Municipal Solid Waste is Derived From Residential, Commercial and Industrial Waste Streams
In 2010, 54.3% of the municipal solid waste generated in the United States of America was disposed of in landfills, 34% was recovered and 11.7% was combusted for energy recovery.(1) The materials found in a typical municipal solid waste stream, by percentage, are shown in the graph below:
Total MSW Generation (by Material), 2010 250 Million Tons (Before Recycling)
136 Million Tons of Municipal Solid Waste Was Delivered to Landfills in 2010
The processing, for re-use, of municipal solid waste in a Green Choice Bio-Recovery Center would significantly reduce the amount of material deposited at landfills. Wide scale implementation of Green Choice Bio-Recovery Centers would reduce the percentage of material sent to landfill (or combusted) to less than 15% of the current total municipal solid waste generated. The benefits of this recovery are impressive:
- The extension of the life expectancy of existing landfills up to 400%
- All organics are removed through Green Power waste conversion process, so the environmental impact at a landfill from the residual waste is reduced to almost 0.
- The elimination of decomposing waste material eliminates methane gas generation and the production of leachate and bad odors; and eliminates the attraction of vermin.
- The recovery of paper, metal, glass and plastics eliminates the wasting of valuable resources.
- The removal of all organic material and recyclables virtually eliminates any litter blowing from the landfill.
Contact us to learn more about how a Green Choice Bio-Recovery Center can help you recover, and generate value, from up to 90% of your municipal solid waste stream.
(1) EPA-530-F-11-005
