Commercial Printing
Tissue Paper and Towels
Paper Plates and Cups
Other Nonpackaging Paper*
Total Paper and Paperboard
Nondurable Goods
Containers and Packaging
Corrugated Boxes
Milk Cartons
Folding Cartons
Other Paperboard Packaging
Bags and Sacks
Wrapping Papers
Other Paper Packaging
Total Paper and Paperboard
Containers and Packaging
Total Paper and Paperboard
Generation Recovery Recovery Discards
(Million (Million (Percent of (Million
tons) tons) generation) tons)
13.3
5.3
7.3
4.1
3.0
0.7
5.2
"38!?
4.4
0.7
1.6
0.6
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
33.3
13.2
22.5
14.6
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
18.9
45.4
Neg.
7.7
Neg.
7.0
Neg.
Neg.
33.5
25.6
8.9
4.6
5.7
3.5
3.0
0.7
5.2
31.5
12.6
0.5
4.1
0.3
2.7
0.1
1.6
* Includes tissue in disposable diapers, paper in games and novelties, posters, tags, cards, etc.
Neg. = Negligible.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
[Figure 2. Paper and paperboard products generated in MSW, 1988||
Corrugated boxes
Newspapers
Office papers
Books and magazines
Other papers
Folding and milk cartons
Commercial printing
Tissue paper and towels
Bags and sacks
Other paper pkging
Paper plates and cups
Other paperboard pkging
'/S////////////^^^^
rssssssssssssssssssssssi~l 3
'/S////////////S14.Q
V.
25.2
.9
a 0.7
20.3
23.1
10 15
Million Tons
20
25
13
-------
nondurable goods or as containers and packaging, with nondurable goods
being the larger category.
The nondurable paper products include newspapers, books and
magazines, office papers, commercial printing, tissue paper and towels, paper
plates and cups, and other nonpackaging paper such as that used in cards,
games, posters and other pictures, etc. Paper and paperboard are used in
containers and packaging in the form of corrugated boxes, milk cartons, other
folding cartons (e.g., cereal boxes), bags and sacks, wrapping papers, and other
paper and paperboard packaging. (These products are discussed in more detail
under the report section on products in MSW.)
Generation. Total generation of paper and paperboard in MSW has
grown steadily from nearly 30 million tons in 1960 to nearly 72 million tons
in 1988 (Table 1). As a percentage of total MSW generation, paper represented
about 34 percent in 1960 (Table 1). The percentage has varied over time, but
has generally increased, to 40 percent of generation in 1988.
(The sensitivity of paper products to economic conditions can be
observed in Table 1. The tonnage of paper generated in 1975—a severe
recession year—was actually less than the tonnage in 1970, and the percentage
of total generation was also less in 1975.)
Recovery. Recovery of paper and paperboard for recycling is at the
highest rate overall compared to all other materials in MSW. As Table 4
shows, an estimated 45 percent of all corrugated boxes were recovered for
recycling in 1988. Newspapers were recovered at a rate of over 33 percent and
office papers at over 22 percent, with lesser percentages of other papers being
recovered also. Over 18 million tons of postconsumer waste paper were
recovered in 1988, over 25 percent of total generation.
Discards after Recovery. After recovery of paper and paperboard for
recycling, discards were over 53 million tons in 1988, or 34 percent of total
MSW discards.
Glass
Glass is found in MSW primarily in the form of containers (Table 5
and Figure 3), but also in durable goods like furniture, appliances, and
consumer electronics. In the container category, glass is found in beer and
soft drink bottles, wine and liquor bottles, and bottles and jars for food,
cosmetics, and other products. More detail on these products is included in
the later section on products in MSW.
Generation. Glass accounted for 6.7 millions tons of MSW in 1960, or
over 7 percent of total generation. Generation of glass continued to grow
14
-------
Table 5
GLASS PRODUCTS IN MSW, 1988
(In millions of tons and percent of generation)
Product Category
Durable Goods*
Containers and Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Bottles
Wine and Liquor Bottles
Food and Other Bottles and Jars
Total Glass Containers
Total Glass
Generation
(Million
tons)
1.2
5.4
2.0
3.9
11.4
Recovery
(Million
tons)
Neg.
1.1
0.1
0.3
12.5
1.5
1.5
Recovery
(Percent of
generation)
Neg.
20.0
5.0
8.1
13.3
12.0
* Glass as a component of appliances, furniture, consumer electronics, etc.
Neg. = Negligible.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
Discards
(Million
tons)
1.2
4.3
1.9
3.6
~~9~9~
11.0
[Figure 3. Glass products generated In MSW, 1988^
c
o
n
t
a
i
n
e
r
s
Beer & soft drink
bottles
Food, other bottles &
jars
Wine & liquor bottles
Durable goods
.9
3 4
Million Tons
15
-------
over the next two decades, but then glass containers were widely displaced by
other materials, principally aluminum and plastics. Thus the tonnage of
glass in MSW declined in the 1980s, from 15 million tons in 1980 to 12.5
million tons in 1988. Glass was 10.0 percent of MSW generation in 1980,
declining to 7 percent in 1988.
Recovery. In 1988 an estimated 13 percent of glass containers were
recovered for recycling, a 12 percent recovery rate for all glass in MSW.
Discards after Recovery. Recovery for recycling lowers discards of glass
to 11 million tons in 1988 (7 percent of total MSW discards).
Ferrous Metals
By weight, ferrous metals are the largest category of metals in MSW
(Table 6 and Figure 4). The largest quantities of ferrous metals in MSW are
found in durable goods such as appliances, furniture, tires, and other
miscellaneous durables. Containers and packaging are the other source of
ferrous metals in MSW.
Generation. About 10 million tons of ferrous metals were generated in
1960. Like glass, the tonnages grew during the Sixties and Seventies, but
began to drop as steel cans were displaced by aluminum and plastics. The
percentage of ferrous metal generation in MSW has declined from over 11
percent in 1960 to 6.5 percent in 1988.
[Figure 4. Metal products generated In MSW, 1988
Ferrous
Aluminum
Nonferrous
2.81
4 6
Million Tons
10
12
Nondurables
Container & Packaging 0 Durables
16
-------
Table6
METAL PRODUCTS IN MSW, 1988
(In millions of tons and percent of generation)
Product Category
Durable Goods
Ferrous Metals*
Aluminum**
Batteries (Lead)
Other Nonferrous Metals***
Total Metals in Durable Goods
Nondurable Goods
Aluminum
Containers and Packaging
Steel
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Food and Other Cans
Other Steel Packaging
Total Steel Packaging
Aluminum
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Other Cans
Foil and Closures
Total Aluminum Packaging
Total Metals in
Containers and Packaging
Total Metals
Generation
(Million
tons)
8.8
0.5
0.8
0.3
0.2
1.4
0.1
0.3
Ti"
Recovery
(Million
tons)
0.3
Neg.
0.7
Neg.
~T(F
Neg.
0.8
Neg.
Neg.
0.8
1.2
2.2
Recovery
(Percent of
generation)
3.4
Neg.
89.9
Neg.
9.9
Neg.
0.1
2.5
0.2
2lF
Neg.
0.4
Neg.
0.4
Neg.
15.0
Neg.
13.8
55.0
Neg.
Neg.
44.1
25.7
14.6
Discards
(Million
tons)
8.5
0.5
0.1
0.3
0.2
0.1
2.1
0.2
~2A
0.6
0.1
0.3
1.0
IsT
* Ferrous metals in appliances, furniture, tires, and miscellaneous durables.
** Aluminum in appliances, furniture, and miscellaneous durables.
*** Other nonferrous metals in appliances, lead-acid batteries, and miscellaneous durables.
Neg. = Negligible.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
17
-------
Recovery. Recovery of ferrous metals from MSW is not large at the
present time, although good data are difficult to obtain. It is estimated that
about 2 percent of ferrous metals in durable goods was recovered in 1988
(Table 6). This was mainly from appliances (white goods) shredded and
magnetically separated by the same facilities that shred and recover metals
from automobiles. In addition, an estimated 15 percent of steel cans (mostly
food cans) were recovered for recycling in 1988. About 700,000 tons of ferrous
metals were estimated to have been recovered in 1988.
Discards after Recovery. Discards of ferrous metals after recovery were
about 11 million tons in 1988—7 percent of total discards.
Aluminum
The largest source of aluminum in MSW is aluminum cans and other
packaging (Table 6 and Figure 4). Relatively small amounts of aluminum are
also found in durable and nondurable goods.
Generation. In 1988, 1.8 million tons of aluminum were generated as
containers and packaging, while a total of about 700,000 tons was found in
durable and nondurable goods. The total—2.5 million tons—represented
only 1.4 percent of total MSW generation in 1988. Aluminum generation was
only about 400,000 tons (0.5 percent) in 1960.
Recovery. About 44 percent of all aluminum containers and
packaging was recovered for recycling in 1988. Nearly all of this recovery was
beer and soft drink cans; they were estimated to be recovered at a 55 percent
rate in 1988.
Discards after Recovery. In 1988,1.7 million tons of aluminum were
discarded in MSW after recovery, which was 1.1 percent of total discards.
Other Nonferrous Metals
Other nonferrous metals (e.g., lead, copper, zinc) are found in durable
products such as appliances, consumer electronics, etc. For the first time in
this series of reports, estimates of generation of lead-acid automotive batteries
have been added. These batteries are an important source of lead in MSW.
Generation. Generation of other nonferrous metals in MSW totalled
1.1 million tons in 1988. Lead in batteries accounted for 800,000 tons of this
amount. Generation of these metals has increased slowly, from about 200,000
tons in 1960. As a percentage of total generation, nonferrous metals have
never exceeded one percent.
18
-------
Recovery. Recovery of the other nonferrous metals was over 700,000
tons in 1988, with most of this being lead recovered from batteries. While
accurate statistics are difficult to find, it is estimated that about 90 percent of
battery lead is recovered.
Discards after Recovery. As estimated 400,000 tons of nonferrous
metals were discarded in MSW in 1988. Percentages of total remain less than
one percent over the entire period.
Plastics
Plastics are a rapidly-growing segment of MSW. Plastics are found in
durable and nondurable goods and in containers and packaging, with the
latter being the largest category of plastics in MSW (Table 7 and Figure 5).
In durable goods, plastics are found in appliances, furniture, casings of lead-
acid batteries, and other products. Plastics are found in such nondurable
products as disposable diapers, trash bags, cups, eating utensils, shower
curtains, etc. Plastics are also used in a variety of container and packaging
products, e.g., condiment and beverage containers, bags, protection for
electronic equipment and computers, etc.
Generation. Plastics comprised an estimated 400,000 tons in MSW
generation in 1960. The quantity grew steadily to over 14 million tons in
1988. As a percentage of MSW generation, plastics were less than one percent
in I960, increasing to 8 percent in 1988.
Recovery for Recycling. While overall recovery of plastics for recycling
is small—200,000 tons, or about one percent of generation in 1988—an
estimated 21 percent of plastic (polyethylene terephthalate) soft drink bottles
and their base cups were recovered that year. Some recovery of plastics from
lead-acid battery casings and other containers was also reported.
[Figure S. Plastic products generated In MSW. 1988^
I:
;:i
nd?
e '
r n
Nondurables
Durables
Containers
Other pkging
Wraps
Bags and sacks
I
I
r//////////////////////^^^^
0.5 1 1.5
2 2.5 3 3.5
Million Tons
19
-------
Discards after Recovery. Discards of plastics in MSW after recovery
were nearly equal to generation in 1988, since the rate of recycling was only
one percent.
Other Materials
Rubber and Leather. The predominant source of rubber in MSW is
rubber tires (Table 8). Other sources of rubber and leather include clothing
and footwear and other miscellaneous durable and nondurable products.
These other sources are quite diverse, including such items as gaskets on
appliances, furniture, and hot water bottles, for example.
Table?
PLASTICS PRODUCTS IN MSW, 1988
(In millions of tons and percent of generation)
Product Category
Durable Goods*
Nondurable Goods
Plastic Plates and Cups
Clothing and Footwear
Disposable Diapers**
Other Misc. Nondurables"*
Total Plastics
Nondurable Goods
Containers and Packaging
Soft Drink Bottles*
Milk Bottles
Other Containers
Bags and Sacks
Wraps
Other Plastic Packaging
Total Plastics
Containers and Packaging
Total Plastics
Generation
(Million
tons)
4.1
0.4
0.2
0.3
3.8
4.6
0.4
0.4
1.7
0.8
1.1
1.2
14.4
Recovery
(Million
tons)
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
0.1
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
~~oT
~~CL2~
Recovery
(Percent of
generation)
1.5
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
21.0
<1.0
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
1.6
1.1
* Plastics as a component of appliances, furniture, lead-acid batteries and
miscellaneous durables.
** Does not include other materials in diapers.
*** Trash bags, eating utensils and straws, shower curtains, etc.
+ Includes bottles and base cups.
Neg. = Negligible.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
Discards
(Million
tons)
4.1
0.4
0.2
0.3
3.8
Te"
0.3
0.4
1.7
0.8
1.1
1.2
5.5
14.3
20
-------
Generation. Generation of rubber and leather in MSW has
shown slow growth over the years, increasing from 2 million tons in 1960 to
over 4 million tons in 1988. One reason for the relatively slow rate of growth
is that tires have been made smaller and longer-wearing than in past years.
As a percentage of total MSW generation, rubber and leather have
ranged between 2 and 3 percent of the total over the historical period.
Recovery for Recycling. The only recovery identified in this
category is rubber from tires, and that was estimated to be about 100,000 tons (5
percent of rubber in tires in 1988) (Table 8). This means that only about 2
percent of all rubber and leather in MSW was recovered in 1988.
Discards after Recovery. Discards of rubber and leather after
recovery were over 4 million tons in 1988 (2.9 percent of total discards).
Table 8
RUBBER AND LEATHER PRODUCTS IN MSW, 1988
(In millions of tons and percent of generation)
Product Category
Durable Goods
Rubber Tires*
Other Durables
Total Rubber & Leather
Durable Goods
Nondurable Goods
Clothing and Footwear
Other Nondurables
Total Rubber & Leather
Nondurable Goods
Total Rubber & Leather
Generation
(Million
tons)
1.9
1.2
3.0
1.1
0.4
* Does not include other materials in tires.
Neg. = Negligible.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
Recovery
(Million
tons)
0.1
Neg.
0.1
Neg.
Neg.
Recovery
(Percent of
generation)
5.6
Neg.
3.4
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
2.3
Discards
(Million
tons)
1.8
1.2
1.1
0.4
Ts"
~4A
21
-------
TextUes. Textiles in MSW are found mainly in discarded clothing,
although other sources were identified to be furniture, tires, footwear, and
other miscellaneous nondurables.
Generation. An estimated 3.9 million tons of textiles were
generated in 1988. These products have exhibited slow growth over the study
period.
Recovery for Recycling and Discards. Some small amounts of
textiles are recovered, but these were not identified to be significant
quantities. Therefore, discards after recovery are approximately the same as
generation for textiles.
Wood. The sources of wood in MSW include furniture, miscellaneous
durables (e.g., cabinets for electronic equipment), wood packaging (crates,
pallets), and some other miscellaneous products.
Generation. About 6.5 million tons of wood were generated in
1988. These products have been generated in increasing amounts over the
years, but the increase is not rapid. (A 10-year time lag is built into the
estimates of furniture discards.)
Recovery for Recycling and Discards. Some wood pallets are
recovered from MSW, but overall recovery was not documented to be
significant enough to affect quantities discarded in 1988.
Other Products. Generation of "other product" waste is mainly
associated with disposable diapers, which are discussed under the section on
Products in Municipal Solid Waste. The only other significant source of
materials in this category is the electrolytes and other materials associated
with lead-acid batteries and not classified as plastics or nonferrous metal.
Food Wastes
Food wastes included here consist of uneaten food and food
preparation wastes from residences, commercial establishments (restaurants,
fast food establishments), institutional sources such as school cafeterias, and
industrial sources such as factory lunchrooms.
Generation. As noted earlier, the only source of data on food wastes is
on-site sampling studies. As many studies as possible representing as long a
time frame as possible were scrutinized. The results of these studies are
expressed in percentages, so food waste estimates were based on percentages of
discards (after recycling) in order to be comparable to sampling studies
performed at landfills or transfer stations. In addition, an adjustment was
22
-------
made for the moisture transfer that occurs when wastes are mixed prior to
sampling. As a check on the sampling methodology, per capita generation of
food wastes over the historical period was also calculated.
The sampling studies over a long time frame show food wastes to be a
declining percentage of the waste stream, down from almost 15 percent of
discards after recycling in 1960 to 8.5 percent in 1988. Generation of food
wastes was estimated to be 13.2 million tons in 1988. On a per capita basis,
discards of food wastes are declining. This can be attributed to more use of
garbage disposals, which send food wastes to the sewer systems rather than
MSW, and increasing use of prepared foods both at home and in food service
establishments. (When foods are prepared and packaged off-site, the food
preparation wastes are categorized as industrial wastes rather than MSW.)
Recovery and Discards. While recovery of food wastes for composting
or animal feed has been discussed and practiced in some locations, no
significant recovery of food wastes was identified in 1988.
Yard Wastes
Yard wastes include grass, leaves, and tree and brush trimmings from
residential, institutional, and commercial sources.
Generation. Generation of yard wastes was estimated in exactly the
same manner as food wastes, based on sampling studies. As a percentage of
the waste stream, yard wastes have been exhibiting a slow decline, although
in terms of per capita generation, they have been increasing slightly. An
estimated 31.6 million tons of yard wastes were generated in MSW in 1988.
Recovery for Composting and Discards. For the first time in this series
of reports, estimates were made for removal of yard wastes from MSW for
composting projects. Composting has been identified by EPA and others as an
important tool for reducing the amounts of MSW that must be landfilled or
otherwise managed. Quantitative national information on composting is
difficult to obtain, but estimates were based on a literature search and
telephone contacts with state agencies to determine state policies on removal
of yard wastes from MSW (e.g., by banning leaves from landfills), and
estimates of the amounts of waste that might be affected. Removal of yard
wastes for composting was estimated to be less than 2 percent of generation in
1988 (474,000 tons), leaving about 31 million tons of yard wastes to be
discarded.
(It should be noted that these estimates do not account for backyard
composting by individuals or practices such as less bagging of grass wastes;
since the yard waste estimates are based on sampling studies at the landfill or
transfer station, they are based on the quantities received there.)
23
-------
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
This relatively small category of MSW is also derived from sampling
studies. It is not well defined and often shows up in sampling reports as
"fines" or "other." It includes soil, bits of concrete, stones, and the like.
Generation. This category contributed an estimated 2.7 million tons of
MSW in 1988.
Recovery and Discards. No recovery of these products has been
identified; discards are the same as generation.
Summary of Materials in Municipal Solid Waste
Generation. Changing quantities and composition of municipal solid
waste generation are illustrated in Figure 6.
Generation of MSW has grown steadily, from 87.8 million tons in 1960
to 179.6 million tons in 1988. Over the years, paper and paperboard has been
the dominant material generated in MSW. Yard wastes have been the second
largest component of MSW. Metals have remained fairly constant as a source
of MSW, while glass increased until the 1980s and has since declined. Food
wastes have remained fairly constant in terms of MSW tonnage.
Plastics have been a rapidly growing component of MSW, but in terms
of tonnage contributed, they ranked fourth in 1988 (behind metals and ahead
of glass).
Million tons
180
160
[Figure 6. Generation of materials in MSW, 1960 to 1988
I
Paper
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
24
-------
Additional information on percentage increases or decreases in
generation of individual materials in MSW is provided in the section
"Changing Rates of MSW Generation" later in this chapter.
Recovery and Discards. The effect of recovery and composting on
MSW discards is illustrated in Figure 7. Recovery of materials for recycling
grew at a rather slow pace during most of the historical period covered by this
data series, increasing from only 9.7 percent of generation in 1980 to 10.1
percent in 1985. Renewed interest in recycling and composting as solid waste
management alternatives has taken place in the late 1980s, and the recovery
rate in 1988 was estimated at 13.1 percent of generation.
Estimated recovery and composting of materials are shown in Figure 8.
At the present time, recovery of paper and paperboard dominates materials
recovery at 78 percent of total tonnage recovered. Recovery of other
materials, while generally increasing, contributes much less tonnage.
Figure 9 illustrates the effect of recovery of materials for recycling and
composting on the composition of the waste stream. For example, paper and
paperboard were 40 percent of MSW generated in 1988, but after recovery,
paper and paperboard were 34.2 percent of discards. Materials that have no
recovery or very little exhibit a larger percentage of MSW discards compared
to generation. For instance, food wastes were 7.4 percent of MSW generation
in 1988, but 8.5 percent of discards.
PRODUCTS IN MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
Generation, recovery, and discards of products in municipal solid waste
are shown in a series of tables in this section. (Note that the totals for these
tables are the same as the previous series of tables for materials in MSW.)
The products in MSW are categorized as durable goods, nondurable goods,
and containers and packaging. Generation, recovery, and discards of these
products are summarized in Tables 9 through 11. Each product category is
discussed in more detail below, with detailed tables highlighting the products
in each.
