Solid waste legislation

United States Solid Waste Legislation and Regulations. 25-12... 

UNITED STATES SOLID WASTE LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS... 

Solid Waste Disposal Act, 1965 Modern solid-waste legislation dates from 1965, when the Solid Waste Disposal Act, Title II of Public Law 88-272, was enacted by Congress. The principal intent of this act was to promote the demonstration, construction, and application of solid waste management and resource-recovery systems that preserve and enhance the quality of air, water, and land resources. 

CSWS Reports on Solid Waste Legislation. Plastics Engineering, p. 5, Dec. 1989. 

Much of the current activity in the field of sohd waste management, especially with respect to hazardous wastes and resources recoveiy, is a direct consequence of recent legislation. Therefore, it is important to review the principal legislation that has affected the entire field of solid-waste management. 

The atmospheric movement of pollutants from sources to receptors is only one form of translocation. A second one involves our attempt to control air pollutants at the source. The control of parhculate matter by wet or dry scrubbing techniques 3delds large quantities of waste materials—often toxic—which are subsequently taken to landfills. If these wastes are not properly stored, they can be released to soil or water systems. The prime examples involve the disposal of toxic materials in dump sites or landfills. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 and subsequent revisions are examples of legislation to ensure proper management of solid waste disposal and to minimize damage to areas near landfills (4). 

In the United States, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA) is the major legislation covering the disposal of solid and hazardous wastes (2). This act provides a multifaceted approach to solving the problems associated with the generation of approximately 5 billion metric tons of solid waste each year in the United States. It places particular emphasis on the regulation of hazardous wastes. This law established the Office of Solid Waste within the Environmental Protection Agency and directed the agency to publish hazardous waste characteristics and criteria. 

In addition to the solid waste problem, we can also expect that with expanding population or expanding demands of a static population, there will be societal pressure to reduce material usage over and above cost factors. These pressures could result in legislation to expand the environmental protection philosophy. For example, since plant materials are a renewable resource as well as readily recyclable, we may expect forced increases in paper-based packages. 

Figures are given for annual waste production in the Paris area and its composition is outlined. Many of the Paris area cities joined with Paris to create a solid wastes metropolitan authority for domestic waste treatment (SYCTOM). Three incineration plants bum 75% of the SYCTOM area solid wastes and the energy produced provides 43% of the energy consumed by the Paris urban heating network. Landfill is now expensive. There has been a reduction in the number of sites and French legislation prohibits landfill disposal of untreated solid wastes after 2002. A sorting unit at the landfill site was due to open in 1993 and another unit was planned for one of the incineration plants.

Federal Legislation Related to Solid Waste Management... 

It should be noted that early remedial actions for contaminated soil consisted primarily of excavation and removal of the contaminated soil from the site and its disposal at a landfill. SARA strongly recommends on-site treatment that permanently and significantly reduces the volume, toxicity, or mobility of hazardous substances, and utilizes cost-effective permanent solutions. The legislation prohibits land disposal of hazardous wastes unless U.S. EPA determines otherwise (as in the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments, HSWA). 

Public perception and the resulting trends in legislation have led manufacturers of plastics and plastic products to realize that they either have to act and get involved with the issue or be prepared to shoulder much of the blame for the solid waste crisis and face tremendous restrictions on their industry. The companies initial responses included the formation of both internal divisions and cooperative industry associations to approach the issues of plastics recycling and solid waste management. 

EPA s Office of Solid Waste has proposed that an integrated system of waste reduction, recycling, incineration, and landfilling be established. This view seems to be supported by most industries and many legislative and environmental groups, but with different emphasis on the different components. EPA has also set a goal for recycling 25% of solid waste nationwide. 

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