Page 49 - Solid Waste Analysis and Minimization a Systems Approach

A BRIEF HISTORY OF SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT 27

states and three countries, the barge draws public attention to the perceived landfill
capacity shortage in the Northeast. The garbage is finally incinerated in Brooklyn
and the ash is disposed of in a landfill near Islip, Long Island.

1989––EPA sets a 25 percent national waste reduction and recycling goal.
Twenty-six states have comprehensive laws making recycling an integral part of
solid waste management.

1991––EPA sets improved solid waste landfill standards that include requirements
for location, groundwater protection, monitoring, and postclosure care. EPA also
issues new performance and emissions standards for municipal solid waste (MSW)
combustors.
More than 3000 household hazardous waste community collection programs
have been documented in all 50 states.

1992––President Bush issues Executive Order 12780, to stimulate waste reduction,
recycling, and procurement of recycled goods in all federal agencies.

1994––EPA launches the WasteWise program to help businesses, educational insti-
tutions, and other large facilities reduce waste and recycle more materials.

1994––EPA launches its Jobs Through Recycling initiative to bring together the
economic development and recycling communities through grants, networking, and
information sharing.
President Clinton issues Executive Order 12873, which requires federal agencies
to establish waste prevention and recycling programs and to buy and use recycled
and environmentally preferable products and services. Clinton creates the Office of
the Federal Environmental Executive to enforce this executive order.

1995––EPA issues the first Comprehensive Procurement Guideline, designating
19 recycled-content products for which the federal government should give pro-
curement preference.

1996––The nation reaches a 25 percent recycling rate. EPA sets a new recycling
goal of 35 percent.

1996––The first voluntary recycling and composting initiatives are held at the
Olympics, at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Organizers aim to divert 12 million
aluminum cans, 20 million PET bottles, and 3000 tons of paper for recycling.

1999––EPA’s “Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: Facts and Figures,” updated
ever year, provides data on U.S. waste generation, recovery, and disposal rates.

2000––EPA establishes a link between global climate change and solid waste
management, showing that waste reduction and recycling help stop global climate
change.

2000—More than 5000 U.S. cities are using EPA’s pay-as-you-throw programs, in
which residents pay for MSW collection based on the amount of waste they throw
away—encouraging recycling and waste reduction.