Durable Goods
Durable goods generally are defined as products having a life of three
years or more, although there are some exceptions. In this report, durable
goods include major appliances, furniture and furnishings, rubber tires, lead-
25
-------
Million tons
1960
Figure 7. Materials recovery and discards of MSW, 1960 to 1988^
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1988
Discards
Recovery/Compost
Figures. Materialsecovery, 1988
Glass
Metals
Plastics
Compost
All others
26
-------
|Rgure 9. Materials generated and discarded in MSW, 1988
11.6%
17.6%
7.4%
8.0%
8.5%
Generation
7.0%
12.7%
20.0%
40.0%
8.5%
g.1% 8.4%
Discards
8 Paper and Paperboard
B Glass
• Metals
D Plastics
& Food Wastes
M Yard Wastes
a Other Wastes
34.2%
27
-------
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 12)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 15)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 18)
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Generated - Weight
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 12)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 15)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 19)
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Generated - Percent
* Generation before materials recovery or combustion.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
Table 9
CATEGORIES OF PRODUCTS GENERATED*
IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 1988
(In millions of tons and percent of total generation)
Millions of Tons
1960
9.4
17.6
27.3
54.3
12.2
20.0
1.3
33.5
87.8
1965
11.1
22.2
34.2
67.5
12.7
21.6
1.6
35.9
103.4
1970
15.1
25.5
43.5
84.1
12.8
23.2
1.8
37.8
121.9
1975
17.5
25.6
44.4
87.5
13.4
25.2
2.0
40.6
128.1
1980
19.7
36.5
50.5
106.7
13.2
27.5
2.2
42.9
149.6
1985
21.5
42.6
51.8
115.9
13.2
30.0
2.5
45.7
161.6
1988
24.9
50.4
56.8
132.1
13.2
31.6
2.7
47.5
179.6
Percent of Total Generation
1960
10.7
20.0
31.1
61.8
13.9
22.8
1.5
38.2
100.0
1965
10.7
21.5
33.1
65.3
12.3
20.9
1.5
34.7
100.0
1970
12.4
20.9
35.7
69.0
10.5
19.0
1.5
31.0
100.0
1975
13.7
20.0
34.7
68.3
10.5
19.7
1.6
^31.7
100.0
1980
13.2
24.4
33.8
71.3
8.8
18.4
1.5
28.7
100.0
1985
13.3
26.4
32.1
71.7
8.2
18.6
1.5
28.3
100.0
1988
13.9
28.1
31.6
73.5
7.4
17.6
1.5
26.5
100.0
28
-------
Table 10
RECOVERY* OF PRODUCTS AND
COMPOSTING OF FOOD AND YARD WASTE, 1960 TO 1988
(In millions of tons and percent of generation of each product)
Millions of Tons
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 13)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 16)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 20)
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total USW Recovered - Weight
1960
0.4
2.4
3.1
5.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
5.9
1965
0.9
2.8
3.1
6.8
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
6.8
1970
0.9
3.8
3.9
8.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
8.6
1975
1.0
3.8
5.1
9.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
9.9
Percent of Generation of
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 13)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 16)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 21)
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Recovered • Percent
1960
4.3
13.6
11.4
10.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
6.7
1965
8.1
12.6
9.1
10.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
6.6
1970
6.0
14.9
9.0
10.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
7.1
1975
5.7
14.8
11.5
11.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
7.7
1980
1.3
4.8
8.4
14.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
14.5
Each Product
1980
6.6
13.2
16.6
13.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
9.7
1985
1.4
5.6
9.4
16.4
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
16.4
1985
6.5
13.1
18.1
14.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
10.1
1988
1.9
7.4
13.8
23.1
0.0
0.5
0.0
0.5
23.5
1988
7.5
14.6
24.3
17.5
0.0
1.6
0.0
1.1
13.1
Recovery of postconsumer wastes; does not include converting/fabrication scrap.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
29
-------
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 14)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 17)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 22)
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Discarded - Weight
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 14)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 17)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 23)
Total Nonfood Product Waste
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MS W Discarded - Percent
Table 11
CATEGORIES OF PRODUCTS DISCARDED*
IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 1988
(In millions of tons and percent of total discards)
Millions of Tons
1960
9.0
15.2
24.2
48.4
12.2
20.0
1.3
33.5
81.9
1960
11.0
18.6
29.5
59.1
14.9
24.4
1.6
40.9
100.0
1965
10.2
19.4
31.1
60.7
12.7
21.6
1.6
35.9
96.6
1965
10.6
20.1
322
628
13.1
22.4
17
37.2
100.0
1970
14.2
21.7
39.6
75.5
12.8
23.2
1.8
37.8
113.3
Percent
1970
12.5
19.2
35.0
66.6
11.3
20.5
1.6
33.4
100.0
1975
16.5
21.8
39.3
77.6
13.4
25.2
2.0
40.6
118.2
of Total
1975
14.0
18.4
33.2
65.7
11.3
21.3
1.7
34.3
100.0
1980
18.4
31.7
42.1
92.2
13.2
27.5
2.2
42.9
135.1
Discards
1980
13.6
23.5
31.2
68.2
9.8
20.4
1.6
31.8
100.0
1985
20.1
37.0
42.4
99.5
13.2
30.0
25
45.7
145.2
1985
13.8
25.5
29.2
68.5
9.1
20.7
1.7
31.5
1000
1988
23.0
43.0
43.0
109.0
13.2
31.1
2.7
47.0
156.0
1988
14.7
27.6
27.6
69.9
8.5
20.0
1.7
30.1
100.0
* Discards after materials and compost recovery.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
30
-------
acid automotive batteries, and miscellaneous durables (e.g., small appliances,
consumer electronics) (see Tables 12 through 14). These products are often
called "oversize and bulky" in municipal solid waste management practice,
and they are generally handled in a somewhat different manner than other
components of MSW. That is, they are often picked up separately, and may
not be mixed with other MSW at the landfill, combustor, or other waste
management facility.
Durable goods are made up of a wide variety of materials. In order of
tonnage in MSW in 1988, these include: ferrous metals, wood, plastics, rubber
and leather, glass, other nonferrrous metals (e.g., lead, copper), textiles, and
aluminum.
Generation of durable goods in MSW totalled 24.9 million tons in 1988
(almost 14 percent of total MSW generation). After recovery for recycling, 23
million tons of durable goods remained as discards in 1988.
Major Appliances. Major appliances in MSW include refrigerators,
washing machines, water heaters, etc. They are often called "white goods" in
the trade. Generation of these products in MSW has increased very slowly; it
was estimated to be 3 million tons in 1988 (less than 2 percent of total). In
general, appliances have increased in quantity but not in average weight over
the years.
Some ferrous metals are recovered from shredded appliances, although
this quantity is not well documented. Recovery was estimated to be 200,000
tons in 1988, leaving 2.8 million tons of appliances to be discarded.
Ferrous metals are the predominant materials in major appliances, but
other metals, plastics, glass, and other materials are also found.
Furniture and Furnishings. Generation of furniture and furnishings
in MSW has increased from 2.1 million tons in 1960 to 7.5 million tons in
1988 (about 4 percent of total MSW). No significant recovery of materials
from furniture was identified.
Wood is the largest material category in furniture, with ferrous metals
second. Plastics, glass, and other materials are also found.
Rubber Tires. About 70 percent of the rubber used in the United States
is used in the manufacture of rubber tires. Generation of rubber tires
increased from about one million tons in 1960 to 2.2 million tons in 1988
(about one percent of total MSW). Generation was higher in the 1970s and
early 1980s, but the trend to smaller and longer-wearing tires has lowered
their quantities. Small amounts of rubber are recovered for recycling (an
estimated 5 percent in 1988).
31
-------
Table 12
PRODUCTS GENERATED* IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 1988
(WITH DETAIL ON DURABLE GOODS)
(In millions of tons and percent of total generation)
Millions of Tons
Products
! Durable Good*
Major Appliances
Furniture and Furnishings
Rubber Tires
Batteries, lead acid
Miscellaneous Durables
Total Durable Goods
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 15)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 18)
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Generated • Weight
1960
1.5
2.1
1.1
0.0
4.7
9.4
17.6
27.3
54.3
12.2
20.0
1.3
33.5
87.8
1965
1.0
2.7
1.4
0.7
5.4
11.1
22.2
34.2
67.5
12.7
21.6
1.6
35.9
103.4
1970
2.7
3.4
1.9
0.8
6.3
15.1
25.5
43.5
84.1
12.8
23.2
1.8
37.8
121.9
1975
2.6
4.1
2.5
1.2
7.1
17.5
25.6
44.4
87.5
13.4
25.2
2.0
40.6
128.1
1980
2.8
5.1
2.6
1.5
7.7
19.7
36.5
50.5
106.7
13.2
27.5
2.2
42.9
149.6
1985
2.7
5.8
1.9
1.5
9.6
21.5
42.6
51.8
115.9
13.2
30.0
2.5
45.7
161.6
1988
I
3.0
7.5
2.2
1.6
10.6
24.9
50.4
56.8
132.1
13.2
31.6
2.7
47.5
179.6
Percent of Total Generation
Products
I Durable Goods
Major Appliances
Furniture and Furnishings
Rubber Tires
Batteries, Lead-Acid
Miscellaneous Durables
Total Durable Goods
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 15)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 19)
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Generated • Percent
1960
1.7
2.4
1.3
0.0
5.4
10.7
20.0
31.1
61.8
13.9
22.8
1.5
38.2
100.0
1965
1.0
2.6
1.3
0.6
5.2
10.7
21.5
33.1
65.3
12.3
20.9
1.5
34.7
100.0
1970
2.2
2.8
1.6
0.7
5.2
12.4
20.9
35.7
69.0
10.5
19.0
1.5
31.0
100.0
1975
2.0
3.2
2.0
0.9
5.5
13.7
20.0
34.7
68.3
10.5
19.7
1.6
31.7
100.0
1980
1.9
3.4
1.7
1.0
5.1
13.2
24.4
33.8
71.3
8.8
18.4
1.5
28.7
100.0
1985
1.7
3.6
1.2
0.9
5.9
13.3
26.4
32.1
71.7
8.2
18.6
1.5
28.3
100.0
1988
1
1.7
4.2
1.2
0.9
5.9
13.9
28.1
31.6
73.5
7.4
17.6
1.5
26.5
100.0
* Generation before materials recovery or combustion.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source. Franklin Associates, Ltd.
32
-------
Table 13
RECOVERY* OF PRODUCTS AND
COMPOSTING OF FOOD AND YARD WASTE, 1960 T01988
(WITH DETAIL ON DURABLE GOODS)
(In millions of tons and percent of generation of each product)
Millions of Tons
Products
(Durable Goods
Major Appliances
Furniture and Furnishings
Rubber Tires
Batteries, lead acid
Miscellaneous Durables
Total Durable Goods
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 16)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 20)
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Recovered • Weight
1960
0.0
0.0
0.4
0.0
0.0
0.4
2.4
3.1
5.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
5.9
1965
0.0
0.0
0.3
0.6
0.0
0.9
2.8
3.1
6.8
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
6.8
1970
0.0
0.0
0.3
0.6
0.0
0.9
3.8
3.9
8.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
8.6
1975
0.0
0.0
0.2
0.8
0.0
1.0
3.8
5.1
9.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
9.9
Percent of Generation of
Products
[Durable Goods
Major Appliances
Furniture and Furnishings
Rubber Tires
Batteries, Lead-Acid
Miscellaneous Durables
Total Durable Goods
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 16)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 21)
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Recovered • Percent
1960
0.0
0.0
36.4
0.0
0.0
4.3
13.6
11.4
10.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
6.7
1965
0.0
0.0
21.8
88.6
0.0
7.9
12.6
9.1
10.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
6.6
1970
0.0
0.0
15.8
75.0
0.0
6.0
14.9
9.0
10.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
7.1
1975
0.0
0.0
8.0
66.7
0.0
5.7
14.8
11.5
11.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
7.7
1980
0.1
0.0
0.1
1.0
0.1
1.3
4.8
8.4
14.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
14.5
Each Product
1980
3.6
0.0
3.8
66.7
1.3
6.6
13.2
16.6
13.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
9.7
1985
0.2
0.0
0.1
1.0
0.1
1.4
5.6
9.4
16.4
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
16.4
1985
7.4
0.0
5.3
66.7
1.0
6.5
13.1
18.1
14.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
10.1
1988
I
0.2
0.0
0.1
1.5
0.1
1.9
7.4
13.8
23.1
0.0
0.5
0.0
0.5
23.5
1988
I
7.0
0.0
4.8
90.0
0.7
7.5
14.6
24.3
17.5
0.0
1.6
0.0
1.1
13.1
* Recovery of postconsumer wastes; does not include converting/fabrication scrap.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
33
-------
Table 14
PRODUCTS DISCARDED* IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 1988
(WITH DETAIL ON DURABLE GOODS)
(In millions of tons and percent of total generation)
Millions of Tons
Products
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1988
I Durable Goods I
Major Appliances
Furniture and Furnishings
Rubber Tires
Batteries, lead acid
Miscellaneous Durables
Total Durable Goods
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Tabte 17)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 22)
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Discarded - Weight
Products
{Durable Goods
Major Appliances
Furniture and Furnishings
Rubber Tires
Batteries, Lead-Acid
Miscellaneous Durables
Total Durable Goods
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 17)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 23)
Total Nonfood Product Waste
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Discarded - Percent
1.5
2.1
0.7
0.0
4.7
9.0
15.2
24.2
48.4
12.2
20.0
1.3
33.5
81.9
1960
1.8
2.6
0.9
0.0
5.7
11.0
18.6
29.5
59.1
14.9
24.4
1.6
40.9
100.0
1.0
2.7
1.1
0.1
5.4
10.2
19.4
31.1
60.7
12.7
21.6
1.6
35.9
96.6
1965
1.0
2.8
1.1
0.1
5.6
10.6
20.1
32.2
62.8
13.1
22.3
1.7
37.2
100.0
2.7
3.4
1.6
0.2
6.3
14.2
21.7
39.6
75.5
12.8
23.2
1.8
37.8
113.3
Percent
1970
2.4
3.0
1.4
0.2
5.6
12.5
19.2
35.0
66.6
11.3
20.5
1.6
33.4
100.0
2.6
4.1
2.3
0.4
7.1
16.5
21.8
39.3
77.6
13.4
25.2
2.0
40.6
118.2
2.7
5.1
2.5
0.5
7.6
18.4
31.7
42.1
92.2
13.2
27.5
22
42.9
135.1
2.5
5.8
1.8
0.5
9.5
20.1
37.0
42.4
99.5
13.2
30.0
2.5
45.7
145.2
2.8
7.5
2.1
0.2
10.5
23.0
430
43.0
109.0
13.2
31.1
2.7
47.0
156.0
of Total Discards
1975
22
3.5
1.9
0.3
6.0
14.0
18.4
33.2
65.7
11.3
21.3
1.7
34.3
100.0
1980
2.0
3.8
1.9
0.4
5.6
13.6
23.5
31.2
68.2
9.8
20.4
1.6
31.8
100.0
1985
1.7
4.0
1.2
0.3
6.5
13.8
25.5
29.2
68.5
9.1
20.7
1.7
31.5
100.0
1988
1
1.8
4.8
1.3
0.1
6.7
14.7
27.6
27.6
69.9
8.5
20.0
1.7
30.1
100.0
" Discards after materials and compost recovery.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
34
-------
In addition to rubber, tires include relatively small amounts of textiles and
ferrous metals.
Lead-Acid Batteries. For the first time, generation of lead-acid
automotive batteries has been included in this MSW report. This was made
possible by extensive research for an EPA report on sources of lead and
cadmium in MSW (Reference 17). Generation of these batteries amounted to
1.6 million tons in 1988.
Recovery of batteries for recycling fluctuates between 60 percent and 90
percent or higher. In 1988 an estimated 90 percent of the lead in these
batteries was recovered for recycling as well as substantial quantities of the
polypropylene battery casings, so discards after recycling of these batteries were
decreased to about 200,000 tons in 1988. (Some electrolytes and other
materials are also removed from MSW when the batteries are recycled, but it
is thought that these materials are not recycled.) Lead-acid batteries
comprised less than one percent of MSW generation in 1988.
Miscellaneous Durables. Miscellaneous durable goods include small
appliances, consumer electronics such as television sets and video cassette
recorders, and the like. An estimated 10.6 million tons of these goods were
generated in 1988, amounting to almost 6 percent of MSW generated. Small
amounts of ferrous metals are estimated to be recovered from this category,
but not enough to affect discards significantly.
In addition to ferrous metals, this category includes plastics, glass,
rubber, wood, and other metals.
Nondurable Goods
The Department of Commerce defines nondurable goods as those
having a lifetime of less than three years and this definition was followed for
this report to the extent possible.
Products made of paper and paperboard comprise the largest portion of
nondurable goods. Other nondurable products include paper and plastic
plates, cups, and other disposable food service products; disposable diapers;
clothing and footwear; and other miscellaneous products. (See Tables 15
through 17.)
Generation of nondurable goods in MSW was over 50 million tons in
1988 (28 percent of total generation). Recovery of paper products in this
category is quite significant, resulting in over 7 million tons of recovery in
1988 (almost 15 percent of generation). This meant that 43 million tons of
nondurable goods were discarded in 1988 ( 27.6 percent of discards).
35
-------
Table 15
PRODUCTS GENERATED* IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 1988
(WITH DETAIL ON NONDURABLE GOODS)
(In millions of tons and percent of total generation)
Millions of Tons
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 12)
1960
9.4
1965
11.1
1970
15.1
1975
17.5
1980
19.7
1985
21.5
1988
24.9
iNoftdurabte Goods • j
Newspapers
Books and Magazines
Office Papers
Commercial Printing
Tissue Paper and Towels
Paper Plates and Cups
Plastic Plates and Cups
Disposable Diapers
Other Nonpackaging Paper
Clothing and Footwear
Other Miscellaneous Nondurables
Total Nondurable Goods
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 18)
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Generated - Weight
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 12)
INondwabte Goods
Newspapers
Books and Magazines
Office Papers
Commercial Printing
Tissue Paper and Towels
Paper Plates and Cups
Plastic Plates and Cups
Disposable Diapers
Other Nonpackaging Paper
Clothing and Footwear
Other Miscellaneous Nondurables
Total Nondurables
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 19)
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Generated - Percent
7.1
1.9
1.5
1.3
1.1
0.3
0.0
0.0
2.7
1.3
0.4
17.6
27.3
54.3
12.2
20.0
1.3
33.5
87.8
1960
10.7
8.1
2.2
1.7
1.5
1.3
0.3
0.0
0.0
3.1
1.5
0.5
20.0
31.1
61.8
13.9
22.8
1.5
38.2
100.0
8.3
2.2
2.2
1.8
1.5
0.3
0.0
0.0
3.9
1.5
0.5
22.2
34.2
67.5
12.7
21.6
1.6
35.9
103.4
1965
10.7
8.0
2.1
2.1
1.7
1.5
0.3
0.0
0.0
3.8
1.5
0.5
21.5
33.1
65.3
12.3
20.9
1.5
34.7
100.0
9.5
2.5
2.7
2.1
2.1
0.4
0.0
0.3
3.6
1.5
0.8
25.5
43.5
84.1
12.8
23.2
1.8
37.8
8.8
2.3
2.6
2.1
2.1
0.4
0.0
1.2
3.5
1.7
0.9
25.6
44.4
87.5
13.4
25.2
2.0
40.6
11.0
3.4
4.0
3.1
2.3
0.6
0.2
2.3
4.2
2.3
3.1
36.5
50.5
106.7
13.2
27.5
2.2
42.9
121.9 128.1 149.6
Percent of Total Generation
1970
12.4
7.8
2.1
2.2
1.7
1.7
0.3
0.0
0.2
3.0
1.2
0.7
20.9
35.7
69.0
10.5
19.0
1.5
31.0
100.0
1975
13.7
6.9
1.8
2.0
1.6
1.6
0.3
0.0
0.9
2.7
1.3
0.7
20.0
34.7
68.3
10.5
19.7
1.6
31.7
100.0
1980
13.2
7.4
2.3
2.7
2.1
1.5
0.4
0.1
1.5
2.8
1.5
2.1
24.4
33.8
71.3
8.8
18.4
1.5
28.7
100.0
12.5
4.7
5.7
3.2
2.7
0.6
0.3
2.9
3.5
2.7
3.8
42.6
51.8
115.9
13.2
30.0
2.5
45.7
161.6
1985
13.3
7.7
2.9
3.5
2.0
1.7
0.4
0.2
1.8
2.2
1.7
2.4
26.4
32.1
71.7
8.2
18.6
1.5
28.3
100.0
13.3
5.3
7.3
4.1
3.0
0.7
0.4
2.7
5.2
4.0
4.6
50.4
56.8
132.1
13.2
31.6
2.7
47.5
179.6
1988
13.9
1
7.4
3.0
4.1
2.3
1.7
0.4
0.2
1.5
2.9
2.2
2.5
28.1
31.6
73.5
7.4
17.6
1.5
26.5
100.0
* Generation before materials recovery or combustion.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
36
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Table 16
RECOVERY* OF PRODUCTS AND
COMPOSTING OF FOOD AND YARD WASTE, 1960 TO 1988
(WITH DETAIL ON NONDURABLE GOODS)
(In millions of tons and percent of generation of each product)
Millions of Tons
Products
Durable Goods
{Detail in Table 13)
1960
0.4
1965
0.9
1970
0.9
1975
1.0
1980
1.3
1985
1.4
1988
1.9
I Nondurable Goods )
Newspapers
Books and Magazines
Office Papers
Commercial Printing
Tissue Paper and Towels
Paper Plates and Cups
Plastic Plates and Cups
Disposable Diapers
Other Nonpackaging Paper
Clothing and Footwear
Other Miscellaneous Nondurables
Total Nondurable Goods
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 20)
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Recovered - Weight
1.8
0.1
0.3
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
2.4
3.1
5.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
5.9
2.0
0.1
0.4
0.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
2.8
3.1
6.8
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
6.8
2.3
0.3
0.7
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.2
0.0
0.0
3.8
3.9
8.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
8.6
2.4
0.2
0.7
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.2
0.0
0.0
3.8
5.1
9.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
9.9
3.0
0.4
1.0
0.4
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
4.8
8.4
14.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
14.5
3.5
0.5
1.1
0.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
5.6
9.4
16.4
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
16.4
4.4
0.7
1.6
0.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
7.4
13.8
23.1
0.0
0.5
0.0
0.5
23.5
Percent of Generation of Each Product
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 13)
! Nondurable Goods
Newspapers
Books and Magazines
Office Papers
Commercial Printing
Tissue Paper and Towels
Paper Plates and Cups
Plastic Plates and Cups
Disposable Diapers
Other Nonpackaging Paper
Clothing and Footwear
Other Miscellaneous Nondurables
Total Nondurables
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 21)
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Recovered- Percent
1960
4.3
25.4
5.3
20.0
7.7
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
3.7
0.0
0.0
13.6
11.4
10.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
6.7
1965
8.1
24.1
4.5
18.2
11.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
2.6
0.0
0.0
12.6
9.1
10.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
6.6
1970
6.0
24.2
12.0
25.9
14.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
5.6
0.0
0.0
14.9
9.0
10.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
7.1
1975
5.7
27.3
8.7
26.9
14.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
5.7
0.0
0.0
14.8
11.5
11.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
7.7
1980
6.6
27.3
11.8
25.0
12.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
13.2
16.6
13.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
9.7
1985
6.5
28.0
10.6
19.3
15.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
13.1
18.1
14.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
10.1
1988
7.5
1
33.3
13.2
22.5
14.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.6
0.0
14.6
24.3
17.5
0.0
1.6
0.0
1.1
13.1
Recovery of postconsumer wastes; does not include converting/fabrication scrap.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
37
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Table 17
PRODUCTS DISCARDED* IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 1988
(WITH DETAIL ON NONDURABLE GOODS)
(In millions of tons and percent of total generation)
Millions of Tons
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 14)
iNondwabte Goods
Newspapers
Books and Magazines
Office Papers
Commercial Printing
Tissue Paper and Towels
Paper Plates and Cups
Plastic Plates and Cups
Disposable Diapers
Other Nonpackaging Paper
Clothing and Footwear
Other Miscellaneous Nondurables
Total Nondurable Goods
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 22)
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Discarded - Weight
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 14)
I Nondurable Goods
Newspapers
Books and Magazines
Office Papers
Commercial Printing
Tissue Paper and Towels
Paper Plates and Cups
Plastic Plates and Cups
Disposable Diapers
Other Nonpackaging Paper
Clothing and Footwear
Other Miscellaneous Nondurables
Total Nondurables
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 23)
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Discarded - Percent
1960
9.0
5.3
1.8
1.2
1.2
1.1
0.3
0.0
0.0
2.6
1.3
0.4
15.2
24.2
48.4
12.2
200
1.3
33.5
81.9
1960
11.0
6.5
2.2
1.5
1.5
1.3
0.4
0.0
0.0
3.2
1.6
0.5
18.6
29.5
59.1
14.9
24.4
1.6
40.9
100.0
1965
10.2
6.3
2.1
1.8
1.6
1.5
0.3
0.0
0.0
3.8
1.5
0.5
19.4
31.1
60.7
12.7
21.6
1.6
35.9
96.6
1965
10.6
6.5
2.2
1.9
1.7
1.6
0.3
0.0
0.0
3.9
1.6
0.5
201
32.2
62.8
13.1
22.4
1.7
37.2
100.0
1970
14.2
7.2
2.2
2.0
1.8
2.1
0.4
0.0
0.3
3.4
1.5
0.8
21.7
396
75.5
12.8
23.2
1.8
37.8
113.3
Percent
1970
12.5
6.4
1.9
1.8
1.6
1.9
0.4
0.0
0.3
3.0
1.3
0.7
19.2
35.0
66.6
11.3
20.5
1.6
33.4
100.0
1975
16.5
6.4
2.1
1.9
1.8
2.1
0.4
0.0
1.2
3.3
1.7
0.9
21.8
39.3
77.6
13.4
25.2
2.0
40.6
1980
18.4
8.0
3.0
3.0
2.7
2.3
0.6
0.2
2.3
42
2.3
3.1
31.7
42.1
92.2
13.2
27.5
22
42.9
118.2 135.1
of Total Discards
1975
14.0
5.4
1.8
1.6
1.5
1.8
0.3
0.0
1.0
2.8
1.4
0.8
18.4
33.2
65.7
11.3
21.3
1.7
34.3
100.0
1980
13.6
5.9
2.2
2.2
2.0
1.7
0.4
0.1
1.7
3.1
1.7
2.3
23.5
31.2
68.2
9.8
20.4
1.6
31.8
100.0
1985
20.1
9.0
4.2
4.6
2.7
2.7
0.6
0.3
2.9
3.5
2.7
3.8
37.0
42.4
99.5
13.2
30.0
2.5
45.7
145.2
1985
13.8
6.2
2.9
3.2
1.9
1.9
0.4
0.2
2.0
2.4
1.9
2.6
25.5
29.2
68.5
9.1
20.7
1.7
31.5
100.0
1988
23.0
I
8.9
4.6
5.7
3.5
3.0
0.7
0.4
2.7
5.2
3.9
4.6
43.0
43.0
109.0
13.2
31.1
2.7
47.0
156.0
1988
14.7
I
5.7
2.9
3.6
2.2
1.9
0.4
0.2
1.7
3.3
2.5
2.9
27.6
27.6
69.9
8.5
20.0
1.7
30.1
100.0
" Discards after materials and compost recovery.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
38
-------
Paper and Paperboard Products. Paper and paperboard products in
nondurable goods are summarized in Tables 15 through 17. A summary for
1988 was shown earlier in Table 4 and Figure 2.
