TRASH (MSW)
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), commonly referred to as "garbage" or "trash," is the waste generated by households, businesses, institutions, and other non-industrial sources within a municipal or urban area. MSW can also vary in composition depending on factors like geographic location, population density, economic conditions, and cultural practices.
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Sustainable waste management practices typically involves waste collection, sorting, recycling, composting, waste-to-energy processes, landfill disposal, and public education. Effective management of MSW is crucial to minimize environmental and public health risks.
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Solid Waste Solutions For a Sustainable Future
Achieving sustainable waste solutions requires active participation and engagement from our local and global communities.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Poorly managed MSW can lead to environmental pollution, soil and water contamination, and harm to wildlife. Proper waste management helps mitigate these risks.
LANDFILLS
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Landfilling is a common method of MSW disposal, with sanitary landfills designed to minimize environmental contamination, but they come with several negative environmental, social, and health-related consequences.
SOURCE REDUCTION
Source reduction involves reducing waste at its source. The waste hierarchy prioritizes waste reduction strategies in the following order: reduce, reuse, recycle, and dispose.
GLOBAL GENERATION
Worldwide, approximately 2.01 billion metric tons of MSW are generated annually. The average global per capita generation of municipal solid waste is approximately 1.63 pounds per person per day.
REDUCING MSW IS Critical
Reducing Municipal Solid Waste is a critical part of sustainable waste management, as it conserves resources, reduces environmental impact, and minimizes the need for landfill space.
CONVERTING (MSW) INTO (WtE)
Waste-to-energy (WtE) is a process that converts municipal solid waste (MSW) into energy. By converting waste into energy, WtE can generate electricity and reduce the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from landfills.