“Wastes that are not generated do not have to be managed.”

Policy was originally under the control of local governments

Federal- level legislation: 1) Solid Waste Disposal Act (1965) 2) Resource Recovery Act of 1970

◦ EPA jurisdiction ◦ focus on recycling◦ encourage states to develop waste management

programs

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 1976◦ EPA given power to close local dumps and set

regs for landfills◦ combustion facilities covered by air pollution/

hazardous waste jurisdiction of EPA◦ required states to develop comprehensive waste

management programs

Superfund Act of 1980 addressed abandoned hazardous waste sites (41% of all old landfills)

Hazardous/ Solid Waste Amendments of 1984 - EPA given greater responsibility to set solid waste criteria for all hazardous waste facilities - even household waste

Feds have put pressure on states to develop IWMP (integrated waste management plans)

1) waste reduction - materialistic lifestyles, affluence, overconsumption define the US ‘throwaway society’.

2) Government incentives to reduce waste include: a) WASTEWISE - reduction of MSW by setting up

partnerships with local governments, schools, organizations and multinational corporations.◦ - voluntary - allowing partners to design their own solid

waste reduction programs◦ - Example - TARGETstores achieved savings of 22 million

pounds of packaging over two years. The company recycled 350 million pounds of fiber, plastic, and other materials

B) PAYT program in 4000 cities/towns, reduces waste 14 - 27% on average while increasing recycling 32% - 59%

C) EPR - extended product responsibility◦ assigning some responsibility for reducing the

impact of a product during each stage of its “life cycle”

◦ example Xerox/ HP makes it easy for customers to return used toners. They then recycle the units.

3) waste disposal ◦ WTE will help◦ local governments should attempt to dispose the

waste locally using modern landfill methods and the creation of parks, preserves or wetlands

4) Recycle and reuse◦ first reuse or reduce, then recycle◦ make more durable goods◦ EPA goal of 35% recycling by 2005 (?)◦ spotchecks - ban recycled items from general

landfills◦ enact a national bottle-deposit law ◦ set up ‘recycling loops”

Actions taken by the government to encourage recycling:

must use a minimum post-consumer levels of recycled paper and glass

must purchase recycled products even if they are more expensive than virgin products

all packaging is required to be made (at least partly) of recycled materials