Americans generate about 160 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) per year not counting construction debris. That's enough garbage to fill a convoy of trash trucks reaching half way from the earth to the moon. That much garbage equals about 1,300 pounds (590 kg) of waste per year for every person in the United States, or about 25 pounds (11.5 kg) per person per week. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tells us that every year Americans throw away 60 billion cans, 28 million bottles, 4 million tons of plastic, 40 million tons of paper, 100 million tires, and 3 million cars. If growth in disposal rates continue, Americans may generate nearly 2,000 million tons of MSW by the year 2000.

Municipal solid waste is waste generated by households, commercial businesses, institutions, light industry and agricultural enterprises and nontoxic wastes from hospitals and laboratories. Municipal waste is composed of (in order of volume contribution) paper/packaging, yard...