Solid waste includes garbage, construction debris, commercial refuse, sludge from water supply or waste treatment plants, or air pollution control facilities, and other discarded materials. 

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) was enacted by Congress in 1976 and amended in 1984. The act's primary goal is to protect human health and the environment from the potential hazards of waste disposal. In addition, RCRA calls for conservation of energy and natural resources, reduction in waste generated, and environmentally sound waste management practices.

To Reduce…

Means consuming and throwing away less. It is known as waste prevention or source reduction. It actually prevents the generation of waste in the first place, so it is the most preferred method of waste management.

To Reuse…

Means to repair items, donate items to charity and community groups, or resell items.

To Recycle…

Means turning materials, which would otherwise become waste, into valuable resources.
  

Recycling FACTS

• Americans dump 180 million tons of garbage annually, more than 40% is paper.
• Every day American businesses generate enough paper to circle the Earth 20 times.
• Plastic bottles take 450 years to decompose.
• Paper takes 100 years to decompose.
• Polystyrene cups and glass take 1 million years to decompose – so they don’t!
• Aluminum cans decompose in 200-500 years.
  

Recycling BENEFITS

• Recycling cell phones reduces greenhouse gas emissions, keeps valuable material out of landfills and incinerators, and conserves natural resources.
• Source reduction (waste prevention) prevents emissions of many greenhouse gases, reduces pollutants, saves energy, conserves resources, and reduces the need for new landfills and combustors.
• Recycling, including composting, diverted 82 million tons of material away from disposal in 2006, up from 15 million tons in 1980.
  

Further information can be obtained on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Website at www.epa.gov.