Sustainable Materials Management

Municipal solid waste (MSW) disposal has long been associated with harmful environmental impacts. Particular concerns include destruction of natural habitats by landfill construction and operation, aesthetic issues caused by litter at landfills, and contamination of underlying ground water by pollutants like Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). MSW disposal also has ramifications for climate change, as landfills can release the greenhouse gas methane to the atmosphere. With each US citizen generating about 2.3 kg of MSW daily, it’s hard to overstate the enormity of the challenge posed by disposal of MSW. In this unit, you’ll evaluate three approaches that a local community might use to manage its solid waste: operating a recycling distribution center, starting a composting facility, and building a “secure” landfill. Your challenge will be to identify the solution that will do the most to combat the effects of MSW disposal on climate change, minimize other environmental and human health impacts, and make economic sense for the town.