Newspapers are the largest single component of this category, at 13.3
million tons generated in 1988 (7.4 percent of total MSW). Over 33 percent of
newspapers generated were recovered for recycling in 1988, leaving about 9
million tons discarded (5.7 percent of MSW discarded).
Other paper products in nondurable goods include:
• Books and magazines (about 3 percent of total MSW
generation in 1988)
• Office papers—copier paper, computer printout, stationery, etc.
(about 4 percent of total MSW generation in 1988)
• Commercial printing—direct mail advertising, catalogs,
newspaper inserts, etc. (2.3 percent of total MSW generation
in 1988)
• Tissue paper and towels—facial and sanitary tissues, napkins,
but not toilet tissue (less than 2 percent of total MSW generation
in 1988)
• Paper plates and cups—paper plates, cups, glasses, bowls, and
other food service products used in homes, commercial
establishments like restaurants, and in institutional settings
such as schools (about 0.4 percent of total MSW generation in
1988)
• Other nonpackaging papers—including posters, photographic
papers, cards and games, etc. (about 3 percent of total MSW
generation in 1988).
Overall generation of paper and paperboard products in nondurable
goods was nearly 39 million tons in 1988 (about 22 percent of total MSW
generation). While newspapers were recovered at the highest rate, other
paper products were also recovered for recycling, and the overall recovery rate
for paper in nondurables was about 19 percent in 1988 (Table 4). Thus 32
million tons of paper in nondurables were discarded in 1988.
Plastic Plates and Cups. This category includes plastic plates, cups,
glasses, dishes and bowls, hinged containers, and other containers used in
food service at home, in restaurants and other commercial establishments,
39
-------
and in institutional settings such as schools. Less than 400,000 tons of these
products were generated in 1988, or about 0.2 percent of total MSW (see Tables
15 through 17).
Disposable Diapers. This category (which includes estimates of both
infant diapers and adult incontinent products) is included as a line item for
the first time in this report. An estimated 2.7 million tons of disposable
diapers were generated in 1988, or 1.5 percent of total MSW generation. (Of
this tonnage, 1.7 million tons is an adjustment for the urine and feces
contained with the discarded diapers.) The materials portion of the diapers
includes wood pulp, plastics (including the superabsorbent materials now
present in most diapers), and tissue paper.
There has been some investigation of recycling/composting of
disposable diapers, but no significant recovery was identified for 1988.
Clothing and Footwear. Generation of clothing and footwear was
estimated to be 4 million tons in 1988 (about 2 percent of total MSW). This
category has shown a gradual increase in tonnage over the years.
Textiles, rubber, and leather are the major materials components of
this category, with some plastics present as well.
Some recovery of these products occurs, but the amounts are not
believed to be significant enough to affect the estimates of discards. There is
considerable reuse of clothing and footwear (e.g., through donation of these
items to charitable organizations), but estimates of the amounts involved
were not available. It is assumed that the reused clothing and footwear items
eventually enter the waste stream, perhaps as rags.
Other Miscellaneous Nondurables. Generation of other miscellaneous
nondurables was estimated to be 4.6 million tons in 1988 (2.5 percent of
MSW). This category has been showing a fairly rapid rate of increase over the
years.
The primary material component of miscellaneous nondurables is
plastics, although some aluminum, rubber, and textiles are also present.
Typical products in miscellaneous nondurables include shower curtains and
other household items, disposable medical supplies, novelty items, and the
like.
40
-------
Containers and Packaging
Containers and packaging are a major portion of MSW, amounting to
56.8 millions tons of generation in 1988 (nearly 32 percent of total generation).
Generation, recovery, and discards of containers and packaging are shown in
detail in Tables 18 through 23.
While the weight of containers and packaging generated has increased
steadily over the study period, the percentage by weight has actually declined
since the early 1970s (Table 19). Substitution of relatively light packaging
materials—plastics and aluminum—for heavier glass and steel has accounted
for this trend.
Containers and packaging in MSW are made of several materials:
paper and paperboard, glass, ferrous metals, aluminum, plastics, wood, and
small amounts of other materials. Each materials category is discussed
separately below.
Paper and Paperboard Containers and Packaging. Corrugated boxes are
the largest single product category of MSW at 23 million tons generated, or 13
percent of total generation in 1988. Corrugated boxes also represent the largest
single category of product recovery, at over 10 millions tons of recovery in
1988 (over 45 percent of boxes generated were recovered). After recovery,
nearly 13 million tons of corrugated boxes were discarded, or 8 percent of
MSW discards in 1988.
Other paper and paperboard packaging in MSW includes milk cartons,
folding boxes (e.g., cereal boxes, frozen food boxes, some department store
boxes), bags and sacks, wrapping papers, and other paper and paperboard
packaging.
Overall, paper and paperboard containers and packaging totalled nearly
33 million tons of MSW generation in 1988, or over 18 percent of total
generation.
While recovery of corrugated boxes is by far the largest component of
paper packaging recovery, small amounts of other paper packaging products
are recovered (about 0.5 million tons in 1988). The overall recovery rate for
paper and paperboard packaging in 1988 was 33.5 percent. Recovery of other
paper packaging like folding boxes and sacks is mostly in the form of mixed
papers, a. low grade of waste paper.
Glass Containers. Glass containers and packaging include beer and
soft drink bottles, wine and liquor bottles, and bottles and jars for food,
cosmetics, and other products. Generation of these glass containers was over
41
-------
Table 18
PRODUCTS GENERATED* IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 1988
(WITH DETAIL ON CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING)
(In millions of tons)
Products
Millions of Tons
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 12)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 15)
1960
9.4
17.6
1965
11.1
22.2
1970
15.1
25.5
1975
17.5
25.6
1980
19.7
36.5
Total MSW Generated • Weight
87.8
103.4
121.9
128.1
149.6
* Generation before materials recovery or combustion.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
1985
21.5
42.6
161.6
1988
24.9
50.4
(Containers w»d Packaairra
Glass Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Bottles
Wine and Liquor Bottles
Food and Other Bottles & Jars
Total Glass Packaging
Steel Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Food and Other Cans
Other Steel Packaging
Total Steel Packaging
Aluminum Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Other Cans
Foil and Closures
Total Aluminum Pkg
Paper & Paperfooard Pkg
Corrugated Boxes
Milk Cartons
Folding Cartons
Other Paperboard Packaging
Bags and Sacks
Wrapping Papers
Other Paper Packaging
Total Paper i Board Pkg
Plastics Packaging
Soft Drink Bottles
Milk Bottles
Other Containers
Bags and Sacks
Wraps
Other Plastics Packaging
Total Plastics Packaging
Wood Packaging
Other Misc. Packaging
Total Containers & Pkg
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
1.4
1.1
3.7
6.2
0.6
3.8
0.2
4.6
0.1
0.0
0.1
0.2
7.3
0.0
0.0
3.8
0.0
0.0
29
14.0
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.2
2.0
0.1
27.3
54.3
12.2
20.0
1.3
33.5
2.6
1.4
4.1
8.1
0.9
3.6
0.3
4.8
0.1
0.0
0.2
0.3
10.0
0.0
0.0
4.5
0.0
0.0
3.3
17.8
0.0
0.0
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.7
1.0
2.1
0.1
34.2
67.5
12.7
21.6
1.6
35.9
5.6
1.9
4.4
11.9
1.6
3.5
0.3
5.4
0.3
0.1
0.2
0.6
12.7
0.0
0.0
4.8
0.0
0.0
3.8
21.3
0.0
0.0
0.9
0.0
0.0
1.2
2.1
2.1
0.1
43.5
84.1
12.8
23.2
1.8
37.8
6.3
2.0
4.4
12.7
1.3
3.4
0.2
4.9
0.5
0.0
0.3
0.8
13.5
0.0
0.0
4.4
0.0
0.0
3.3
21.2
0.0
0.0
1.3
0.0
0.0
1.4
2.7
2.0
0.1
44.4
87.5
13.4
25.2
2.0
40.6
6.7
2.5
4.8
14.0
0.5
2.9
0.2
3.6
0.9
0.0
0.3
1.2
17.0
0.6
3.7
0.3
3.4
0.2
0.8
26.0
0.3
0.2
0.9
0.4
0.8
0.8
3.4
2.1
0.2
50.5
106.7
13.2
27.5
22
42.9
5.7
2.2
4.2
12.1
0.1
2.6
0.2
2.9
1.3
0.0
0.3
1.6
19.0
0.5
4.0
0.4
3.1
0.1
1.3
28.4
0.4
0.3
1.2
0.6
1.0
1.0
4.5
2.1
0.2
51.8
115.9
13.2
30.0
2.5
45.7
]
5.4
2.0
3.9
11.4
0.1
2.5
0.2
2.8
1.4
0.1
0.3
1.8
23.1
0.5
4.4
0.3
2.9
0.1
1.6
32.9
0.4
0.4
1.7
0.8
1.1
1.2
5.6
2.1
0.2
56.8
132.1
13.2
31.6
2.7
47.5
179.6
42
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Table 19
PRODUCTS GENERATED* IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 1988
(WITH DETAIL ON CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING)
(In percent of total generation)
Percent of Total Generation
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 1 2)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 15)
iContatrters ami Packaaina
Glass Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Bottles
Wine and Liquor Bottles
Food and Other Bottles & Jars
Total Glass Pkg
Steel Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Food and Other Cans
Other Steel Packaging
Total Steel Pkg
Aluminum Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Other Cans
Foil and Closures
Total Aluminum Pkg
Paper & Paperboard Pkg
Corrugated Boxes
Milk Cartons
Folding Cartons
Other Paperboard Packaging
Bags and Sacks
Wrapping Papers
Other Paper Packaging
Total Paper & Board Pkg
Plastics Packaging
Soft Drink Bottles
Milk Bottles
Other Containers
Bags and Sacks
Wraps
Other Plastics Packaging
Total Plastics Pkg
Wood Packaging
Other Misc. Packaging
Total Containers & Pkg
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
1960
10.7
20.0
1.6
1.3
4.2
7.1
0.7
4.3
0.2
5.2
0.1
0.0
0.1
0.2
8.3
0.0
0.0
4.3
0.0
0.0
3.3
15.9
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.2
2.3
0.1
31.1
61.8
13.9
22.8
1.5
38.2
1965
10.7
21.5
2.5
1.4
4.0
7.8
0.9
3.5
0.3
4.6
0.1
0.0
0.2
0.3
9.7
0.0
0.0
4.4
0.0
0.0
3.2
17.2
0.0
0.0
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.7
1.0
2.0
0.1
33.1
65.3
12.3
20.9
1.5
34.7
1970
12.4
20.9
4.6
1.6
3.6
9.8
1.3
2.9
0.2
4.4
0.2
0.1
0.2
0.5
10.4
0.0
0.0
3.9
0.0
0.0
3.1
17.5
0.0
0.0
0.7
0.0
0.0
1.0
1.7
1.7
0.1
35.7
69.0
10.5
19.0
1.5
31.0
1975
13.7
20.0
4.9
1.6
3.4
9.9
1.0
2.7
0.2
3.8
0.4
0.0
0.2
0.6
10.5
0.0
0.0
3.4
0.0
0.0
2.6
16.5
0.0
0.0
1.0
0.0
0.0
1.1
2.1
1.6
0.1
34.7
68.3
10.5
19.7
1.6
31.7
1980
13.2
24.4
4.5
1.7
3.2
9.4
0.3
1.9
0.1
2.4
0.6
0.0
0.2
0.8
11.4
0.4
2.5
0.2
2.3
0.1
0.5
17.4
0.2
0.1
0.6
0.3
0.5
0.5
2.3
1.4
0.1
33.8
71.3
8.8
18.4
1.5
28.7
1985
13.3
26.4
3.5
1.4
2.6
7.5
0.1
1.6
0.1
1.8
0.8
0.0
0.2
1.0
11.8
0.3
2.5
0.2
1.9
0.1
0.8
17.6
0.2
0.2
0.7
0.4
0.6
0.6
2.8
1.3
0.1
32.1
71.7
8.2
18.6
1.5
28.3
1988
13.9
28.1
I
3.0
1.1
2.2
6.3
0.1
1.4
0.1
1.6
0.8
0.0
0.2
1.0
12.9
0.3
2.4
0.2
1.6
0.1
0.9
18.3
0.2
0.2
1.0
0.4
0.6
0.7
3.1
1.2
0.1
31.6
73.5
7.4
17.6
1.5
26.5
Total MSW Generated - Percent
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Generation before materials recovery or combustion.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
100.0
100.0
43
-------
Table 20
RECOVERY* OF PRODUCTS AND COMPOSTING
OF FOOD AND YARD WASTES, 1960 TO 1988
(WITH DETAIL ON CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING)
(In millions of tons)
Millions of Tons
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 13)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 16)
fContatners and Packaaina
Glass Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Bottles
Wine and Liquor Bottles
Food and Other Bottles & Jars
Total Glass Packaging
Steel Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Food and Other Cans
Other Steel Packaging
Total Steel Packaging
Aluminum Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Other Cans
Foil and Closures
Total Aluminum Pkg
Paper & Paperboard Pkg
Corrugated Boxes
Milk Cartons
Folding Cartons
Other Paperboard Packaging
Bags and Sacks
Wrapping Papers
Other Paper Packaging
Total Paper & Board Pkg
Plastics Packaging
Soft Drink Bottles
Milk Bottles
Other Containers
Bags and Sacks
Wraps
Other Plastics Packaging
Total Plastics Packaging
Wood Packaging
Other Misc. Packaging
Total Containers A Pkg
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
1960
0.4
2.4
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
2.5
0.0
0.0
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.2
3.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
3.1
5.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1965
0.9
2.8
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
2.2
0.0
0.0
0.4
0.0
0.0
0.3
2.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
3.1
6.8
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1970
0.9
3.8
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.2
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
2.7
0.0
0.0
0.5
0.0
0.0
0.4
3.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
3.9
8.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1975
1.0
3.8
0.4
0.0
0.0
0.4
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.1
3.6
0.0
0.0
0.5
0.0
0.0
0.4
4.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
5.1
9.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1980
1.3
4.8
0.8
0.0
0.0
0.8
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.2
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.3
6.3
0.0
0.5
0.0
0.3
0.0
0.0
7.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
8.4
14.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1985
1.4
5.6
1.0
0.1
0.0
1.1
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.1
0.6
0.0
0.0
0.6
7.2
0.0
0.2
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
7.5
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
9.4
16.4
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1988
1.9
7.4
1
1.1
0.1
0.3
1.5
0.0
0.4
0.0
0.4
0.8
0.0
0.0
0.8
10.5
0.0
0.3
0.0
0.2
0.0
0.0
11.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
oo
0.1
0.0
0.0
13.8
23.1
0.0
0.5
0.0
0.5
Total MSW Recovered - Weight
5.9
6.8
8.6
9.9
14.5
* Recovery of postconsumer wastes; does not include converting/fabrication scrap.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates. Ltd.
