Production & Disposal of Waste

Americans produce nearly 208 million tons of solid waste per year, and the number is growing. All waste produced is classified into three different categories: physical, chemical and biological. Waste is disposed of through different methods to keep the environment clean.

Producers

• Everyone produces waste in their daily lives. Each American is estimated to generate 4.3 lbs of waste per day. Industrial waste is far greater: the EPA reports that 7.6 billion tons of industrial waste is produced yearly in the United States alone.

Categories

• The two distinct categories of waste are hazardous and non-hazardous. Hazardous waste is immediately dangerous to public health and the environment, whereas non-hazardous is not, but it may have negative long-term effects.

Disposal

• The most common type of waste disposal is the landfill. Incineration is also another common method. Recycling has grown in popularity, proving effective in dealing with solid, non-hazardous waste.

Oversight

• The EPA is the government agency that oversees waste production and disposal in the United States. It is responsible for regulations intended to protect public health and safety.