Waste Management is an important concept for environmental sustainability in Iowa and elsewhere in the country. Each year, the United States of America generates over millions of tons of municipal solid waste (MSW), making the country one of the largest waste-generating nations in the world.
The two points of proper waste management are to protect public health, the environment (flora and fauna) and contribute to the conservation of natural resources. There are new technologies for recycling and waste treatment, but fundamentally, the way that we view waste management has to change.
Insights on Waste Generation in Iowa
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the United States generates between 292 million tons of municipal solid waste annually. Waste generation includes common items like packaging, food waste, electronics and household goods.
According to Bill Tanner, CEO of Midwest waste management firm Same Day Dumpster Rental Des Moines, an average American produces around 4.9 pounds of waste daily, a statistic that has been on the rise over decades thanks to consumerism and disposable items.
Major Sources of Waste
- Household waste: Residual waste consists of food scraps, packaging, plastics, paper, and textiles
- Commercial Waste: Generally businesses are major contributors to waste in the form of office supplies, packaging, and unsold goods
- Industrial Waste: Manufacturing & production facilities create unsafe waste (chemicals, metals, byproducts)
- Construction and Demolition Waste: This type of waste consists of concrete, wood, drywall, and many other building materials that are disposed of during construction and renovation projects
- Electronic Waste (E-Waste): The fast-forwarding technological progress has led to the dumping of old electronic devices – smartphones, laptops, television, etc
Waste Disposal Methods in the US
Landfilling, recycling, composting, and waste-to-energy (WTE) conversion are among the many methods the United States uses to manage its waste. It’s hard to compare methods because their environmental impact varies, but recycling only works if infrastructure, buying in and the right policies are in place.
Landfilling
It nonetheless prevails in the USA, where over half of all municipal solid waste goes to the landfill. The U.S. has about 2,600 active landfills — and while modern landfills are designed to contain waste and can be beneficial, they still create challenges, including:
- Greenhouse Gas: Organic waste that decomposes produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas responsible for climate change
- Groundwater Contamination: Unmanaged landfills can also seep leachate leading to soil and water contamination
- Space Constraints: The majority of landfills are filling, hence the demand for alternate waste disposal methods
Recycling
Waste recycling minimizes dumping and saves raw utilities. The USA recycles about 32% of its municipal solid waste, but this percentage falls behind those of countries like Germany and South Korea, which have recycling rates higher than 50%.
Commonly Recycled Materials:
- Paper and cardboard
- Glass bottles
- Metal cans
- Plastics (PET, HDPE)
- Electronics (batteries, circuit boards, etc.)
Challenges in Recycling
- Contamination Issues: One of the most common reasons for waste is improper separation of materials that leads to contamination, preventing efficient processing of recyclable materials
- Market Fluctuations: The value of recyclables is based on global demand and impact the financial sustainability of recycling programs
- No Standard Programs Many municipalities’ recycling guidelines vary, which can result in confusion and lower participation rates
Composting: How to Recycle Organic Matter
It is a great method for getting rid of organic waste such as food scraps, yard waste, and biodegradable materials. Only 5% of food waste is composted in the USA, while all the rest typically goes to landfill, where it then produces methane emissions. Increasing the number of composting programs can help alleviate the environmental consequences of food waste.
Benefits of Composting:
- Reduces landfill waste
- Enhances soil and fosters eco-friendly agriculture
- Reduces greenhouse gas emissions
Waste-to-Energy (WTE) - converting waste into power
Waste to energy plants turn non recyclable waste into electricity and heat through combustion and other conversion technologies. WTE facilities currently process around 11% of waste in the USA. Although this practice lessens landfill reliance, worries linger regarding air pollution and emissions produced during incineration.
Difficulties in managing waste
Despite measures to enhance waste management, some key issues need to be addressed:
Increasing Waste Production
The increase of plastics, packaging, and electronics being produced, has contributed to an increase in waste being generated, outpacing both recycling and composting.
Lack of Public Awareness and Participation
But many Americans don’t understand how to recycle correctly, which can contaminate the recycling waste stream and make recycling less efficient. In addition, participation in composting programs is minimal.
Policies for Waste Management Are On Any Other Day
Waste management policies are decided at the state and municipal levels, resulting in differences in recycling rates and landfills used across the United States. Organizational efficiency and effectiveness would benefit from a standardised national approach.
A China Import Ban on Trash
The USA used to export a large proportion of its recyclable material to China for decades. But China cracked down on imports of what it called garbage in 2018, and the USA has been left to deal with more of its own recyclables. But this led to more landfill use, and difficulty in alternative recycling markets.
A New Future: Solutions and Innovations
The USA should explore innovative waste management strategies and policies that help in addressing such challenges which promote sustainability.
Enhancing and Expanding Recycling Initiatives
- Standardizing recycling, nation-wide Instead of a blanket approach to recycling where everything is mixed in together, you could implement standardized recycling guidelines that would greatly reduce confusion and ultimately participation
- This can result in a higher proportion of what is known as advanced recycling technology, or chemical recycling, being used to process plastics
Advocacy Based Circular Economy Practices
- If recyclability is considered while designing products, it would help to minimize the generation of waste
- Wider expansion of extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs — in which companies are responsible for the disposal of their products at end-of-life — could also help to minimize landfill waste
Expansion of Composting Infrastructure
- Expanding municipal composting programs could also help keep organic waste out of landfills
- Incentives for businesses and households will spur widespread adoption by making composting the less expensive option
Investing in Innovations that Convert Waste to Energy
Strengthening Government Policies and Regulations
- Federal mandates for waste reduction and recycling could establish consistency across states
- Policies such as banning single-use plastics, and switching to biodegradable alternatives help lessen plastic pollution immensely
Waste management in Iowa is a complex problem that attracts a multi-faceted solution. Although landfills are still the main waste disposal method, more recycling, composting and waste-to-energy projects can be part of an environmental waste system.
Inconsistency of subjects, lack of public awareness, increase rate of waste generation all needs to be overcome for a longer and green future. The USA can move the needle in waste management with smarter waste management systems, innovative policies, and greater public participation towards a more circular economy and efficient resource management.