44
16.4
23.5
-------
Table 21
RECOVERY* OF PRODUCTS AND COMPOSTING
OF FOOD AND YARD WASTES, 1960 TO 1988
(WITH DETAIL ON CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING)
(In percent of generation of each product)
Percent of Generation of Each Product
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 13)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 16)
I Containers WwrpBCkaafnfl
Glass Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Bottles
Wine and Liquor Bottles
Food and Other Bottles & Jars
Total Glass Pkg
Steel Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Food and Other Cans
Other Steel Packaging
Total Steel Pkg
Aluminum Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Other Cans
Foil and Closures
Total Aluminum Pkg
Paper & Paperboard Pkg
Corrugated Boxes
Milk Cartons
Folding Cartons
Other Paperboard Packaging
Bags and Sacks
Wrapping Papers
Other Paper Packaging
Total Paper & Board Pkg
Plastics Packaging
Soft Drink Bottles
Milk Bottles
Other Containers
Bags and Sacks
Wraps
Other Plastics Packaging
Total Plastics Pkg
Wood Packaging
Other Misc. Packaging
Total Containers A Pkg
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
1960
4.3
13.6
7.1
0.0
0.0
1.6
1.6
0.5
0.0
0.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
34.2
0.0
0.0
7.9
0.0
0.0
6.9
21.4
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
11.4
10.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1965
8.1
12.6
3.8
0.0
0.0
1.2
1.7
1.2
0.0
1.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
22.0
0.0
0.0
8.9
0.0
0.0
9.1
16.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
9.1
10.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1970
6.0
14.9
2.6
0.5
0.5
1.5
1.3
1.8
0.0
1.6
5.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
21.3
0.0
0.0
10.4
0.0
0.0
10.5
16.9
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
8.9
10.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1975
5.7
14.8
6.3
0.0
0.0
3.1
3.9
2.7
0.0
2.9
27.0
0.0
0.0
17.3
26.7
0.0
0.0
11.4
0.0
0.0
12.1
21.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
11.5
11.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1980
6.6
13.2
11.9
0.0
0.0
5.7
9.7
5.2
0.0
5.5
37.0
0.0
0.0
27.1
37.1
0.0
13.5
0.0
8.8
0.0
0.0
27.3
4.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.3
0.0
0.0
16.6
13.6
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1985
6.5
13.1
17.5
4.5
0.0
9.1
7.5
4.3
0.0
4.2
51.0
0.0
0.0
37.5
37.9
0.0
5.0
0.0
3.2
0.0
0.0
26.4
18.7
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1.5
0.0
0.0
18.1
14.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1988
7.5
14.6
1
20.0
5.0
8.1
13.3
15.2
15.0
0.0
13.8
55.0
0.0
4.9
44.1
45.4
0.0
7.7
0.0
7.0
0.0
0.0
33.5
21.0
0.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1.6
0.0
0.0
24.3
17.5
0.0
1.6
0.0
1.0
Total MSW Recovered - Percent 6.7 6.6
Recovery of postconsumer wastes; does not include converting/fabrication scrap.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
45
7.7
9.7
10.1
13.1
-------
Table 22
PRODUCTS DISCARDED* IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 1988
(WITH DETAIL ON CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING)
(In millions of tons)
Millions of Tons
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 14)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 17)
I Containers and Packaging
Glass Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Bottles
Wine and Liquor Botttes
Food and Other Bottles & Jars
Total Glass Packaging
Steel Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Food and Other Cans
Other Steel Packaging
Total Steel Packaging
Aluminum Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Other Cans
Foil and Closures
Total Aluminum Pkg
Paper & Paperboard Pkg
Corrugated Boxes
Milk Cartons
Folding Cartons
Other Paperboard Packaging
Bags and Sacks
Wrapping Papers
Other Paper Packaging
Total Paper & Board Pkg
Plastics Packaging
Soft Drink Bottles
Milk Bottles
Other Containers
Bags and Sacks
Wraps
Other Plastics Packaging
Total Plastics Packaging
Wood Packaging
Other Misc. Packaging
Total Containers S Pkg
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
1960
9.0
15.2
1.3
1.1
3.7
6.1
0.6
3.8
0.2
4.6
0.1
0.0
0.1
0.2
4.8
0.0
0.0
3.5
0.0
0.0
2.7
11.0
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.2
2.0
0.1
24.2
48.4
12.2
20.0
1.3
33.5
1965
10.2
19.4
2.5
1.4
4.1
8.0
0.9
3.5
0.3
4.7
0.1
0.0
0.2
0.3
7.8
0.0
0.0
4.1
0.0
0.0
3.0
14.9
0.0
0.0
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.7
1.0
2.1
0.1
31.1
60.7
12.7
21.6
1.6
35.9
1970
14.2
21.7
5.5
1.9
4.4
11.7
1.6
3.4
0.3
5.3
0.3
0.1
0.2
0.6
10.0
0.0
0.0
4.3
0.0
0.0
3.4
17.7
0.0
0.0
0.9
0.0
0.0
1.2
2.1
2.1
0.1
39.6
75.5
12.8
23.2
1.8
37.8
1975
16.5
21.8
5.9
2.0
12T
1.3
3.3
0.2
4.8
0.4
0.0
0.3
0.7
9.9
0.0
0.0
3.9
0.0
0.0
29
16.7
0.0
0.0
1.3
0.0
0.0
1.4
2.7
2.0
0.1
39.3
77.6
13.4
25.2
2.0
40.6
1980
18.4
31.7
5.9
2.5
13'2
0.4
2.8
0.2
3.4
0.6
0.0
0.3
0.9
10.7
0.6
3.2
0.3
3.1
0.2
0.8
18.9
0.3
0.2
0.9
0.4
0.8
0.8
3.4
2.1
0.2
42.1
92.2
13.2
27.5
22
42.9
1985
20.1
37.0
4.7
2.1
1l!d
0.1
2.5
0.2
2.8
0.7
0.0
0.3
1.0
11.8
0.5
3.8
0.4
3.0
0.1
1.3
20.9
0.3
0.3
1.2
0.6
1.0
1.0
4.4
2.1
0.2
42.4
99.5
13.2
30.0
2.5
45.7
1988
23.0
43.0
1
4.3
1.9
3.6
9.9
0.1
2.1
0.2
2.4
0.6
0.1
0.3
1.0
12.6
0.5
4.1
0.3
2.7
0.1
21.9
0.3
0.4
1.7
0.8
1.1
1.2
5.5
2.1
0.2
43.0
109.0
13.2
31.1
2.7
47.0
Total MSW Discarded • Weight
81.9
96.6
113.3
118.2
135.1
* Discards after materials and compost recovery.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
145.2
156.0
46
-------
Table 23
PRODUCTS DISCARDED* IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 1988
(WITH DETAIL ON CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING)
(In percent of total discards)
Percent of Total Discards
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 14).
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 17)
1960
11.0
18.6
1965
10.6
20.1
1970
12.5
19.2
1975
14.0
18.4
1980
13.6
23.5
1985
13.8
25.5
1988
14.7
27.6
Glass Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Bottles
Wine and Liquor Bottles
Food and Other Bottles 4 Jars
Total Glass Pkg
Steel Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Food and Other Cans
Other Steel Packaging
Total Steel Pkg
Aluminum Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Other Cans
Foil and Closures
Total Aluminum Pkg
Paper & Paperboard Pkg
Corrugated Boxes
Milk Cartons
Folding Cartons
Other Paperboard Packaging
Bags and Sacks
Wrapping Papers
Other Paper Packaging
Total Paper & Board Pkg
Plastics Packaging
Soft Drink Bottles
Milk Bottles
Other Containers
Bags and Sacks
Wraps
Other Plastics Packaging
Total Plastics Pkg
Wood Packaging
Other Misc. Packaging
Total Containers A Pkg
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
1.6
1.3
4.5
7.4
0.7
4.6
0.2
5.6
0.1
0.0
0.1
0.2
5.9
0.0
0.0
4.3
0.0
0.0
3.3
13.4
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.2
2.4
0.1
29.5
59.1
14.9
24.4
1.6
40.9
2.6
1.4
4.2
8.3
0.9
3.6
0.3
4.9
0.1
0.0
0.2
0.3
8.1
0.0
0.0
4.2
0.0
0.0
IST
0.0
0.0
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.7
1.0
2.2
0.1
32.2
62.8
13.1
22.4
1.7
37.2
4.8
1.7
3.9
10.3
1.4
3.0
0.3
4.7
0.3
0.1
0.2
0.5
8.8
0.0
0.0
3.8
0.0
0.0
3.0
15.6
0.0
0.0
0.8
0.0
0.0
1.1
1.9
1.9
0.1
35.0
66.6
11.3
20.5
1.6
33.4
5.0
1.7
3.7
10.4
1.1
2.8
0.2
4.1
0.3
0.0
0.3
0.6
8.4
0.0
0.0
3.3
0.0
0.0
14.1
0.0
0.0
1.1
0.0
0.0
1.2
2.3
1.7
0.1
33.2
65.7
11.3
21.3
1.7
34.3
4.4
1.9
3.6
9.8
0.3
2.1
0.1
2.5
0.4
0.0
0.2
0.7
7.9
0.4
2.4
0.2
2.3
0.1
0.6
14.0
0.2
0.1
0.7
0.3
0.6
0.6
2.5
1.6
0.1
31.2
68.2
9.8
20.4
1.6
31.8
3.2
1.4
2.9
7.6
0.1
1.7
0.1
1.9
0.5
0.0
0.2
0.7
8.1
0.3
2.6
0.3
2.1
0.1
0.9
14.4
0.2
0.2
0.8
0.4
0.7
0.7
3.0
1.4
0.1
29.2
68.5
9.1
20.7
1.7
31.5
2.8
1.2
2.3
6.3
0.1
1.4
0.1
1.6
0.4
0.0
0.2
0.7
8.1
0.3
2.6
0.2
1.7
0.1
1.0
14.0
0.2
0.2
1.1
0.5
0.7
0.8
3.5
1.3
0.1
27.6
69.9
8.5
20.0
1.7
30.1
Total USW Discarded • Percent
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
Discards after materials and compost recovery.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
100.0
100.0
47
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11 million tons in 1988, or 6.3 percent of MSW generation (Tables 18 and 19).
Production of glass containers has been declining in recent years.
An estimated 1.5 million tons of glass containers were recovered for
recycling in 1988, or 13.2 percent of total generation. Glass beer and soft drink
containers were estimated to be recovered at a 20 percent rate in 1988. After
recovery for recycling, glass container discards were 10 million tons in 1988, or
6.4 percent of discards.
Steel Containers and Packaging. Steel beer and soft drink cans, food
and other cans, and other steel packaging (e.g., strapping), totalled 2.8 million
tons in 1988 (less than 2 percent of total generation), with most of that
amount being "tin" cans for food (Tables 18 and 19). Relatively small
amounts of steel cans are recovered for recycling—an estimated 400,000 tons
in 1988, or 14 percent of generation in 1988. Generation of steel containers
and packaging has been declining steadily.
Aluminum Containers and Packaging. Aluminum containers and
packaging, a growth segment of MSW, include beer and soft drink cans, other
cans, and foil and closures. Total aluminum container and packaging
generation in 1988 was 1.8 million tons, or one percent of total generation.
Aluminum beer and soft drink cans were recovered at an estimated 55
percent rate in 1988. Recovery of all aluminum packaging was estimated to be
44 percent of total generation in 1988. After recovery for recycling, about one
million tons of aluminum packaging were discarded in 1988. This
represented less than one percent of MSW discards.
Plastic Containers and Packaging. Many different plastic resins are used
to make a variety of packaging products. Some of these include polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) soft drink bottles (some with high-density polyethylene
(HDPE) base cups), HDPE milk jugs, film products (including bags and sacks)
made of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and containers and other packaging
(including coatings, closures, etc.) made of polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene,
and other resins.
Plastic containers and packaging have exhibited rapid growth in MSW,
with generation increasing from about 200,000 tons in 1960 (less than one
percent of generation) to 5.6 million tons in 1988 (over 3 percent of
generation). (Note: plastic packaging does not include the single service
plates and cups classified as nondurables and discussed earlier.)
With the exception of soft drink bottles (about 21 percent estimated to
have been recovered in 1988), recovery of postconsumer plastic containers
and packaging has been at a very low rate in the past.
48
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Other Packaging. Estimates are included for wood packaging and some
other miscellaneous packaging like bags made of textiles, small amounts of
leather, and the like. These quantities are not well documented.
Wood packaging includes wood crates and pallets. It was estimated
that about 2 million tons of wood packaging were generated in 1988. This
number has been held about constant over the years. Wood packaging was
thus about one percent of total generation in 1988. It is known that some
recovery of wood pallets takes place, but it is not considered to be significant
enough to affect product discards in 1988.
Summary of Products in Municipal Solid Waste
Changing quantities and composition of municipal solid waste
generation by product category are illustrated in Figure 10. This figure shows
graphically that generation of durable goods has increased very gradually over
the years. Nondurable goods and containers and packaging have accounted
for the large increases in MSW generation.
The materials composition of nondurable goods in 1988 is shown in
Figure 11. Paper and paperboard made up 77 percent of nondurables in MSW
generation, with plastics contributing over 9 percent. Other materials
contributed lesser percentages. After recovery for recycling, paper and
paperboard were 73 percent of nondurable discards, with plastics being almost
11 percent.
Million tons
180
[Figure 10. Generation of products In MSW, 1960 to 1988^
• Other Wastes
D Food Wastes
Ł3 Yard Wastes
M Durable Goods
S Containers & Packaging
• Nondurable Goods
1960
1965 1970 1975 1980
1985
1988
49
-------
Figure 11. Generation and discards of nondurable goods. 1988 L
5.7%
4.5%
3.0%
5.3%
6.6%
3.5%
10.8%
0.6%
77.2%
73.3%
Generation
1§ Paper and Paperboard
• Metals
E2 Plastics
D Rubber & Leather
Hi Textiles
HOther
Discards
The materials composition of containers and packaging in MSW in
1988 is shown in Figure 12. Paper and paperboard products make up 58
percent of containers and packaging generation, with glass second at 20
percent of containers and packaging generation by weight. Recovery for
recycling makes a significant change, with paper and paperboard being 51
percent of discards of containers and packaging discards after recovery takes
place. Glass then become 23 percent of discards of containers and packaging,
with other materials making up lesser amounts.
COMBUSTION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
As described in Chapter 1, combustion of municipal solid waste ranks
behind recycling and composting in the solid waste management hierarchy.
Estimates of MSW combustion were made for this report. Most of the
municipal solid waste combustion currently practiced in this country
incorporates recovery of an energy product (generally steam or electricity);
sale of the energy helps to offset the cost of operating the facility. In past years,
it was common to burn municipal solid waste in incinerators as a volume
reduction practice; recovery of energy started to become more prevalent in the
1970s.
50
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When municipal solid waste is combusted, a residue (usually called
ash) is left behind. Years ago this ash was commonly disposed of along with
municipal solid waste, but combustor ash is no longer classified as MSW and
it is not counted as MSW in this report. As a general "rule of thumb," MSW
combustor ash amounts to about 25 percent (dry weight) of unprocessed
MSW input. This percentage will vary from facility to facility depending
upon the types of waste input and the efficiency and configuration of the
facility.
Combustion with Energy Recovery
Previous estimates of combustion with energy recovery were updated
and expressed as a percent of MSW generation and MSW discards after
recovery (Table 24). Surveys by EPA and the National Solid Wastes
Management Association (References 18 and 19) were used as references. In
addition, Franklin Associates conducted a limited literature search to update
lists of facilities operational, under construction, or in planning.
Figure 12. Generation and discards of containers and packaging, 1988
4.0%
5.3%
9.9%
8.2%
20.0%
12.8%
8.0%
57.9%
50.9%
22.9%
Generation
• Paper and Paperboard
0 Glass
H Metals
D Plastics
• Other Packaging
Discards
51
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Table 24
COMBUSTION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE, 1960 TO 1988
(In millions of tons and percent)
Generation of MSW
Combustion
with energy recovery
Million tons
Percent of total generation
Combustion
without energy recovery
Million tons
Percent of total generation
1960
87.8
27.0
30.8
1965
103.4
0.2
0.2
26.8
25.9
1970
121.9
0.4
0.3
24.7
20.3
1975
128.1
0.7
0.5
17.8
13.9
1980
149.6
2.7
1.8
11.0
7.4
1985
161.6
7.6
4.7
4.1
2.5
1988
179.6
24.5
13.6
1.0
0.6
Note: Residues from combustion of MSW are not classified as MSW in this report.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
Table 25
AVERAGE ANNUAL RATES OF INCREASE (OR DECREASE)
OF GENERATION OF MATERIALS IN MSW
(In annual percent by weight)
Paper & Paperboard
Glass
Metals
Plastics
All Other Materials*
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Total MSW
Population
* Rubber and leather, textiles, wood, batteries (partial) disposable diapers (partial), miscellaneous
inorganics.
52
1960-1970
4.0
7.0
3.1
22.8
3.5
0.5
1.5
3.3
1.2
1970-1980
2.2
1.7
0.2
9.8
3.4
0.3
1.7
2.1
1.1
1980-1988
3.5
-2.2
0.7
7.9
2.6
0.0
1.8
2.3
1.0
1986-1988
4.6
-1.9
2.6
8.6
5.9
0.0
2.3
3.5
1.0
1987-1988
3.0
1.6
3.1
7.8
5.5
0.0
1.9
3.1
1.0
-------
In most cases the facilities have a stated daily capacity, but they
normally operate at less than capacity over the course of a year. When
information on actual throughputs of MSW was unavailable for a facility, it
was assumed for this report that throughput over a year of operation is 80
percent of rated capacity. While this is a more conservative assumption than
those often used, it has proven to be reasonably accurate over the years.
(While new facilities are reporting operation at very high utilization rates,
other facilities do not meet the same standards for annual throughput as
compared to rated capacity.)
The surveys revealed that combustion of MSW has increased rapidly
since 1985, with numerous new facilities coming into operation. It was
estimated that 24.5 million tons of MSW were combusted with energy
recovery in 1988.
Combustion without Energy Recovery
Estimates of combustion without energy recovery have never been a
part of this series of reports. To provide a more complete picture of historical
MSW management, these estimates were added for this update (Table 24),
although good sources of historical information are scarce.
Two sources were used to make these estimates: a 1979 survey of
incineration facilities conducted by a committee of the American Society of
Mechanical Engineers (Reference 20) and an EPA combustion study
(Reference 21), which provided more recent information. The ASME survey
provided information on the large numbers of MSW incinerators that were
closed down during the 1960s and 1970s because of more stringent pollution
control requirements imposed during that period. Using a very conservative
estimate that throughput of MSW in these old incinerators was 60 percent of
stated capacity, it was calculated that 27 million tons of MSW (30 percent of
generation) were incinerated in 1960. The number may well have been
higher based on the information available.
The estimates indicate that MSW combustion without energy recovery
dropped steadily throughout the entire study period, to about 1.0 million tons
in 1988. This trend is projected to continue. Some of these facilities have
been shut down; others have been converted to energy recovery facilities.
CHANGING RATES OF MSW GENERATION
While generation of MSW is increasing overall, the individual
components of the waste stream do not increase at the same rate, and in some
instances, components actually decline. Some insight into this phenomenon
can be gained from Table 25, which presents average annual percentage rates
of increase or decrease for the major material categories in MSW.
53
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Paper and paperboard, the largest component of MSW, increased at an
average annual rate of 3.3 percent during the historical period 1960-1988.
Growth was rapid in the 1960s, but average growth in the 1970s was damped
by the severe recession in mid-decade. Growth resumed in the 1980s.
Glass generation in MSW grew at an overall average annual rate of 2.5
percent from 1960 to 1988. Most of the growth, however, occurred in the
1960s, when use of glass containers for beverages and other products increased
rapidly. Since then, glass showed only a small annual increase in the 1970s,
then decreasing annual percentages of growth.
Metals exhibit a similar pattern, although the rate of increase in the
1960s was not as pronounced. It should be noted that aluminum containers
have continued to increase, while the heavier steel cans have declined.
Plastics in MSW have increased by an annual percentage of over 14
percent in the 1960 to 1988 historical period. Percentage growth was very
rapid in the 1960s, when plastics generation started from a low base. Rapid
growth has continued, although at a declining average annual rate.
Growth rates of the other materials in MSW have not been particularly
remarkable. Total generation of MSW increased at an average annual rate of
2.6 percent in the 1960 to 1988 historical period. Growth was more rapid in
the 1960s for the reasons outlined above.
SUMMARY OF HISTORICAL AND PROJECTED MSW MANAGEMENT
The series of tables and figures presented in this chapter make possible
a comprehensive summary of historical municipal solid waste management.
The study results are summarized in Table 26 and Figure 13. Municipal solid
waste generation has grown steadily (except for occasional decreases during
recession years) from 87.8 million tons in 1960 to almost 180 million tons in
1988.
Recovery for recycling and composting had little effect on the waste
stream until the 1980s. Recovery was about 7 percent of generation in the
1960s and 1970s, then increased gradually to 13.1 percent (23.5 million tons) in
1988.
Adding estimates of combustion without energy recovery to the
previously estimated combustion with energy recovery brings some
interesting insights. It appears that over 30 percent of MSW generation was
burned in 1960. This percentage declined steadily as the old incinerators were
closed down due to air pollution regulations. Combustion with energy
54
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recovery grew very slowly until the 1980s, with about 14 percent of MSW
being combusted in 1988.
As Figure 13 graphically shows, discards of MSW to landfill or other
disposal after materials recovery and combustion take place apparently
peaked in the 1986-1987 period.
Table 26
GENERATION, MATERIALS RECOVERY, COMPOSTING, COMBUSTION,
AND DISCARDS OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE, 1960 T01988
(In millions of tons and percent of total generation)
Millions of Tons
Generation
Recovery for Recycling
Recovery for Composting
Total Materials Recovery
Discards after Recovery*
Combustion with Energy Recovery
Combustion without Energy Recovery
Total Combustion
Discards to Landfill,
Other Disposal"
Generation
Recovery for Recycling
Recovery for Composting
Total Materials Recovery
Discards after Recovery'
Combustion with Energy Recovery
Combustion without Energy Recovery
Total Combustion
Discards to Landfill,
Other Disposal"
1960
87.8
5.9
0.0
5.9
81.9
0.0
27.0
27.0
54.9
1960
100.0
6.7
0.0
6.7
93.3
0.0
308
30.8
62.5
1965
103.4
6.8
0.0
6.8
96.6
0.2
26.8
27.0
69.6
1965
100.0
6.6
0.0
6.6
93.4
0.2
259
26.1
67.3
1970
121.9
8.6
0.0
8.6
113.3
0.4
24.7
25.1
1975
128.1
9.9
0.0
9.9
118.2
0.7
17.8
18.5
1980
149.6
14.5
0.0
14.5
135.1
2.7
11.0
13.7
88.2 99.7 121.4
Percent of Total Generation
1970
100.0
7.1
0.0
7.1
92.9
0.3
20.3
20.6
72.4
1975
100.0
7.7
0.0
7.7
92.3
0.5
13.9
14.4
77.8
1980
100.0
9.7
0.0
9.7
90.3
1.8
7.4
9.2
81.1
1985
161.6
16.4
0.0
16.4
145.2
7.6
4.1
11.7
133.5
1985
100.0
10.1
0.0
10.1
89.9
4.7
7.2
82.6
1988
179.6
23.1
0.5
23.5
156.0
24.5
1.0
25.5
130.5
1988
100.0
12.9
0.3
13.1
86.9
13.6
1.5
14.2
72.7
* Does not include residues from recycling/composting processes.
** Does not include residues from recycling, composting, or combustion processes.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
55
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Million tons
180
160
|Figure 13. Municipal solid waste management, 1960 to 1988^
Recycle
Combus-
tion
Landfill,
other
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
This summary provides some perspective on why a landfill crisis
developed in the 1980s. In the 1960s and early 1970s a large portion of MSW
generation was burned. The remainder was not usually landfilled as we
define landfill in the 1980s; that is, it was not compacted and buried in cells
with cover material added daily. In fact, much of this waste was "dumped"
and often it was burned at the dump to reduce its volume.
As the old incinerators were dosed down and landfill requirements
also became more stringent, while at the same time materials recovery rates
were increasing very slowly, the burden on the nation's landfills grew
dramatically. If, however, communities continue to increase the use of
materials recovery, composting, and combustion as MSW management
alternatives, the amount of MSW landfilled annually could decline
substantially in the future.
56
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Chapter 3
PROJECTIONS OF MSW GENERATION AND MANAGEMENT
INTRODUCTION
One of the useful features of this series of reports characterizing
municipal solid waste in the United States is the projections of historical data
into the future. For example, local officials planning for a new landfill must
look at MSW disposal requirements in the future, typically over a 20-year
time frame. While the data presented here should not be used as a substitute
for site-specific data, the trends reflected in the national average data can
provide some useful guidelines for local and regional planners.
