This book illustrates practical approaches to recycling solutions, and will provide needed guidance to public officials and other interested parties. This book addresses both art and science aspects of recycling. Many communities are faced with difficult choices when it comes to expanding or maintaining current recycling efforts.

Solid Waste Recycling and Processing, Second Edition, provides best-practice guidance to solid waste managers and recycling coordinators. The book covers all aspects of solid waste processing, volume reduction, and recycling, encompassing typical recyclable materials (paper, plastics, cans, and organics), construction and demolition debris, electronics, and more. It includes techniques, technologies, and programs to help maximize customer participation rates and revenues, as well as to minimize operating costs. The book is packed with lessons learned by the author during the implementation of the most successful programs worldwide, and includes numerous case studies showing how different systems work in different settings. This book also takes on industry debates such as the merits of curbside-sort versus single-stream recycling and the use of advanced technology in materials recovery facilities. It provides key facts and figures, and brief summaries of legislation in the United States, Europe, and Asia. An extensive glossary demystifies the terminology and acronyms used in different sectors and geographies. The author also explains emerging concepts in recycling such as zero waste, sustainability, LEED certification, and pay-as-you-throw, and places waste management and recycling in wider economic, environmental (sustainability), political, and societal contexts. Covers single- and mixed-waste streams Evaluates the technologies and tradeoffs of recycling of materials vs. integrated solutions, including combustion and other transformational options Covers recycling as part of the bigger picture of solid waste management, processing and disposal

This Guide has been developed particularly for solid waste management practitioners, such as local government officials, facility owners and operators, consultants, and regulatory agency specialists. Contains technical and economic information to help these practitioners meet the daily challenges of planning, managing, and operating municipal solid waste (MSW) programs and facilities. The Guide's primary goals are to encourage reduction of waste at the source and to foster implementation of integrated solid waste management systems that are cost-effective and protect human health and the environment. Illustrated.

This book presents the application of system analysis techniques with case studies to help readers learn how the techniques can be applied, how the problems are solved, and which sustainable management strategies can be reached.

The world is currently experiencing increased environmental contamination with solid waste, which is one of the greatest environmental threats today. Although solid waste is harmful, proper management and profitable recycling can make it beneficial to the environment. In this regard, estimation of the true quantities of solid wastes generated annually in developed and developing countries is important for evaluating suitable strategies for economic and sustainable procedures of waste management. This book presents an interesting review of the economics of solid waste management in various developing and developed countries. It examines several economic applications of solid waste, such as innovative methods to generate bioelectricity from organic waste using microbial fuel cells and using solid waste as an alternative fuel in cement kilns.