The United States Account for the largest share of waste in the world, with a total of 254 million tons of waste in 2012 alone. The majority of this was landfilled or recycled, with 202 million tons diverted away from landfills in 2012. In all, the United States, generated 254 million tons of waste in 2012, or 7.1 pounds per person per day, according to the EPA.
The EPA’s latest available data breaks down the types of waste disposed and recycled by state. The EPA reports that landfills received the largest share of waste (78 million tons, or 35 percent), with the largest state in terms of total waste disposed—Texas—relying on landfills for 60 percent of its waste disposal.
The US is at the forefront of recycling and waste management for a number of reasons. Firstly, being a high-income country, it generates more waste per capita than many other countries. Secondly, it has a relatively well-developed system of recycling at the household level which is in part a legacy of the first two waste reduction policies implemented by the Federal government (1976 Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and 1988 Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendment to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act).
The first policy regulated the amount of trash generated by each American household, the second forced the recycling of hazardous waste. Third, many kinds of waste (such as electronics, and lead acid batteries) are banned from landfills in the US, creating a large incentive for recycling.
Types Of Waste Management In Usa
Some of the most common forms of waste treatment in USA include: Incineration: It is a process in which the waste is reduced to ashes and gaseous products by burning. The ash left behind can be used as fertilizer. Landfill: It is a process by which the waste is buried in the ground and covered with soil. Composting: It is a process of converting waste into a black and odorless soil like mixture.
The waste is decomposed by use of micro-organisms which are present in the air. It is most commonly used to dispose of plant wastes. Recycling: It is a process in which the waste is segregated into different categories and reused. Some examples include plastic, paper and glass. Source reduction: It is an approach in which the waste generated is lessened by eliminating the root cause of the waste generation. The waste is reduced by improving the production process and making it more efficient.
Waste Management in USA is a major task for the country and it is taken care by a number of government related waste management departments. The types of the waste management in USA are: Air: Air Waste Management, E-Waste, Radioactive Waste Land: Hazardous Waste, Medical Waste, Solid Waste, Hazardous Waste, Non-hazardous Waste Water: Water Waste Management, Chemical Waste, Physical Waste, Biological Waste, Thermal Waste, Radioactive Waste, Radioactive Waste
Waste management is an important factor of any country’s economy. In the USA alone, there are millions of tons of waste materials generated every year. It is the responsibility of the state and local governments to ensure that the waste is properly managed.
The US Government has passed laws to prevent waste from being disposed of into bodies of water and to reduce the amount of toxic waste being used at construction sites. There are laws that regulate underground storage tanks for oil and chemical wastes. There are also rules and regulations for proper handling of radioactive wastes.