It should be reemphasized that projections are not predictions. No one
can foresee with accuracy changes in the economy (e.g., booms and
recessions), which affect the municipal waste stream. In addition, it is
difficult to predict new innovations and products that affect the amounts and
types of MSW discards. For example, there have long been predictions of the
"paperless office" due to improvements in electronic communications, but in
fact, facsimile machines, high-speed copiers, and personal computers have
generated unexpectedly large amounts of office papers.
In spite of the limitations, it is useful to look at projections
characterizing MSW based on past trends, since it is clear that the
composition of the waste stream does change over time. New products (e.g.,
disposable diapers) appear from time to time, lifestyles change (e.g., more
disposables are used), and materials are used in new ways (e.g., composite
materials replace simpler products). Planners thus may choose to use
different projections than those presented here, but anyone assuming that the
current mix of materials in the waste stream will remain constant is
disregarding the experience of the past.
OVERVIEW OF THIS CHAPTER
In this chapter, detailed projections of MSW generation, by material
and by product, are presented through the year 2010 in the same format as the
tables of historical MSW generation in Chapter 2. Projections of materials
recovery and composting for the year 1995 are then presented. Finally,
projections of combustion of MSW through the year 2000 are presented.
A summary table showing MSW generation, recovery, and discards of
MSW in 1995 is included at the end of the chapter.
57
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PROJECTIONS OF MSW GENERATION
Materials in Municipal Solid Waste
Projections of materials generated in MSW (by weight) are
summarized in Table 27 and Figure 14, with a discussion of each material
category following.
Paper and Paperboard. Projections of paper and paperboard generation
in 1995 were based on a recent study sponsored by the American Paper
Institute (Reference 34), with projections to later years assumed to maintain
much the same patterns of growth.
Paper and paperboard is projected to continue to be the dominant
material in MSW, reaching a generation of over 121 million tons in 2010.
While paper and paperboard comprised 40 percent of MSW generation in
1988, it is projected to be 48 percent of generation in 2010.
Glass. As shown in Chapter 2, glass is a declining component of MSW,
both in tonnage and in percentage of total generation. The decrease is mainly
due to declining production of glass containers, which account for most of the
glass in MSW. The decline is projected to continue. Thus glass generation is
projected to decline from 12.5 million tons in 1988 to 9.5 million tons in 2010.
Glass is projected to be less than 4 percent of MSW generation in 2010.
Ferrous Metals. Like glass containers, cans made of steel have been
declining as a component of MSW. Unlike glass, however, more ferrous
metals enter MSW as a component of durable goods than as containers. Since
durable goods are an increasing component of MSW, ferrous metals in MSW
were projected to increase very slightly, from 11.6 million tons in 1988 to 12
million tons in 2010. (Lighter materials like aluminum and plastics do
replace heavier materials like steel in durable goods, but there is a long time
lag before they are thrown away.)
It was projected than steel will comprise slightly less than 5 percent of
MSW generation in 2010.
Aluminum. Containers and packaging represent the primary source of
aluminum in MSW, although some aluminum is present in durables and
nondurables. Aluminum in MSW has grown rapidly, and the growth is
projected to continue, to 3.8 million tons in 2010. Because of its light weight,
aluminum represents a small percentage of MSW generation—1.4 percent in
1988 and 1.5 percent in 2010.
Other Nonferrous Metals. Other nonferrous metals (e.g., lead, copper,
and zinc) are found in durable goods like appliances, furniture, and batteries.
58
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Table 27
PROJECTIONS OF MATERIALS GENERATED*
IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1995 TO 2010
(In millions of tons and percent of total generation)
Materials
Paper and Paperboard
Glass
Metals
Ferrous
Aluminum
Other Nonferrous
Total Metals
Plastics
Rubber and Leather
Textiles
Wood
Other
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total USW Generated
Millions of Tons
% of Total Generation
1995
85.5
11.1
11.7
3.1
1.4
16.2
18.6
4.9
4.1
7.4
3.0
150.9
13.2
33.0
2.7
48.9
199.8
2000
96.1
10.3
12.0
3.5
1.5
16.9
21.1
5.3
4.3
8.4
3.0
165.4
13.3
34.4
2.9
50.6
216.0
2010
121.2
9.5
12.0
3.8
1.7
17.5
25.7
5.8
4.6
10.2
3.3
197.8
13.7
36.0
3.1
52.8
250.6
1995
42.8
5.6
5.9
1.6
0.7
8.1
9.3
2.4
2.0
3.7
1.5
75.5
6.6
16.5
1.4
24.5
100.0
2000
44.5
4.8
5.5
1.6
0.7
7.8
9.8
2.5
2.0
3.9
1.4
76.6
6.2
15.9
1.3
23.4
100.0
2010
48.4
3.8
4.8
1.5
0.7
7.0
10.3
2.3
1.8
4.1
1.3
78.9
5.5
14.4
1.2
21.1
100.0
* Generation before materials recovery or combustion.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: FrankJin Associates, Ltd.
Rgure 14. Materials generated In MSW, 1988 and 2011
7.4%
8.0%
17.6%
8.5%
7.0%
11.6%
14.4%
5.5%
10.3%
40.0%
1988
59
2010
10.6%
48.4%
• Paper and Paperboard
E Glass
• Metals
D Plaslics
B Food Wastes
ffl Yard Wast»s
B Other Wastes
-------
Since lead-acid (automotive) batteries were added for this updated report,
they represent the majority of this category. Generation of lead-acid batteries
is projected to continue to increase, along with small increases in other
nonferrous metals. Other nonferrous metals were estimated to be 1.1 million
tons in 1988 and are projected to be 1.7 million tons in 2010. These metals are
expected to continue to be less than one percent of MSW generation.
Plastics. Generation of plastics in MSW has grown very rapidly in the
past three decades, but the rate of increase has been slowing, which is typical
of products that achieve sizeable market penetration. Plastics in MSW are
projected to continue to increase both in tonnage (from 14.4 million tons in
1988 to 25.7 million tons in 2010) and in percentage of total generation (from 8
percent of total in 1988 to over 10 percent in 2010).
Other Materials. Other materials in MSW~rubber, leather, textiles, and
wood-are projected to have modest growth in tonnage and nearly "flat"
percentages of total generation.
Food Wastes. Sampling studies over a long period of time show food
wastes to be a declining percentage of the waste stream. Per capita discards of
food wastes have also been declining over time, which can be explained by
the increased use of preprocessed food in homes, institutions, and
restaurants, and by the increased use of garbage disposers, which put food
wastes into sewer systems rather than MSW. In making the projections of
food wastes, it was assumed that per capita discards will decline slightly until
the year 2000, then stay flat. This means that the tonnage of food wastes
increases slightly, and their percentage of total MSW continues to decline, to
5.5 percent in 2010 compared to 7.4 percent in 1988.
Yard Wastes. Based on sampling studies, yard wastes have been
declining as a percentage of MSW, although they have been increasing
slightly on a per capita basis. In making projections, it was assumed that per
capita discards of yard wastes would remain constant after 1988. As
population increases, this means that yard wastes are projected to continue to
increase, from over 31.6 million tons in 1988 to 36 million tons in 2010. As a
percentage of MSW generation, yard wastes are projected to decline from 17.6
percent in 1988 to 14.4 percent in 2010.
Projected Growth Rates for Materials in MSW. Projected growth rates
for the various materials generated in MSW are shown in Table 28. Projected
population growth rates (from the Bureau of the Census) are included as well,
and it is important to note that the rates of population increase are projected
to decline to only one-half of one percent annually between 2000 and 2010.
Two materials categories—paper and paperboard and plastics—are projected to
increase at annual rates greater than population growth, although at rates
lower than experienced in the past.
60
-------
Table 28
AVERAGE ANNUAL RATES OF PROJECTED INCREASE (OR DECREASE)
OF GENERATION OF MATERIALS IN MSW
(In annual percent by weight)
1960-1970
aper & Paperboard
lass
etals
astics
I Other Materials*
xxJ Wastes
ird Wastes
Total MSW
jpulation
4.0
7.0
3.1
22.8
3.5
0.5
1.5
3.3
1.2
1970-1980
2.2
1.7
0.2
9.8
3.4
0.3
1.7
2.1
1.1
1980-1988
3.5
-2.2
0.7
7.9
2.6
0.0
1.8
2.3
1.0
1988-2000
2.5
-1.6
0.8
3.2
0.7
0.1
0.7
1.6
0.7
2000-2010
2.4
-0.8
0.3
2.0
0.7
0.3
0.5
1.5
0.5
Rubber and leather, textiles, wood, batteries (partial) disposable diapers (partial),
miscellaneous inorganics.
Table 29
PROJECTED PER CAPITA GENERATION OF MSW,
BY MATERIAL, 1988 TO 2010
(In pounds per person per day)
Materials 1988 1995 2000 2010
Paper and Paperboard 1.60 1.80 1.96 2.35
Glass 0.28 0.23 0.21 0.18
Metals 0.34 0.34 0.35 0.34
Plastics 0.32 0.39 0.43 0.50
Rubber and Leather 0.10 0.10 0.11 0.11
Textiles 0.09 0.09 0.09 0.09
Wood 0.14 0.16 0.17 0.20
Other 0.07 0.06 0.06 0.06
Total Nonfood Products 2.94 3.18 3.38 3.84
Food Wastes 0.29 0.28 0.27 0.27
Yard Wastes 0.70 0.70 0.70 0.70
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes 0.06 0.06 0.06 0.06
Total MSW Generated 4.00 4.21 4.41 4.86
* Generation before materials or energy recovery.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Table 1. Population figures from the Bureau of the Census.
61
-------
Generation of other materials categories is projected to continue to decline
(glass) or to increase at rates of less than one percent per year.
Overall, municipal solid waste generation is projected to increase at a
rate of 1.6 percent annually between 1988 and 2000 and 1.5 percent annually
between 2000 and 2010.
Projected Generation of MSW Per Person. Some further insight into
projected generation of materials in MSW can be gained from Table 29, which
presents projected per capita generation by material category. Paper and
paperboard and plastics, which are projected to grow at a faster annual rate
than population, will grow in per capita generation. Other materials will
decline in per capita generation or will increase only slightly. Overall, it is
projected that per capita MSW generation will increase from 4 pounds per
person per day in 1988 to 4.86 pounds per person per day in 2010.
Products in Municipal Solid Waste
Projected generation of the products in municipal solid waste is
summarized in Table 30 and Figure 15. It is no surprise that all categories are
projected to grow in tonnage. Some interesting observations can, however,
be made on the relative percentage rankings of the product categories. In
1988, containers and packaging ranked first, at over 31 percent of total
generation, with nondurables second at 28 percent. By the year 2000, it is
projected that nondurables will surpass containers and packaging as the
largest category (by weight). In 2010, nondurable goods will comprise over 34
percent of total generation, while containers and packaging will be about 30
percent.
More detailed observations on the projected growth in the individual
product categories follow.
Durable Goods. Overall, durable goods are projected to increase in
MSW generation, although not as a percentage of total generation (Table 31).
The trends in generation of major appliances and furniture and furnishings
are well established by production numbers, since lifetimes of up to 20 years
are assumed. Generation of rubber tires, lead-acid batteries, and
miscellaneous durables are projected based on historical trends, which are
generally "flat" or exhibit low rates of growth.
Substitution of relatively light materials like aluminum and plastics
for heavier materials like steel has occurred in durables like appliances and
furniture as well as other products. Also, cars have become smaller and tires
have been made longer-wearing, which tends to reduce the rate of increase at
which tires are generated. It was projected that these trends will continue.
62
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Table 30
PROJECTIONS OF CATEGORIES OF PRODUCTS GENERATED*
IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1995 TO 2010
(In millions of tons and percent of total generation)
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 31)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 32)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 33)
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Generated
Millions of Tons
1995
28.6
60.5
61.9
150.9
13.2
33.0
2.7
48~9~
199.8
2000
31.3
68.3
65.7
165.4
13.3
34.4
2.9
50.6
2~Tefb~
* Generation before materials recovery or combustion.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
2010
35.7
86.3
75.8
197.8
13.7
36.0
3.1
2506
% of Total Generation
1995
14.3
30.3
31.0
75.5
6.6
16.5
1.4
24.5
100.0
2000
14.5
31.6
30.4
76.6
6.2
15.9
1.3
23.4
100.0
2010
14.3
34.4
30.2
78.9
5.5
14.4
1.2
21.1
100.0
Figure 15. Products generated in MSW. 1988 and 2010
31.6%
7.4%
17.6%
1.5%
5.5%.
14.4%
13.9%
28.1%
1988
30.2%
1.2%
I Durable Goods
I Nondurable Goods
I Containers & Packaging
3 Food Wastes
i Yard Wastes
I Other Wastes
14.3%
2010
34.4%
63
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Table 31
PROJECTIONS OF PRODUCTS GENERATED*
IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1995 TO 2010
(WITH DETAIL ON DURABLE GOODS)
(In millions of tons and percent of total generation)
Millions of Tons
% of Total Generation
Products
(Da rabte Goods
Major Appliances
Furniture and Furnishings
Rubber Tires
Batteries, Lead-Acid
Miscellaneous Durables
Total Durable Goods
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 32)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 33)
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Generated
1995
3.2
8.8
2.0
2.0
12.6
28.6
60.5
61.9
150.9
13.2
33.0
2.7
48.9
199.8
2000
3.3
10.0
2.1
2.2
13.8
31.3
68.3
65.7
165.4
13.3
34.4
2.9
50.6
216.0
2010
3.1
12.3
2.2
2.6
15.6
35.7
86.3
75.8
197.8
13.7
36.0
3.1
52.8
250.6
1995
1.6
4.4
1.0
1.0
6.3
14.3
30.3
31.0
75.5
6.6
16.5
1.4
24.5
100.0
2000
1.5
4.6
1.0
1.0
6.4
14.5
31.6
30.4
76.6
6.2
15.9
1.3
23.4
100.0
2010
\
1.2
4.9
0.9
1.0
6.2
14.3
34.4
30.2
78.9
5.5
14.4
1.2
21.1
100.0
* Generation before materials recovery or combustion.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Table 32
PROJECTIONS OF PRODUCTS GENERATED*
IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1995 TO 2010
(WITH DETAIL ON NONDURABLE GOODS)
(In millions of tons and percent of total generation)
Millions of Tons
% of Total Generation
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 31)
INondWsbfc Goods
Newspapers
Books and Magazines
Office Papers
Commercial Printing
Tissue Paper and Towels
Paper Plates and Cups
Plastic Plates and Cups
Disposable Diapers
Other Nonpackaging Paper
Clothing and Footwear
Other Miscellaneous Nondurables
Total Nondurable Goods
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 33)
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Generated
1995
28.6
15.0
6.8
9.8
5.7
3.6
0.7
0.5
2.4
5.9
4.5
5.5
60.5
61.9
150.9
13.2
33.0
2.7
48.9
199.8
2000
31.3
16.4
8.1
11.8
6.8
4.1
0.7
0.6
2.3
6.6
4.9
6.1
68.3
65.7
165.4
13.3
34.4
2.9
50.6
216.0
2010
35.7
19.4
12.0
16.0
9.0
5.1
0.7
0.7
2.4
8.2
5.3
7.3
86.3
75.8
197.8
13.7
36.0
3.1
52.8
250.6
1995
14.3
7.5
3.4
4.9
2.8
1.8
0.3
0.3
1.2
2.9
2.3
2.8
30.3
31.0
75.5
6.6
16.5
1.4
24.5
100.0
2000
14.5
7.6
3.8
5.5
3.1
1.9
0.3
0.3
1.1
3.0
2.3
2.8
31.6
30.4
76.6
6.2
15.9
1.3
23.4
100.0
2010
14.3
J
7.7
4.8
6.4
3.6
2.0
0.3
0.3
1.0
3.3
2.1
2.9
34.4
30.2
78.9
5.5
14.4
1.2
21.1
100.0
Generation before materials recovery or combustion.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
64
-------
Nondurable Goods. As noted above, generation of nondurable goods
has been increasing rapidly, and this trend is projected to continue (Table 32).
Over 86 million tons of nondurable goods are projected to be generated in
2010, or over 34 percent of total generation.
In 1988, paper products were over 77 percent of nondurables generated;
it is projected that paper products will be over 81 percent of nondurables
generated in 2010. These projections are based on trends developed in a study
for the American Paper Institute (Reference 34). Books and magazines, office
papers, and commercial printing are projected to increase their share of total
generation more rapidly than other products. Newspapers, tissue papers, and
other nonpackaging papers also are projected to increase, but not so rapidly.
Based on historical trends, paper plates and cups were projected to
show no increase in tonnage or percentage; plastic plates and cups were
projected to show growth in tonnnage, although not in percentage of total
generation. (The plates and cups categories include hinged containers and
other foodservice items, and it was assumed that there will be no widespread
bans of disposable foodservice items.)
Because of declining birth rates and processes that make individual
diapers smaller and lighter, disposable diapers began to shown a decline in
weight generated after 1985, and generation of disposable diapers was
projected to remain rather "flat," which means that they decline as a
percentage of total generation. (It was assumed that there will be no
widespread bans of disposable diapers.)
Clothing and footwear were projected to continue to experience the
same slow growth exhibited in the past; these items thus will be a declining
percentage of total generation.
Finally, other miscellaneous nondurables, which include many items
made of plastics, have been growing historically and the growth is projected
to continue, making this category continue to increase slightly as a percentage
of MSW generation.
Containers and Packaging. As discussed earlier, historically containers
and packaging have been the largest single category of MSW generation. This
is projected to change, however, as nondurables are projected to exceed
containers and packaging by the year 2000 (Table 33).
Tonnage of glass packaging generated has been in decline since the
early 1980s as glass was displaced by lighter materials like aluminum and
plastics. These trends were projected to continue; glass containers are
projected to be a declining percentage of MSW generation (just over 3 percent
of total generation in 2010).
65
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Table 33
PROJECTIONS OF PRODUCTS GENERATED*
IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1995 TO 2010
(WfTH DETAIL ON CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING)
(In millions of tons and percent of total generation)
Millions of Tons
% of Total Generation
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 31)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 32)
{Contain*!* and f ackaalna
Glass Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Bottles
Wine and Liquor Bottles
Food and Other Bottles & Jars
Total Glass Packaging
Steel Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Food and Other Cans
Other Steel Packaging
Total Steel Packaging
Aluminum Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Other Cans
Foil and Closures
Total Aluminum Pkg
Paper & Paperboard Pkg
Corrugated Boxes
Milk Cartons
Folding Cartons
Other Paperboard Packaging
Bags and Sacks
Wrapping Papers
Other Paper Packaging
Total Paper & Board Pkg
Plastics Packaging
Soft Drink Bottles
Milk Bottles
Other Containers
Bags and Sacks
Wraps
Other Plastics Packaging
Total Plastics Packaging
Wood Packaging
Other Misc. Packaging
Total Containers & Pkg
Total Nonfood Product Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
1995
26.6
60.5
3.8
2.0
4.0
9.8
0.1
2.2
0.2
2.5
1.8
0.1
0.3
2.2
27.6
0.5
5.0
0.3
2.5
0.1
2.0
38.0
0.6
0.5
2.4
1.0
1.3
1.4
7.1
2.1
0.2
61.9
150.9
13.2
33.0
48.9
2000
31.3
68.3
2.8
2.0
4.1
8.9
0.1
2.0
0.2
2.3
2.1
0.1
0.4
2.5
31.2
0.4
5.1
0.3
2.2
0.1
2.3
41.6
0.7
0.5
2.7
1.2
1.4
1.6
8.1
2.1
0.2
65.7
165.4
13.3
34.4
29
50.6
2010
35.7
86.3
2.0
2.0
4.0
8.0
0.2
1.6
0.3
2.0
2.2
0.1
0.4
2.7
39.9
0.4
5.1
0.3
2.0
0.1
2.9
50.7
0.9
0.6
3.5
1.6
1.6
1.9
10.1
2.1
0.3
75.8
197.8
13.7
36.0
3.1
52.8
1995
14.3
30.3
1.9
1.0
4T
0.1
1.1
0.1
1.3
0.9
0.0
0.2
1.1
13.8
0.2
2.5
0.2
1.2
0.0
1.0
19.0
0.3
0.2
1.2
0.5
0.7
0.7
3.6
1.0
0.1
31.0
75.5
6.6
16.5
1.4
24.5
2000
14.5
31.6
1.3
0.9
1.9
4.1
0.1
0.9
0.1
1.1
0.9
0.0
0.2
1.2
14.5
0.2
2.3
0.1
1.0
0.0
1.0
19.3
0.3
0.2
1.3
0.6
0.6
0.7
3.8
1.0
0.1
30.4
76.6
6.2
15.9
1.3
23.4
2010
14.3
34.4
I
0.8
0.8
1.6
3.2
0.1
0.6
0.1
0.8
0.9
0.0
0.2
1.1
15.9
0.2
2.0
0.1
0.8
0.0
1.2
20.2
0.3
0.2
1.4
0.6
0.6
0.8
4.0
0.8
0.1
30.2
78.9
5.5
14.4
1.2
21.1
Total MSW Generated
199.8 216.0
250.6
100.0
100.0
* Generation before materials recovery or combustion.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
66
100.0
-------
Steel packaging generation has also been declining for much the same
reasons as glass, and steel packaging is also projected to be a declining
percentage of MSW generation (less than one percent of total generation in
2010).
Tonnage of aluminum packaging has been increasing steadily over the
historical period, and this trend is projected to continue. Because of its light
weight, however, aluminum stays at just over one percent of total generation
in the projections.
Like other paper and paperboard products, overall generation of paper
and paperboard packaging has been increasing rapidly. The increase is almost
all in corrugated boxes, which are mainly used for shipping other products.
Continued increases in generation of corrugated boxes are projected; tonnage
of these boxes is projected to be 40 million tons in 2010, or 16 percent of total
MSW generation. All paper and paperboard packaging is projected to be 20
percent of total generation in 2010.
Generation of other paper and paperboard packaging has not exhibited
the same growth, generally due to displacement by plastic packaging. Thus
generation of milk cartons, other folding cartons, and other paperboard
packaging is projected to be almost "flat," while generation of paper bags and
sacks is projected to decline, following historical trends.
