improved recycling

Define waste

Material with no value or negative value that is generated as a by‑product of economic activity and affects the environment if unmanaged

Define reuse

Using a product again in its original form; considered source reduction

Define recycling

Collecting and processing used materials so they can be reprocessed into new products

Define sustainability

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

What is the major federal law governing solid and hazardous waste

RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act)

What are the four components of the EPA Integrated Waste Management Hierarchy in order

Source reduction → Recycling → Combustion with energy recovery → Landfilling

How much MSW was generated in the US

292.4 million tons

What is the range of landfill avoidance in the US

24% to 35%

What is the largest class of MSW material generated by weight

Paper

In what region of the US is the recycling rate the highest

West Coast (California region)

How many MSW landfills are there in the US

1,908

What is the average landfill tipping fee

56.8 dollars per ton

What materials or products are most often banned from US landfills

Lead‑acid batteries, whole tires, used oil, yard waste, electronics, white goods, plastic bottles, aluminum cans. Construction and Demolition