Plastics packaging has exhibited rapid historical growth, and the trends
are projected to continue. Soft drink bottles, milk bottles, other containers,
bags and sacks, wraps, and other packaging are all projected to follow the
increasing trends. Generation of all plastics packaging is projected to be 10
million tons in 2010, or 4 percent of total generation.
PROJECTIONS OF MSW RECOVERY
In past reports in this series, recovery of municipal solid waste for
recycling has been projected along with projections of MSW generation. As
demonstrated in Chapter 2, these projections were relatively easy to make
because recovery rates tended to change slowly, if at all. The situation,
however, changed dramatically in the late 1980s. A high level of interest in
municipal solid waste management in general, and in recycling and
composting in particular, has developed. Government agencies at all levels
are seeking ways to stimulate materials recovery. Local communities are
adding materials recovery and recycling programs so rapidly that there is no
accurate nationwide accounting system. In response to the demand for more
recovery and more markets for recovered products, industry associations and
individual companies have invested large amounts of money and effort in
developing new recycling programs and products containing recovered
materials.
67
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Because the situation is so fluid, and because accurate current (1990)
data on recycling and composting programs are difficult to obtain, EPA has
chosen to make projections of MSW recovery in a range, and to limit the
projections to 1995.
Discussion of Assumptions
Some general assumptions and principles were used in making the
recovery estimates for 1995:
• Recovery includes both recovery for recycling and for composting.
Recovery does not always equal recycling, however, and residues left
after composting or recycling are not accounted for.
• It was assumed that local, state, and federal agencies will continue to
emphasize recycling and composting as MSW management
alternatives.
• It was assumed that there will not be a nationwide deposit law for
beverage containers, but that the present state deposit laws will
remain in place.
• It was assumed that affected industries will continue to emphasize
recovery and recycling programs, and will make the necessary
investments to meet their goals.
• It was assumed that the current trend toward banning certain yard
wastes in landfills will continue, providing stimulus for composting
programs.
• Based on the preceding assumptions, most U.S. citizens will have
access to recovery options in 1995, which will often, in fact, be
mandated. These options will include curbside collection, dropoff
and buyback centers, and, in some instances, mixed waste processing
facilities.
• In spite of the factors encouraging more recovery as enumerated
above, many areas of the U.S. are thinly populated and/or remote
from ready markets for recovered materials; many of these areas also
have adequate landfill capacity. Therefore, the overall recovery rate
for the entire country may not reflect the rates achieved in
communities where conditions are favorable for recycling and
composting.
68
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Table 34
ESTIMATED RANGES OF RECOVERY AND COMPOSTING
OF SELECTED PRODUCTS, 1905
(In millions of tons and percent of generation of each material)
Products
Paper and Paperboard
Newspapers
Books and magazines
Office papers
Commercial printing
Corrugated boxes
Other paper and paperboard
Total Paper t Paperboard
Glass Containers
Beer and soft drink bottles
Other glass containers
Total Glass Containers
Ferrous Metals
Beer and soft drink cans
Other steel containers
Ferrous in durables
Total Ferrous Uetals
Aluminum
Beer and soft drink cans
Other aluminum packaging
Total Aluminum Packaging
Plastics
Soft drink bottles
Milk/water bottles
Other plastic packaging
Total Plastics Packaging
Batteries (lead only)
Composting
Food wastes
Yard wastes
Other materials*
Total Recovery
Million tons
Low High
% of generation
6.8
1.0
2.0
0.9
15.2
0.6
26.5
1.3
0.8
2.1
1.0
0.5
1.5
1.1
1.1
0.1
0.2
0.4
0.8
0.0
6.6
1.2
40.1
8.3
1.7
2.9
1.4
17.4
0.9
32.6
1.7
1.4
3.1
1.2
1.1
2.4
1.4
1.4
0.2
0.1
0.7
1.1
0.9
1.0
11.0
2.2
55.3
Low
45.0
15.0
20.0
15.0
55.0
2.9
31.0
High
55.0
25.0
30.0
25.0
63.0
4.4
38.0
35.0 45.0
13.0 17.5
22.0 32.0
45.0 55.0
45.0 55.0
6.8 16.8
12.8 20.5
* Plastic and other materials in batteries; rubber; wood;
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
60.0
6.5
50.0
25.0
10.0
3.8
6.0
85.0
0.0
20.0
20.0
textiles.
75.0
17.5
64.0
40.0
25.0
11.5
15.0
95.0
7.6
33.3
27.7
Assumptions and Projections for Specific Products and Materials
For the reasons stated above, assumptions as to the projected recovery
rates for specific products and materials were made in ranges. While it is
certainly possible that any given product will be recovered at higher or lower
rates than those given here, it should be noted that no one material alone can
affect the "bottom line" significantly.* The ranges of recovery assumptions
for specific products are shown in Table 34.
If, for example, yard wastes in the "Low" range of recovery (Table 34) were recovered at a
rate of 33.3 percent instead of 20 percent (and all other recovery rates were held equal), then
the overall recovery rate would be 22.3 percent instead of 20 percent. Materials comprising less
tonnage in MSW will affect the overall recovery rates even less.
69
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Paper and paperboard product recovery rate ranges were built around
the industry goal of 35 percent postconsumer recovery in 1995 (Reference 34).
To reach the high range projected (38 percent postconsumer recovery), 55
percent of newspapers and 63 percent of corrugated boxes would be recovered.
Office papers, books and magazines, and commercial printing (direct mail,
advertising inserts) would be recovered at rates of up to 30 percent. It was
assumed that there would be some recycling of other paper products like
paper towels and napkins, posters and cards, other paper packaging, etc.
Reaching these high recovery rates will require that new markets for
recovered papers be developed over and above those the industry has
commited to. Since paper is the dominant material in MSW, both in
generation and in current recovery, these assumptions are particularly
important.
Of all glass products, beer and soft drink bottles are recovered at the
highest rate (20 percent in 1988). It was projected that these bottles will be
recovered at rates between 35 and 45 percent in 1995. This assumes that
current beverage container deposit laws will stay in place and that the
collection rate will be doubled through other recycling programs. Also, there
will be additional recovery of other glass containers (mostly food bottles and
jars) under the projected scenarios.
Ferrous metals are recovered from durable goods (appliances) and from
containers (cans). It was assumed that 45 to 55 percent of steel beverage cans
will be recovered in 1995 (partly through collection programs and partly
through magnetic separation at processing facilities). It was assumed that 45
to 55 percent of other steel cans will be similarly collected, and that up to 17
percent of the ferrous metals in appliances will be recovered at shredding
facilities.
According to industry sources, aluminum beverage cans are currently
recovered at rates exceeding 60 percent, and it was projected that they will be
recovered at a 60 to 75 percent rate in 1995. Some additional recovery of other
aluminum packaging was also projected. (While recovery rates for
aluminum cans are high, the tonnage is relatively small and does not affect
total recovery rates very much.)
Plastic soft drink bottles were recovered at a rate of 21 percent in 1988,
and a 25 to 40 percent recovery rate was projected for 1995. This assumes that
current collection in beverage container deposit states continues, and that
additional recovery is achieved through collection programs. In addition, it
was projected that these programs will recover 10 to 25 percent of plastic
milk/water bottles and up to 12 percent of other plastic packaging. Since
overall recovery of plastics in MSW is currently at very low rates,
achievement of the projected recovery rates will require development of new
collection infrastructure and markets for recovered plastics.
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It was projected that the lead in automotive batteries will be recovered
at an 85 to 95 percent rate in 1995, which is not a significant increase over the
rates that have already been achieved.
Since yard wastes are the second-largest component in MSW, programs
to recover these wastes are an important part of the projections. There is new
emphasis on compost programs, and it was projected that these programs will
remove 20 to 33 percent of yard wastes from MSW by 1995. In addition, it was
assumed that enough food waste composting programs will be in place to
remove up to 8 percent of food wastes from MSW in 1995. Since recovery of
food and yard wastes for compost was estimated to be at very low levels in
1988, achieving these projections will require some fundamental changes in
waste management practices at many locations.
Some recovery of other materials (e.g., rubber, wood, and textiles) was
projected for 1995, but the quantities are not large enough to affect trie overall
recovery rate significantly.
Summary of Recovery Projections
The range of projected recovery and composting of materials in 1995 is
shown in Table 35 and Figure 16. Projected composite recovery rates range
[Figure 16. Materials recovery and composting projections, 1995^
Million tons
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
71
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Table 35
PROJECTED GENERATION AND ESTIMATED RANGES
OF RECOVERY* AND COMPOSTING, 1995
(In millions of tons and percent of generation of each material)
Recovery Recovery
Million tons % of generation
Materials Generation Low High Low High
Paper and Paperboard 85.5 26.3 32.6 30.8 38.1
Glass 11.1 2.1 3.1 18.9 27.9
Metals
Ferrous
Aluminum
Other Nonferrous
Total Metals
Plastics
Rubber
Food Wastes
Yard Wastes
Other Materials"
11.7
3.1
1.4
16.2
18.6
4.9
13.2
33.0
17.2
199.8
1.5
1.1
0.8
3.4
0.5
0.1
0.0
6.6
1.1
40.1
2.4
1.4
0.9
4.7
1.3
0.3
1.0
11.0
1.3
55.3
12.8
35.4
58.4
21.0
2.7
2.0
0.0
20.0
6.4
20.0
20.4
45.1
65.7
29.0
6.7
5.4
7.6
33.3
7.3
27.7
' Recovery of postconsumer wastes; does not include converting/fabrication scrap.
** Includes electrolytes and other materials removed with recycled batteries. May not
be recycled.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
from 20 to 27.7 percent of MSW generation in 1995. Paper and paperboard
products account for the largest tonnage recovery at either end of the range,
with yard wastes contributing the second largest tonnage. Metals and glass
will also contribute significant tonnage, with other materials making lesser
contributions.
Recovered tonnage of materials made a significant increase between
1987 and 1988 (Figure 16). At the high end of the recovery projections, it is
assumed that materials collection can be increased and materials markets can
be found to sustain this growth. At the lower end of the recovery projections,
recovery would grow in the more moderate pattern of previous years.
Increasing recovery beyond the high end projections means that some
fundamental changes will have to be made in the ways our wastes are
managed.
PROJECTIONS OF MSW DISCARDS
Projected ranges of 1995 discards of materials in MSW after recovery for
recycling and composting are summarized in Table 36. This table is derived
simply by subtracting the projected 1995 materials recovery ranges from the
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Table 36
PROJECTED RANGE OF DISCARDS OF MATERIALS
IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1995
(In millions of tons and percent of total discards)
Million tons % of discards
Materials High Low High Low
Paper and Paperboard 59.2 52.9 36.6 37.0
Glass 9.0 8.0 5.5 5.6
Metals
Ferrous 10.2 9.3
Aluminum 2.0 1.7
Other Nonferrous 0.6 0.5
Total Metals 12.8 11.5
Plastics 18.1 17.3
Rubber and Leather 4.8 4.6
Food Wastes 13.2 12.2
Yard Wastes 26.4 22.0
Other Materials" 16.1 15.9
144.5 100.0 100.0
Note: High estimates of discards correspond to tow estimates of recovery.
* Discards after materials and compost recovery.
** Textiles, wood, other.
[Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
projected MSW generation in 1995. The table illustrates the obvious fact that
higher recovery of materials results in lower quantities of MSW to be
discarded to landfills, combustion, or other disposal. The percentage of total
discards calculated for each material in MSW also changes depending upon
the recovery range, since both the total quantity of discards and the discards in
each product category change, and the recovery and discards of the various
materials change at different rates.
PROJECTIONS OF MSW COMBUSTION
As described in Chapter 2, surveys of municipal solid waste
combustion facilities were used to develop historical combustion estimates.
These same surveys were used to identify facilities that are under
construction or in the planning stages. The surveys indicate that numerous
new facilities are scheduled to come into operation in the 1990s. Using this
information, it was projected that 45.5 million tons of MSW will be
combusted in 1995 and about 55 million tons in the year 2000 (Table 37). This
amounts to nearly 23 percent of MSW generation in 1995 and over 25 percent
in 2000.
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Table 37
PROJECTIONS OF COMBUSTION
OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE, 1988 TO 2000
(In millions of tons and percent)
1988 1995 2000
Generation of MSW 179.6 199.8 216.0
Combustion
with energy recovery 24.5 45.0 55.0
Combustion
without energy recovery 1.0 0.5 0-1
Total Combustion 25.5 45.5 55.1
Percent of Generation 14.2 22.8 25.5
Note: Residues from combustion of MSW are not classified as MSW
in this report.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
Table 38
GENERATION, RECOVERY, COMBUSTION, AND DISPOSAL
OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE, 1988 AND 1995
(In millions of tons and percent of total generation)
Millions of Tons % of Generation
1995 1988 1995
Generation
Recovery for Recycling
Recovery for Composting
Total Materials Recovery'
Discards after Recovery"
Combustion with Energy Recovery
Combustion without Energy Recovery
Total Combustion
Landfill, Other Disposal*" 130.5 106.0 72.7 53.1
* Mid-range recovery estimates.
" Does not include residues from recycling/composting processes.
*" Does not include residues from recycling, composting, or combustion processes.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
74
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While substantial amounts of MSW were burned without energy
recovery in past years, most of these older facilities have been closed due to
air pollution requirements. It is projected that all major facilities for
combustion of MSW will have energy recovery in the future.
SUMMARY OF MSW MANAGEMENT IN 1995
Table 38 presents a summary of the 1995 projections presented in this
chapter, with similar figures for 1988 included for contrast. From 1988 to 1995,
generation of MSW is projected to increase by 1.5 percent per year compared
to 2.3 percent per year between 1980 and 1988. Using mid-range projections,
recovery for recycling and composting increases significantly, and combustion
also is projected to increase significantly. The remaining discards to landfill
and other disposal are thus projected to decrease between 1988 and 1995. In
1988, an estimated 73 percent of MSW generated was sent to landfill or other
disposal. If mid-range projections of recovery are used, 53 percent of MSW
generation will be landfilled in 1995. This does not mean, however, that
landfill capacity will not be a problem, since landfill capacity may continue to
decline more repidly than discards requiring management by landfilling.
75
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Chapter 4
ADDITIONAL PERSPECTIVES ON MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
INTRODUCTION
This chapter provides some additional perspectives on characterization
of municipal solid waste. The first section presents an analysis, by material, of
MSW generation, materials recovery, and discards in 1988, the most recent
year for which historical data are available. The second section presents the
data series in terms of pounds per person per day. Finally, MSW is
characterized in terms of the fractions that are combustible and
noncombustible.
MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE IN 1988
Generation, recovery for recycling and composting, and discards of the
materials in MSW are summarized in Table 39. This table illustrates again
the effect of recovery on MSW. Paper and paperboard, for instance,
amounted to 40 percent of MSW generation in 1988. Over 18 million tons of
paper and paperboard were recovered for recycling in 1988, leaving discards of
these products at about 34 percent of MSW. To cite another example, plastics
were 8 percent of MSW generation in 1988. Plastics were recycled at a low
rate—slightly over one percent-and therefore the percentage of plastics in
MSW discards after recycling increased to over 9 percent.
DISCARDS BY INDIVIDUALS
Municipal solid waste planners often think in terms of generation and
discards on a per capita basis. Tables 40 and 41 present the data series
developed in Chapter 2 of this report on the basis of pounds per person per
day. In Table 40, generation, recovery, combustion, and landfill or other
disposal are all summarized. The top line shows a steady increase in per
capita generation of MSW, from 2.66 pounds per person per day in 1960 to 4.0
pounds per person per day in 1988.
After recovery for recycling and composting takes place, discards are
lowered to 3.48 pounds per person per day in 1988. Of these discards, an
estimated 0.61 pounds per person per day were combusted and 2.87 pounds
per person per day were disposed by landfilling or some other method.
In Table 41, per capita generation of each material category
characterized in this study is shown.
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COMBUSTIBLES/NONCOMBUSTIBLES
The composition of MSW in terms of combustible and noncombustible
fractions is of interest to planners of combustion facilities and others working
with MSW. This information is shown in Table 42. The combustible fraction
of MSW has been increasing steadily since 1975, from 76 percent combustibles
in 1975 to 83 percent in 1988.
These changes are readily explained by the changing composition of
MSW. The percentages of paper and plastics have been increasing steadily,
while use of glass and steel, particularly in containers and packaging, has been
decreasing.
Table 39
GENERATION, MATERIALS RECOVERY AND COMPOSTING, AND DISCARDS
OF MATERIALS IN MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE, 1988
(In millions of tons and percent)
Generation
Materials
Paper and Paperboard
Glass
Ferrous Metals
Aluminum
Other Nonferrous Metals
Total Metals
Plastics
Rubber and Leather
Textiles
Wood
Other
Total Nonfood
Product Wastes
Million % of Total
Tons Generation
71.8
12.5
11.6
2.5
1.1
15.3
14.4
4.6
3.9
6.5
3.1
40.0
7.0
6.5
1.4
0.6
8.5
8.0
2.5
2.1
3.6
1.7
132.1
Other Wastes
Food Wastes 13.2
Yard Wastes 31.6
Misc. Inorganic Wastes 2.7
Total Wastes
179.6
73.5
7.4
17.6
1.5
100.0
Recovery for
Recycling & Composting
Million % of Material
Tons Generation
18.4
1.5
0.7
0.8
0.7
2.2
0.2
0.1
Neg.
Neg.
0.7
25.6
12.0
5.8
31.7
65.1
14.6
1.1
2.3
0.6
Neg.
21.7
23.1
Neg.
0.5
Neg.
23.5
17.5
Neg.
1.6
Neg.
13.1
* Discards after recovery for recycling and composting, but before combustion.
Neg. = Negligible
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Tables 1 through 3.
Discards*
Million
Tons
109.0
13.2
31.1
2.7
156.0
% of Total
Discards
53.4
11.0
10.9
1.7
0.4
13.1
14.3
4.4
3.8
6.5
2.4
34.2
7.1
7.0
1.1
0.3
8.4
9.1
2.9
2.5
4.2
1.6
69.9
8.5
20.0
1.7
100.0
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Table 40
PER CAPITA GENERATION, MATERIALS RECOVERY, COMBUSTION,
AND NET DISCARDS OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE, 1960 TO 1988
(In pounds per person per day; population In thousands)
1960 1970 1980 1988
Generation 2.66 3.27 3.61 4.00
Recovery for Recycling and Composting 0.18 0.23 0.35 0.52
Discards after Recovery* 2.48 3.04 3.26 3.48
Combustion 0.82 0.67 0.33 0.61
Discards to Landfill,
Other Disposal" 1.67 2.37 2.93 2.87
Population (thousands) 180,671 203,984 227,255 245,807
* Does not include residues from recycling/composting processes.
" Does not include residues from recycling, composting, or combustion processes.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Population figures from Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports.
Table 41
PER CAPITA GENERATION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE,
BY MATERIAL, 1960 TO 1988
(In pounds per person per day)
Materials 1960 1970 1980 1988
Paper and Paperboard 0.91 1.19 1.32 1.60
Glass 0.20 0.34 0.36 0.28
Metals 0.32 0.38 0.35 0.34
Plastics 0.01 0.08 0.19 0.32
Rubber and Leather 0.06 0.09 0.10 0.10
Textiles 0.05 0.05 0.06 0.09
Wood 0.09 0.11 0.12 0.14
Other 0.00 0.02 0.07 0.07
Total Nonfood Products 1.65 2.26 2.57 2.94
Food Wastes 0.37 0.34 0.32 0.29
Yard Wastes 0.61 0.62 0.66 0.70
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes 0.04 0.05 0.05 0.06
Total MSWGenerated 2.66 3.27 3.61 4.00
* Generation before materials or energy recovery.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Table 1. Population figures from the Bureau of the Census.
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Table 42
COMPOSITION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE DISCARDS*
BY COMBUSTIBLE AND NONCOMBUSTIBLE FRACTIONS,
1960 TO 1988
(In percent of total discards)
Noncombustibles"
22.2
21.5
24.7
24.3
22.0
18.9
17.2
* Discards after materials recovery has taken place,
and before combustion.
** Includes glass, metals, and miscellaneous
inorganics.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Table 3.
Year
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1988
Combustibles
77.9
78.5
75.3
75.7
78.0
81.1
82.8
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Chapter 5
CHARACTERIZATION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE BY VOLUME
INTRODUCTION
Solid waste is generally characterized by weight, either in pounds or
tons. Most statistics are compiled by weight, landfill operators generally
charge fees by weight, estimates of quantities are stated in tons, and the
remainder of this report uses tons or millions of tons to specify the quantity
of MSW.
However, it has been realized for many years that the space occupied by
waste is also important. Landfills do not get overweight. Their space fills up.
It would be useful to quantify MSW by cubic yards of space occupied, than by
tons of weight. However, volume measurements are far more complex to
make than weight measurements. Volume measurements are very
contextual. A pound of paper is a pound of paper no matter whether it is in
flat sheets, crumpled into a wad, or compacted into a bale. However, the
volume occupied will be very different in each case. Perhaps the one-pound
wad of paper will occupy as much as ten times the volume of a pound of
baled paper.
Another problem with volume measurement of MSW is the difficulty
in establishing a typical set of environmental conditions to serve as a basis for
comparison. We may agree that volumes of MSW in landfills are of most
interest right now, but the difficulty arises as to how to define typical landfill
conditions. Every waste management system treats waste differently, and
achieves different levels of compaction and therefore different volumes for
different materials. The waste also degrades with time. As waste remains in
a landfill, the surroundings may become more acidic, and the gases in the
landfill convert from air to other chemicals, perhaps changing the strength
and other physical characteristics of materials. The moisture conditions will
also change with time. This makes it extremely difficult to devise a set of
standard environmental conditions to serve as a basis for volume measures.
In addition, weight can be readily and rapidly measured with a set of
scales. People agree that properly calibrated scales will accurately measure
weight. But, there is no agreed upon method for measuring volume.
Many people are beginning to make judgements about the rate at
which various materials are filling up landfills. Their decisions are not based
on a realistic database, because there has never been a consistent set of
measurements taken. Thus, it becomes important to try to develop a set of
volume factors for MSW to initiate the process of determining a scientific
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basis for decision-making. While it is difficult to attain a high degree of
accuracy in volume measurements because of the complexity of the problem,
a reasonable approach can shed light on these issues.
Because of the desirability of establishing a national consensus on solid
waste volumes, a series of measurements was taken in 1989 to present for the
first time a methodology for measuring volumes and to generate a
preliminary set of data (Reference 22). This chapter is based in part on the
results reported in that document. A comparison of the results published in
that report to the results reported here is presented later.
METHODOLOGY
The Garbage Project at the University of Arizona, where the
experimental work was done, has published landfill volume data on a variety
of MSW components as a result of a series of landfill sampling projects.
Those results were used where possible. Many components are permanently
deformed during the collection, compaction and landfilling processes. These
include glass, metals, and wood. However, other materials are resilient and
change their volume quite easily. These include paper and plastics, and to a
lesser extent, textiles, rubber, food and yard wastes. It was concluded that
additional work was needed on these components. Paper and plastics
comprise more than 43 percent of MSW discards, so the focus in this work
was on those two components.
Occasional historical data for volumes of paper and plastics as MSW
components have been published in the past, but no systematic approach has
been used to set out specific formats for volume measures. The context
chosen for the measurements was average or typical conditions in a modern
landfill, which is properly licensed and operating under standards of good
practice. To understand the role of various MSW components, data were
sought for separate components. Finally, these measures were extended to a
composite waste stream to model national average or typical landfill
composition.
The basic approach was to develop an experimental program to
measure a set of density factors for solid waste components, measured in
pounds per cubic yard. The MSW weight data reported in millions of tons
(from Chapter 2) were converted to millions of pounds, and the MSW
volume in millions of cubic yards was calculated by dividing the weight
values by the density (in pounds per cubic yards).
EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM
The experimental program was developed in cooperation with The
Garbage Project, administered as a part of the Department of Anthropology,
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Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology, The University of Arizona,
located in Tucson. They are experienced in landfill sampling and in volume
measurement. They use a specially constructed machine, which can compact
MSW samples so as to replicate landfill conditions.
For purposes of conducting experiments, paper was separated into four
broad categories based on similarities of compaction behavior. Plastics were
also separated into four categories, with another category for composite
mixtures of paper and plastics. The nine categories are listed below:
• Nonpackaging paper (paper plates, tissues, towels, mail, newspapers,
magazines, books, forms, greeting cards, etc.)
• Corrugated boxes
• Paperboard boxes (food boxes, detergent boxes, milk cartons, six-pack
wraps, etc.)
• Other paper and paperboard packaging (bags, wrapping paper, towel
rolls, molded pulp egg cartons, cups, hinged fast food containers,
cigarette wrappers, etc.)
• Plastic film packaging (bags, wrappers, food wrap films, wet-wipes
packs, bubble packaging, condiment packs, etc.)
• Plastic rigid containers (bottles, jars, tubs and lids, microwave trays,
hard cosmetic cases, bottle basecups, etc.)
• Other plastic packaging (cookie trays, six-pack ring holders, flexible
tubes, polystyrene foam packaging, etc.)
• Nonpackaging plastic (cups, tumblers, eating utensils, pens, razors,
toys, food serving trays, hangers, Easter grass, sponges, etc.)
• Composite mixtures of paper and plastic (blister packs, juice
concentrate containers, spiral wound dough containers, diapers,
etc.)
Because of the complexities attendant with measuring volumes of
landfilled materials, it was decided that no laboratory approach could suitably
replicate the compaction history of wastes through the disposal, hauling, and
landfill compaction steps. Nor could any laboratory conditions suitably
replicate the variety and sequence of environmental conditions experienced
by waste deposited in a landfill. A central part of the methodology was to
retrieve materials from landfills after they have experienced the actual
conditions of the solid waste system.
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In June of 1989 an excavation was undertaken at the Los Reales landfill
in Tucson for the purpose of retrieving landfilled material. With a backhoe,
trenches were made at several locations. MSW from several time horizons
(1983 to 1985) was retrieved, bagged, and marked. The samples were then
taken to The Garbage Project's processing area located at the University of
Arizona. The samples were dumped onto sorting tables and hand sorted into
the nine paper and plastic categories described above. A total of 56 samples of
approximately 30 gallons each was obtained.
The process of removing the samples from their landfill resting places
for hand sorting removes them from their landfill context. The primary
effect is to introduce a "fluffing" of the samples. In order to remove this extra
air introduced by handling, and to reapply the pressure of layers of waste piled
on top of landfilled materials, the samples were placed in a special
compression machine. The machine accepts approximately 30 gallon samples
and applies pressure with a hydraulic ram in a fashion reminiscent of a baler.
The pressures achieved by the machine are 8 to 9 pounds per square inch,
which is a typical pressure experienced by waste residing in a landfill.
The results of these experiments and analysis of the data resulted in a
set of density factors for the paper and plastic products.
DENSITY FACTORS FOR LANDFILLED MATERIALS
To facilitate calculating MSW volume, Table 43 was prepared. It
summarizes best estimates of the density of 24 important categories of waste,
reported in pounds per cubic yard as compacted into landfills. The paper and
plastic densities are the result of the experimental efforts described above.
The values for other materials are based on prior work by The Garbage
Project, other literature sources, and other experiments performed at Franklin
Associates. In some cases, estimates were made based on behavior of similar
materials. References for the origins of each density value are included in
Table 43.
Densities of durable goods present a particular problem, since no
experimental values are available. Where it was necessary to include
densities of durable products, they were assigned the average density of other
wastes. A composite density is shown in Table 43.
Plastic coatings applied to packaging and other products present
another special case. These coatings do not act as materials in their own right,
but take on the characteristics of the products on which they are applied.
Their density was also assumed to br *he same as the average density of other
products.
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Table 43
SUMMARY OF DENSITY FACTORS FOR LANDFILLED MATERIALS
Density
(Ib/cuyd) References*
DURABLE GOODS" 520 32
NONDURABLE GOODS
Nondurable Paper 800 23
Nondurable Plastic 315 23
Diapers 400 24
Rubber 345 25
Textiles 435 26
Misc. Nondurables (mostly plastics) 390 31
PACKAGING
Glass Containers
Beer & soft drink 2,800 25,29
Other containers 2,800 25,29
Steel Containers
Beer & soft drink 560 25
Food cans 560 25
Other packaging 560 25
Aluminum
Beer & sott drink 250 29,30
Other packaging 550 29
Paper and Paperboard
Corrugated 750 23
Other paperboard 820 23
Paper packaging 740 23
Plastics
Film 670 23
Rigid containers 355 23
Other packaging 185 23,31
Wood Packaging 800 26
Other Misc. Packaging 1,015 23
Food Wastes 2,000 25
Yard Wastes 1,500 27,28
* References are listed at the end of this report.
" No measurements were taken for durable goods or plastic coatings.
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VOLUME OF PRODUCTS DISCARDED
Table 44, which shows the volume of product discards in cubic yards,
was derived from Chapter 2 and Table 43. (It is necessary to characterize the
volume of MSW discards rather than generation because the weight discard
estimates most closely match the wastes received at a landfill, where the
experimental data are derived. Discards include the waste left after materials
recovery and composting and before combustion, landfilling, or other
disposal.) The weight values from Tables 14,17, and 22 are shown in the first
column of Table 44, with the volumes being calculated by taking the weight
values, converting to pounds, and dividing by the density (in pounds per
cubic yard) from Table 43. The results are reported in Table 44 as volume in
millions of cubic yards of waste on a landfill volume basis. The totals show
that in 1988, the 156 million tons of discards occupied nearly 400 million cubic
yards of space.
Table 45 and Figure 17 were abstracted from Table 44 to summarize
some of the detail. As shown in the table, the three categories of nondurable
goods, containers and packaging, and durable goods account for 86 percent of
the waste. The largest volume is occupied by nondurable goods, followed by
containers and packaging and durable goods. These same three categories
account for 70 percent of MSW by weight.
VOLUME OF MATERIALS DISCARDED
Table 46 reports these same data by material rather than by product.
The values are ranked by landfill volume occupied, with the most
voluminous products listed first. Paper occupies the most volume,
representing about one-third of the total. This is followed by plastics, at about
one-fifth of the total. Those two product categories account for just over one-
half of the volume occupied by solid waste.
The right-hand column of Table 46 presents the ratio of volume
percent to weight percent for each material category. A ratio of 1.0 would
mean that the material occupies the same proportion of volume as weight.
Values greater than 1.0 mean that a larger proportion of volume is occupied
than weight. Four materials stand out as having ratios greater than 2.0:
plastics, rubber and leather, textiles, and aluminum. On the other hand,
yard wastes, food, and glass each have ratios of 0.5 or less, illustrating that
these materials are quite dense and occupy proportionately little volume in
landfills.
VALIDITY OF RESULTS
These volume data should not be interpreted as highly accurate. The
results reported here are a first attempt to use this method for analyzing solid
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Table 44
VOLUME OF PRODUCTS DISCARDED IN MSW, 1988
1988 Weight Landfill Landfill Volume
Discards* (%of Density" Volume*" (%of
(mil tons) total) (Ib/cu yd) (miicuyd) total)
DURABLE GOODS
NONDURABLE GOODS
Newspapers
Books and magazines
Office papers
Commercial printing
Tissue paper and towels
Paper plates and cups
Plastic plates and cups
Disposable diapers
Other nonpackaging paper
Clothing and footwear
Other misc. nondurables
Total Nondurable Goods
CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING
Glass Packaging
Beer and soft drink
Wine and liquor
Food and other bottles & jars
Total Glass Packaging
Steel Packaging
Beer and soft drink cans
Food and other cans
Other steel packaging
Total Steel Packaging
Aluminum Packaging
Beer and soft drink cans
Other cans
Foil and closures
Total Aluminum Pkg
Paper & Paperboard Pkg
Corrugated boxes
Milk cartons
Folding cartons
Other paperboard packaging
Bags and sacks
Wrapping paper
Other paper packaging
Total Paper & Board Pkg
23.0
14.7
520
88.5
22.2
8.9
4.6
5.7
3.5
3.0
0.7
0.4
2.7
5.2
3.9
4.6
43.0
5.7
2.9
3.6
2.2
1.9
0.4
0.2
1.7
3.3
2.5
2.9
27.6
800
800
800
800
800
800
355
400
800
435
390
634
22.1
11.5
14.2
8.8
7.6
1.6
2.1
13.3
12.9
18.1
23.4
135.6
5.5
2.9
3.5
2.2
1.9
0.4
0.5
3.3
3.2
4.5
5.9
34.0
4.3
1.9
3.6
9.8
0.1
2.1
0.2
2.4
0.6
0.1
0.3
1.0
12.6
0.5
4.1
0.3
2.7
0.1
1.6
21.9
2.8
1.2
2.3
6.3
0.1
1.4
0.1
1.6
0.4
<0.1
0.2
0.7
8.1
0.3
2.6
0.2
1.7
0.1
1.0
14.0
2,800
2,800
2,800
2,800
560
560
560
560
250
250
550
299
750
820
820
820
740
800
740
763
3.1
1.4
2.6
7.0
0.3
7.6
0.8
8.7
4.8
0.8
1.1
6.7
33.6
1.2
10.0
0.8
7.3
0.3
4.3
57.5
0.8
0.3
0.6
1.8
0.1
1.9
0.2
2.2
1.2
0.2
0.3
1.7
8.4
0.3
2.5
0.2
1.8
0.1
1.1
14.4
(continued on next page)
87
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Table 44 (continued)
VOLUME OF PRODUCTS DISCARDED IN MSW - 1988
Plastics Packaging
Soft drink bottles
Milk bottles
Other containers
Bags and sacks
Wraps
Other plastics packaging
Total Plastic Packaging
Wood packaging
Other misc. packaging
Total Containers & Packaging
Total Nonfood Product Waste
Other Wastes
Food
Yard
Misc. Inorganics
Total Other Wastes
TOTAL MSW DISCARDED
1988
Discards*
(mil tons)
0.3
0.4
1.7
0.8
1.1
1.2
5.5
2.1
0.2
43.0
109
13.2
31.1
2.7
47.0
156
Weight
(% of
total)
69.9
8.5
20.0
1.7
30.1
100.0
Landfill
Density"
(Ib/cu yd)
0.2
0.3
1.1
0.5
0.7
0.8
3.5
1.3
0.1
27.6
355
355
355
670
670
185
341
800
1,015
729
637
2,000
1,500
2,500
1,659
783
Landfill Volume
Volume"* (% of
(mil cu yd) total)
1.7
2.3
9.7
2.4
3.3
13.2
32.4
5.3
0.4
118.0
342
13.2
41.3
2.2
56.7
399
0.4
0.6
2.4
0.6
0.8
3.3
8.1
1.3
0.1
29.6
85.8
3.3
10.4
0.5
14.2
100.0
**
***
* From Tables 14,17, and 22. Discards after materials recovery and composting, before combustion
and landfilling.
From Table 43.
This assumes that all waste is landfilled, but some is combusted and otherwise disposed.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
[Rgure 17. Volume of major MSW categories, as a percent of total^
14%.
.22%
30%
-------
Table 45
SUMMARY OF VOLUME OF PRODUCTS DISCARDED* IN MSW, 1988
Percent by Percent by
Weight* Volume"
Durable Goods 14.7 22.2
Nondurable Goods 27.6 34.0
Containers and Packaging 27.6 29.6
Food Wastes 8.5 3.3
Yard Wastes 20.0 10.4
Other 1.7 0.5
Total Discards 100.0 100.0
* Discards after materials recovery and composting, before combustion
and landfilling.
" From Table 44.
waste. While bringing an important perspective to solid waste, the results
should be viewed as approximate and not definitive. As discussed before,
volume measurements of solid waste are quite complex at best, and will
never accurately represent particular situations. However, the results do
show in a general way which components of waste are the most voluminous,
and which occupy less volume than average. It is clear that this perspective
needs to be used in solid waste policy decisions.
Additional work which could extend the validity of these measures
includes a more comprehensive sampling program and development of a
methodology for better addressing the moisture content of materials in
landfills. In addition, density factors for durables need to be measured.
COMPARISONS TO EARLIER WORK
The earlier work on MSW volume (Reference 22) was carried using
EPA's previous MSW characterization report, which presented a weight
database as the most recent historical data. The results presented here,
therefore, differ in some minor ways from the results presented in Reference
22. The primary differences are caused by the fact that since 1986 the total
amount of materials in solid waste has grown significantly, with some
components growing faster than others.
89
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Some new plastics categories that were not reported in the 1986
database have been identified, and a number of refinements in the
methodology have resulted in new weight estimates for some existing
products. (See Chapter 6.) The result is that although the same density factors
reported in Reference 22 were used for the 1986 data, changes in the weight
data as reported in the 1988 data result in greater volume differences than can
be accounted for simply by growth. For example, Reference 22 reports a
volume percent to weight percent ratio of 2.5 for plastics, while Table 46
reports a ratio of 2.2. This decrease in the ratio is caused by several factors,
including strong growth in dense plastic products (such as film), and also
because of reclassification or identification of greater quantities of dense
plastic products for the 1988 weight database.
Another area for further investigation is the effect on density of mixing
various MSW components. The density values in Table 43 are based on
sorted MSW categories, but recent tests conducted by The Garbage Project
indicate that mixing wastes results in a higher than expected density. For
example, if you mix one cubic yard of paper with one cubic yard of plastic, you
get less than two cubic yards of material. This is because the intermingling of
two or more different materials with different characteristics results in a
filling of more air spaces than occurs with a single material. This effect is
apparently enhanced when materials are compacted into landfills because of
the shaking or vibration created by the movement of heavy equipment on
the MSW.
Table 46
VOLUME OF MATERIALS DISCARDED IN MSW, 1988
1988
Discards*
(mil tons)
53.4
14.3
31.0
10.9
4.4
3.8
6.5
13.2
5.6
1.7
11.0
156
Weight*
(% of MSW
total)
34.2
9.2
19.9
7.0
2.9
2.5
4.2
8.5
3.6
1.1
7.1
100
Landfill
Density**
(Ib/cu yd)
784
359
1,500
560
346
400
840
2,000
1,120
366
2,268
858
Paper & Paperboard
Plastics
Yard Wastes
Ferrous Metals
Rubber & Leather
Textiles
Wood
Food Wastes
Other*
Aluminum
Glass
Totals
* From Table 3. Discards after materials recovery and landfilling, before combustion and landfilling.
** Composite factors derived by Franklin Associates, Ltd.
"* This assumes that all waste is landfilled, but some is combusted and otherwise disposed.
+ Found by difference to obtain total to match products table.
Landfill
Volume***
(mil cu yd)
136.2
79.7
41.3
39.0
25.7
21.1
16.3
13.2
10.0
9.3
7.9
400
Volume Ratio
(%ofMSW (vol %
total) wt%)
34.1
19.9
10.4
9.8
6.4
5.3
4.1
3.3
2.5
2.3
2.0
100
1.0
2.2
0.5
1.4
2.3
2.1
1.0
0.4
0.7
2.1
0.3
1.0
90
-------
The observations above suggest that the total volume of all wastes in
Tables 44 and 46 mixed together may actually be less than shown. However,
there is no suggestion that this effect would significantly change the relative
measures recorded in the tables, such as the various percentages and ratios
calculated.
91
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Chapter 6
COMPARISON OF MSW ESTIMATES
INTRODUCTION
As explained in Chapter 1, there are two basic methodologies for
estimating quantities and composition of MSW:
• The material flows approach used in this report
• Sampling, sorting, and weighing of waste on-site.
Both methodologies have validity; both must be used with care if they are to
be effective for solid waste management purposes.
This chapter compares the MSW estimates in this report with other
estimates from two perspectives. First, the estimates in the current report are
compared with previous material flows estimates. Second, the estimates in
the current report are compared with some of the estimates made by on-site
sampling studies.
COMPARISON WITH PREVIOUS MATERIAL FLOWS STUDIES
The material flows methodology has been evolving for nearly 20 years
now. Over the years increasing levels of detail have been added as new data
became available and as new funding from public and private sources
allowed more complete analyses of the materials and products in MSW. For
example, the current report includes line items for some products—e.g.,
disposable diapers and plastic soft drink bottles—that were insignificant in the
early 1970s when the methodology was first being developed. Many new
types of packaging have come into common use in the past two decades, and
the current estimates include more detailed information on paper and plastic
packaging starting with 1980. (It should be noted that there are no good
government sources on the production of products like disposable diapers
and plastic packaging; these data were provided voluntarily by industrial
sources.)
When changes were made in the database for the current update, e.g.,
to account for additional products, the changes were—to the extent data were
available—carried backward in the data series as well as being added to the
recent years. This was done to preserve the integrity of the data series by
avoiding discontinuities in the database. (There are, however, some
discontinuities introduced by the information sources.) In addition, two
93
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additional years of historical data plus the addition of more products led to a
reevaluation of the previous projections of future waste generation.
Comparison of Current and Previous Estimates Based on Historical Data
The last year for which MSW was characterized in the 1988 study
update (Reference 13) was 1986. To highlight the changes that have been
made in this 1990 update, Table 47 was prepared. Overall, the estimate of
generation of MSW in 1986 has been increased by about 6 percent, or from
about 158 million tons of MSW to over 167 million tons. A material-by-
material discussion of the changes follows.
(A word of caution: In some categories very large percentage increases
are shown. These do not necessarily mean that large tonnage increases
occurred; rather they are caused by the addition of certain products as line
items that were not accounted for separately before. The weight columns and
the overall percentage increases are more significant from a solid waste
management standpoint.)
The discussion in this chapter is aimed mostly at explaining technical
changes in the database. For a better understanding of long term changes in
the municipal solid waste stream, Chapter 2 is recommended.
Paper and Paperboard. The most significant change made in this
category was the addition of a correction factor to corrugated boxes to account
for the large amount of goods in imported packaging, e.g., electronic
equipment imported already boxed. Some small changes were made in other
paper and paperboard categories to correspond to updates in the source
database.
Glass. A small upward adjustment was made in the amount of glass
shown under Miscellaneous Durables.
Ferrous Metals. A small upward adjustment was made in the amount
of ferrous metals shown under Miscellaneous Durables.
Aluminum. No changes were made in the aluminum discards
estimates.
Other Nonferrous Metals. The large percentage increase (although
relatively small tonnage increase) in other nonferrous metals is caused by the
addition of lead-acid automotive batteries to the data series.
Plastics. Some significant changes were made in the estimates of
plastics discards. The consultants had access to a much more detailed database
made available by industry (Reference 33). Certain product categories that
94
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Table 47
COMPARISON OF THE 1988 AND THE 1990 ESTIMATES
FOR 1986 MATERIALS GENERATION*
(In millions of tons and percent)
Materials
Paper and paperfooard
Glass
Metals
Ferrous
Aluminum
Other nonferrous
Plastics
Rubber and leather
Textiles
Wood
Other+
Total Nonfood Product Waste
Food wastes
Yard wastes
Miscellaneous inorganic wastes
Tots! MSW Generated
Pounds per Person per Day
Previous
Estimate**
64.7
12.9
11.0
2.4
0.3
10.3
4.0
2.8
5.8
0.1
114.3
12.5
28.3
2.6
157.7
3.58
Current
Estimate***
65.6
13.0
11.1
2.4
1.0
12.2
4.3
2.8
5.8
3.2
121.5
13.2
30.2
2.6
167.4
3.80
Percent
Difference
+1.4
+0.5
+1.1
0.0
+263.8
+18.2
+7.1
-2.1
0.0
+3,434
+6.2
+5.6
+6.7
0.0
+6.2
+6.1
Comments
Correction for imported boxes.
Slight increase in Misc. Durables.
Slight increase in Misc. Durables.
Lead-acid batteries added to data.
Additional plastics accounted for.
Additional rubber accounted for.
Minor changes in data source.
Diapers and batteries added.
Calculated estimate.
Calculated estimate.
* Generation before recovery for recycling and composting.
** From Table 7 of the March 1988 EPA MSW characterization report (Reference 13).
*** From the work sheets prepared for this report.
+ Includes part of materials in disposable diapers and lead-acid batteries.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
had been ambiguous in databases available earlier (e.g., many products were
grouped together as "Other") were "broken out" in more detail, permitting a
clearer understanding of which components could reasonably be assigned to
disposal as municipal solid waste. As a result, the amounts of plastics resins
assigned to packaging were lowered, but the amounts assigned to durables
and nondurables were increased. Overall, estimated generation of plastics in
MSW in 1986 increased by 18 percent. Stated another way, the amount of
plastics products generated in 1986 did not increase, but the consultants'
ability to identify which products should be classified as MSW did.
A correction factor was also added to account for plastics packaging of
imported products, e.g., polystyrene foam cushioning of consumer
electronics.
95
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Rubber and Leather. It was learned that the Department of Commerce
data series used as a source for these estimates omitted natural rubber starting
in 1980. Therefore a correction was made to account for this past omission.
Textiles. Some minor changes in the manner in which data were
reported in the Department of Commerce data sources are reflected in the
textiles estimates.
Other. The large change in this category is the result of the addition of
disposable diapers and lead-acid batteries to the list of products included.
Disposable diapers are made of wood pulp, tissue paper, and various
plastics. The tissue paper and part of the plastic in these diapers were
previously accounted for under "Miscellaneous Nondurables." The wood
pulp and some additional plastics were added to the estimates of diaper
generation. Also, an estimate was made of the urine and feces discarded with
the diapers. Since the wood pulp and moisture did not fit under any existing
material category, they were accounted for under "Other," which previously
was a very small category. Disposable diapers account for an additional 2.5
million tons of "Other" MSW generation in 1986. (The tissue paper and
plastics in diapers are still added into the paper and plastics material
categories.)
About half of the material in lead-acid automotive batteries is said to be
lead (Reference 17), which is accounted for under Other Nonferrrous Metals.
The batteries also contain plastics, which are accounted for under that
materials category. The remainder of the batteries' weight is electrolytes and
some other miscellaneous materials, which were included for the first time
under "Other." This addition accounted for over 600,000 tons of MSW
generation in 1986. (It should be noted that, since batteries are recovered at a
high rate, most of this generation is not shown later as discards.)
Food and Yard Wastes. As discussed in the earlier chapters of this
report, estimates of food and yard wastes discarded in MSW must be based on
sampling studies, which report them in terms of percentage of total MSW
discarded. Since the adjustments discussed above resulted in a larger total of
nonfood product wastes discarded, the estimates of food and yard wastes
discarded were adjusted upward to keep the percentages in line with previous
estimates. No estimates of food or yard waste composting were made for
1986, so discards of food and yard wastes are the same as generation.
Comparison of Current and Previous Projections of MSW Generation
As discussed in earlier chapters of this report, projections of MSW
generation are done on a material by material and product by product basis.
The projections are made using trend analysis, available reports from
96
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government (Department of Commerce) sources, industry sources, and in
some instances, best professional judgement on the industries involved.
Projections were updated for this 1990 report based on the additional two
years of historical data available for the update. They were also based on the
revisions of the 1980 to 1988 database made possible by new sources of
information, which in some cases resulted in additional products being added
to the database.
The overall result of these revisions is that projections of MSW
materials generation were increased in most instances. For comparison
purposes, previous and current projections for the year 2000 were used, since
that was the last year projected in the 1988 report (Reference 13). The material
by material comparisons are shown in Table 48 and significant changes are
discussed below.
Table 48
COMPARISON OF THE 1988 AND THE 1990 PROJECTIONS
OF MATERIALS GENERATION IN 2000*
(In millions of tons and percent)
Materials
Paper and paperboard
Glass
Metals
Ferrous
Aluminum
Other nonferrous
Plastics
Rubber and leather
Textiles
Wood
Other*
Total Nonfood Product Waste
Food wastes
Yard wastes
Miscellaneous inorganic wastes
Total USW Generated
Pounds per Person per Day
Previous
Estimate**
86.6
13.4
12.0
3.6
0.4
15.7
3.9
3.4
6.1
0.1
145.2
12.3
32.0
3.2
192.7
3.94
Current
Estimate***
96.1
10.3
12.0
3.5
1.5
21.1
5.3
4.3
8.4
3.0
165.4
13.3
34.4
2.9
216.0
4.41
Percent
Difference
+11.0
-23.2
0.0
-3.5
320.4
+34.2
+34.8
+26.3
+38.1
+2,495
+13.9
+8.1
+7.5
-9.4
+12.1
+11.9
* Generation (gross discards) before any materials recovery.
** From the work sheets prepared for this report.
*** From Table 27 of this report.
+ Includes part of materials in disposable diapers and lead-acid batteries.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
Comments
Reevaluated historical trends.
Reevaluated historical trends.
Small decrease in durables.
Lead-acid batteries added to data.
Additional plastics accounted for.
Additional rubber accounted for.
Revised furniture, clothing.
Furniture discards revised upward.
Diapers and batteries added.
Calculated estimate.
Calculated estimate.
Reevaluated historical trends.
97
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Paper and Paperboard. Historical generation of paper and paperboard
products continued to grow between 1986 and 1988, and this was taken into
account. In addition, the consultants had access to an extensive analysis done
for the paper industry (Reference 34), which projected paper and paperboard
production, net imports, and recovery to the year 1995. This report was used
as the basis to project increased generation of paper and paperboard to the
years 2000 and 2010 (an increase of 11 percent over the previous projection for
2000).
Glass. Generation of glass has continued to decline from 1986 to 1988.
In fact, glass containers would disappear from the waste stream if a trend line
analysis were followed. The consultants elected not to use that projection, but
to assume that glass containers will continue to be made. The projected
generation for 2000 was, however, lowered by 23 percent based on the
historical data.
Other Nonferrous Metals. The large projected increase in generation of
other nonferrous metals in 2000 is entirely due to the addition of lead-acid
batteries as a line item.
Plastics. The accounting for additional plastic items in the historical
database was discussed earlier. These additions, plus projected continued
growth, account for the increased projection of plastics generation in 2000.
Rubber and Leather. As discussed earlier, additional estimates of
rubber in tires were added to the historical database. As a result, the
projections of rubber in tires were increased upward also.
Textiles. As discussed earlier, the historical data source for clothing
was revised upward; therefore the projections of textiles generation were
revised upward also. In addition, some revisions were made in the
projections of furniture discards, which include textiles.
Wood. Increased projections of furniture discards caused the projected
generation of wood in 2000 to be revised upward.
Other. The addition of some materials in disposable diapers and lead-
acid batteries to the database was reflected in the MSW projections for 2000.
Food and Yard Wastes, Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes. As discussed
previously, these wastes are estimated based on sampling studies. Since the
projections of nonfood product wastes generated were revised upward, it was
necessary to reevaluate the generation of the other wastes also. This resulted
in an increased projection of total food and yard wastes generated (although
not an increase in per capita generation). Miscellaneous inorganic wastes
were adjusted slightly downward (with no change in per capita generation).
98
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COMPARISON WITH ESTIMATES MADE BY SAMPLING STUDIES
Comparison of estimates made by the material flows methodology
with estimates made by sampling and weighing MSW are of interest, but
must be approached with caution. For one thing, the waste stream sampled
in any particular study may not be comparable to the mix of products
included in the material flows methodology. For example, industrial waste is
often included in waste received and sampled at a landfill or transfer station.
Seasonal variations in the waste stream may also affect the results of a
sampling study.
Another important factor to consider when comparing results is
moisture transfer among materials in wastes as they are collected. The
material flows methodology characterizes wastes in their as-generated
condition. That is, moisture in disposable diapers is accounted for, and
estimates of food and yard wastes have been adjusted to include the moisture
Table 49
COMPARISON OF MSW DISCARDS BY MATERIAL FLOWS
AND SAMPLING METHODOLOGIES
(In percent of total by weight)
1988
Material
Flows
Estimate*
34.2
7.1
8.4
9.1
5.4
4.2
8.5
20.0
3.3
Range of
16 Sampling
Studies"
14.4 -
2.8 -
4.3 -
4.9 -
1.9 -
0.8 -
5.1 -
3.5 -
NA
54.2
19.9
11.5
9.7
5.9
12.9
19.3
30.9
NA
Range of
9 Sampling
Studies***
29.9 -
3.6 -
1.5 -
5.3 -
1.1 -
0.7 -
1.3 -
0.0 -
3.8 -
45.9
12.9
9.4
12.6
7.2
8.2
28.8
39.7
16.6
Material
Paper and paperboard
Glass
Metals
Plastics
Rubber, leather, textiles
Wood
Food wastes
Yard wastes
Other
* Discards after recovery for recycling and composting.
** Compiled by Franklin Associates from a variety of sources. 1984-1988
time frame.
*" Reference 22 (OTA).
NA-Not available.
99
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inherent in the discards. Wastes as sampled, however, have been mixed
together prior to sampling, and the moisture in the wastes has been
transferred among products. For example, paper products in MSW absorb
large quantities of moisture from food and yard wastes, and the latter wastes
thus contain less moisture than they did in their as-generated condition. This
moisture transfer may significantly affect the relative percentages of the
materials in MSW.
Municipal solid waste composition estimated by the material flows
methodology is compared with composition estimated by sampling studies in
Table 49. The sampling study results are presented in ranges; the first set
represents the results of 16 studies as compiled by Franklin Associates, and
the second set is taken from a recent Office of Technology Assessment report
on MSW (Reference 35). For each material category, the percentage estimated
by the material flows methodology falls within the range found in the
sampling studies. (The sole exception is an "other" category, which is not
well defined.)
Another interesting comparison of the material flows and sampling
methodologies was made Dr. Edwin Korzun and others at Florida Institute of
Technology (Reference 36). As part of a study for the State of Florida, they did
a careful analysis of waste received at landfills in Brevard County, Florida.
They were particularly careful to sort out wastes that are not classified as
MSW, e.g., construction, demolition, and industrial wastes. As a result of
their research, they concluded that:
"The comparison of the broad categories indicates that the sum of the subcategories
from Franklin and those obtained locally, known to be site specific for a particular
Florida county, do not vary widely. Since no major differences were observed it was
concluded that the Franklin subcategories of the percentage of materials in the
United States municipal solid waste stream could be utilized to estimate those same
components in the state of Florida with reasonable accuracy."
It seems clear that both the material flows and sampling methodologies
have valid uses in estimating municipal solid waste generation and discards.
Whatever methodology is used, it is most important to be very clear as to
what wastes are being measured and at what point in the solid waste
management system the measurements are being taken.
100
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NOTES AND REFERENCES
1. Darnay, A., and W.E. Franklin, The Role of Packaging in Solid Waste
Management 1966 to 1976. Public Health Service Publication No. 1855.
U.S. Government Printing Office. 1969.
2. Franklin, W.E., and A. Darnay. The Role of Nonpackaging Paper in
Solid Waste Management, 1966 to 1976. Public Health Service
Publication No. 2040. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1971.
3. Darnay, A., and W.E. Franklin. Salvage Markets for Materials in Solid
Wastes. Environmental Protection Publication SW-29c. U.S.
Government Printing Office. 1972.
4. Franklin, W.E., et al. Base Line Forecasts of Resource Recovery 1972 to
1990. Midwest Research Institute for the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency. March 1975.
5. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste
Management Programs. Second Report to Congress: Resource Recovery
and Source Reduction (SW-122). 1974.
6. Smith, F.L., Jr. A Solid Waste Estimation Procedure: Material Flows
Approach. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (SW-147). May 1975.
7. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste
Management Programs. Third Report to Congress: Resource Recovery
and Source Reduction (SW-161). 1975.
8. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste
Management Programs. Fourth Report to Congress: Resource Recovery
and Waste Reduction (SW-600). 1977.
9. Franklin Associates, Ltd. Post-consumer Solid Waste and Resource
Recovery Baseline. Prepared for the Resource Conservation Committee.
May 16,1979.
10. Franklin Associates, Ltd. Post-consumer Solid Waste and Resource
Recovery Baseline: Working Papers. Prepared for the Resource
Conservation Committee. May 16, 1979.
11. Resource Conservation Committee. Choices for Conservation: Final
Report to the President and Congress (SW-779). July 1979.
101
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12. Franklin Associates, Ltd. Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in
the United States, 1960 to 2000. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
July 11,1986.
13. Franklin Associates, Ltd. Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in
the United States, 1960 to 2000 (Update 1988). U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency. March 30,1988.
14. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Municipal Solid Waste Task
Force, Office of Solid Waste. The Solid Waste Dilemma: An Agenda
for Action. February 1989.
15. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste. Subtitle D
Study Phase I Report (EPA/530-SW-054). October 1986.
16. American Paper Institute, Inc. The Dictionary of Paper. Fourth Edition.
1980.
17. Franklin Associates, Ltd. Characterization of Products Containing Lead
and Cadmium in Municipal Solid Waste in the United States, 1970 to
2000. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. January 1989.
18. Levy, S.J. "Municipal Waste Combustion Inventory." U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. June 5, 1989.
19. National Solid Wastes Management Association, Institute of Resource
Recovery. "Waste-To-Energy Capacity Soars, Survey Shows." Resource
Recovery Focus. Summer 1989.
20. Alvarez, R.J. "Status of Incineration and Generation of Energy from
Thermal Processing of MSW." In Proceedings of the 1980 National
Waste Processing Conference, American Society of Mechanical
Engineers, Solid Waste Processing Division. May 11-14, 1980.
21. Radian Corp. Municipal Waste Combustion Study Report to Congress.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (NTIS PB87-206074). June 1987.
22. Hunt, R.G., Sellers, V.R., Franklin, W.E., Nelson, J.M., Rathje, W.L.,
Hughes, W.W., and Wilson, D.C. Estimates of the Volume of MSW and
Selected Components in Trash Cans and Landfills. Franklin Associates,
Ltd. (with The Garbage Project) for The Council for Solid Waste
Solutions, Washington, D.C. February 1990.
23. Reference 1, Appendix B, Table 20.
24 Based on limited landfill sampling, the density of diapers was assumed
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to be approximately 90 percent of the density of textile products.
25. Reference 1, Appendix B, Table 21.
26. Estimates based on very limited experimental data with landfill samples.
27. Taylor, A.C., and Kashmanian, R.M. Study and Assessment of Eight
Yard Waste Composting Programs Across the United States. U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency. December 1988.
28. John Christopher Madole Associates. Yard Waste Management Action
Plan for San Jose, California. Final Draft Report. March 1988.
29. Franklin Associates estimates based on experiments with nonlandfilled
material.
30. Rankin, S. Recycling Plastics in Municipal Solid Wastes. Center for
Plastics Recycling Research at Rutgers. The State University of New
Jersey. January 1989.
31. Based on densities from Reference 23 as applied to a detailed profile of
this category.
32. No measurements were taken for durable goods. The value shown
assumes that durable products have the same landfill density as
nondurable products made of the same materials.
33. Franklin Associates, Ltd. Characterization of Plastic Products in
Municipal Solid Waste. Final Report. Council for Solid Waste
Solutions. January 1990.
34. Franklin, W.E. Paper Recycling: The View to 1995. Summary Report.
American Paper Institute. February 1990.
35. Congress of the United States, Office of Technology Assessment. Facing
America's Trash: What Next for Municipal Solid Waste? (OTA-O-424).
October 1989.
36. Korzun, E.A., et al. "The Impact of Increased Recycle Rates on Markets
for Recycled Paper, Plastic, Metals, Glass, and Rubber in Florida." Florida
Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Florida. Undated.
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Appendix A
MATERIAL FLOWS METHODOLOGY
The material flows methodology is illustrated in Figures A-land A-2.
The crucial first step is making estimates of the generation of the materials
and products in MSW (Figure A-l).
DOMESTIC PRODUCTION
Data on domestic production of materials and products are compiled
for 1960 through 1988, using published data series. U.S. Department of
Commerce sources are used where available, but in several instances more
detailed information on production of goods by end use is available from
trade associations. The goal is to obtain a consistent historical data series for
each product and/or material.
CONVERTING SCRAP
The domestic production numbers are then adjusted for converting or
fabrication scrap generated in the production processes. Examples of these
kinds of scrap would be clippings from plants that make boxes from
paperboard, glass scrap (cullet) generated in a glass bottle plant, or plastic scrap
from a fabricator of plastic consumer products. This scrap typically has a high
value because it is dean and readily identifiable, and it is almost always
recovered and recycled within the industry that generated it. Thus,
con verting/fabrication scrap is not counted as part of the postconsumer
recovery of waste reported later in this report.
ADJUSTMENTS FOR IMPORTS/EXPORTS
In some instances imports and exports of products are a significant part
of MSW, and adjustments are made to account for this. For example, up to
60 percent of the newsprint used in the United States is imported from
Canada. Examples of other products where imports are significant include
appliances, tires, clothing, and footwear.
DIVERSION
Some consumer products are diverted from the municipal waste
stream because of the way they are used. For example, the statistics on tissue
paper production include items such as toilet paper, which is assumed to be
disposed into the sewer rather than MSW, and cigarette papers, which are
assumed to be mostly consumed in use. Paper and paperboard production
figures also include building materials and board used in automobiles, for
A-l
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Domestic Production
of
Materials/Products
Imports
of
Materials/Products
Conversion/
fabricating
Scrap
Exports
of
Materials/Products
Diversion
of
Materials/Products
Municipal
Solid Waste
Generation
Figure A-1. Material flows methodology for estimating
generation of products and materials in municipal solid waste.
A-2
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example. Adjustments are made to the data where appropriate to account for
these kinds of uses.
ADJUSTMENTS FOR PRODUCT LIFETIME
Some products, such as newspapers and packaging, normally have a
very short lifetime; these products are assumed to be discarded in the same
year they are produced. In other instances, durable goods like appliances and
tires have relatively long lifetimes. Data on average product lifetimes are
used to adjust the data series to account for this. For example, water heaters
are estimated to have a 10-year lifetime. Thus, water heaters produced in 1978
were added to product discards in 1988.
MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE GENERATION
The result of these estimates and calculations is a material-by-material
and product-by-product estimate of municipal solid waste generation for each
year in the series (Figure A-l). The term "generation" as used in this report
thus refers to the weight of materials and products as they enter the
municipal waste stream, before any recovery for recycling or composting takes
place, and before any combustion takes place.
ESTIMATING MSW MANAGEMENT ALTERNATIVES
The municipal solid waste stream as defined at various points in
Figure A-2 can be related to the MSW management hierarchy. MSW
generation represents the point before which source reduction efforts can be
applied in an attempt to reduce the amounts of waste generated. Information
on materials and product generation also provides data as to the amounts of
waste available for recycling, composting, or other management alternatives
and opportunities.
Recovery for Recycling
Recovery of materials for recycling comes near the top of the MSW
management hierarchy. Good data on recycling of materials are available
from several trade associations, although the data vary in reliability and
consistency of the historical data series. In some instances estimates were
made by Franklin Associates.
It should be noted that these estimates are for recovery of materials for
recycling. Estimation of residues left after the recycling process (e.g., sludges
from deinking paper or unprocessible materials) was beyond the scope of this
study.
A-3
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MSW
Generation
f
Recovery for
Recycling
Recovery for
Composting
T
Discards after
Recycling and
Composting
f
Recovery for
Combustion with
Energy Recovery
Recovery for
Combustion without
Energy Recovery
Discards
to Landfill and
Other Disposal
Figure A-2. Material flows methodology for estimating
recovery and discards of municipal solid waste.
A-4
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Recovery for Composting
Widespread emphasis on composting of materials in MSW (primarily
yard wastes), is a comparatively recent development, but one that stands with
recycling near the top of the hierarchy. For the first time, estimates of
composting were made for this report, although no really good records are
available as yet. The methodology used was to contact states that are
requiring that yard wastes be kept out of landfills, now or in the future, and to
estimate the future impact of these new regulations. Thus, these estimates of
composting activity consist primarily of projections into the future.
As in the case of recycling, no estimates of unusable residues left after
composting were made. In addition, only large-scale composting was
included; backyard composting by individuals was considered to be a source
reduction measure.
Discards After Recycling and Composting
The estimates of recovery for recycling and composting permit the
preparation of tables summarizing the materials and products discarded into
the waste stream after those activities are completed. The composition of the
waste stream on a percentage basis was recalculated, so that the effect of the
removal of various materials for recycling and composting can be
determined.
The waste stream thus characterized would, on average, be the waste
stream available for combustion processes, or for landfill if no combustion is
done.
Combustion with Energy Recovery
As in previous reports, estimates of historical and projected municipal
waste combustion with energy recovery were made. Energy recovery from
MSW was estimated by compiling published data from several sources on
current facilities, those under construction, and those in various stages of
planning. Throughput in combustion facilities is normally less than design
capacities. Where published data on facility throughputs were not available,
Franklin Associates made estimates.
As was the case for recycling and composting, no estimates of the
amounts of residues from MSW combustion were included, since these
residues are not classified as MSW in the list of Subtitle D wastes.
A-5
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Combustion without Energy Recovery
Previous reports in this series have not included estimates of
combustion without energy recovery, but to complete the estimates of all
MSW management alternatives in the hierarchy, these estimates were made
for the current report. The methodology was similar to that for combustion
with energy recovery.
DISCARDS OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
Completion of all the steps above permits calculation of the remaining
quantities of MSW after materials are removed for recycling, composting, and
combustion. These discards of MSW are generally assumed to be landfilled.
It should be noted, however, that some MSW becomes litter, and some is still
self-disposed, stored on-site, or burned, particularly in rural areas. No good
estimates of these quantities are available, but they are presumed to be
relatively quite small.
CHARACTERIZING FOOD, YARD, AND OTHER WASTES
The material flows methodology works quite well for products in
MSW, because production numbers are available from published sources for
the products. Food wastes, yard wastes, and some miscellaneous inorganic
wastes are, however, also present in municipal solid waste. Estimates of the
quantities of these wastes are made based on sampling data from as wide a
range of sources as possible. These sources present food, yard, and other
wastes as percentages of the waste streams sampled. A composite of these
sampling percentages over the historical period covered by the study was
used, along with the total quantities of product wastes developed by the
material flows methodology, to estimate the food, yard, and miscellaneous
inorganic wastes.
Moisture is transferred from food and yard wastes to other materials in
MSW before sampling studies are performed. Adjustments were made to
account for this fact, so that weights of all materials and products in MSW are
presented in the "as generated" condition rather than after moisture transfer
has taken place during the collection and disposal process.
A-6
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