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Please see EPA's Climate Change site for current information on climate change and global warming. EPA no longer updates EPA's Global Warming Site, but is maintaining this archive for historical purposes. Thank you for visiting the archive of EPA's Global Warming Site.
General Information on the Link Between Solid Waste and Climate Change
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Solid waste disposal contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in a variety of ways. This page describes how waste disposal produces GHG emissions and ways these emissions can be reduced.
What is the link between solid waste and climate change?
 Click for larger image and expanded description |
The different sources of GHG emissions from waste are illustrated in the graphic to the right. The disposal of solid waste produces GHGs in a number of ways. First, the anaerobic decomposition of waste in landfills produces methane, a GHG 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Second, the incineration of waste produces carbon dioxide as a by-product. In addition, the transportation of waste to disposal sites produces GHGs from the combustion of the fuel used in the equipment. Finally, the disposal of materials indicate that new products are being produced as replacements; this production often requires the use of fossil fuels to obtain raw materials and manufacture the items.
How can certain waste management strategies reduce GHG emissions?Waste prevention and recycling—jointly referred to as waste reduction—help us better manage the solid waste we generate. But preventing waste and recycling also are potent strategies for reducing GHG emissions. Together, waste prevention and recycling:
- Reduce methane emissions from landfills. Waste prevention and recycling (including composting) divert organic wastes from landfills, thereby reducing the methane released when these materials decompose.
- Reduce emissions from incinerators. Recycling and waste prevention allow some materials to be diverted from incinerators and thus reduce GHG emissions from the combustion of waste.
- Reduce emissions from energy consumption. Recycling saves energy. Manufacturing goods from recycled materials typically requires less energy than producing goods from virgin materials. Waste prevention is even more effective at saving energy. When people reuse things or when products are made with less material, less energy is needed to extract, transport, and process raw materials and to manufacture products. The payoff? When energy demand decreases, fewer fossil fuels are burned and less carbon dioxide is emitted to the atmosphere.
- Increase storage of carbon in trees. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store it in wood, in a process called "carbon sequestration." Waste prevention and recycling of paper products allow more trees to remain standing in the forest, where they can continue to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Back to top
What about wastes already in landfills?EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) demonstrates how to put waste to good use. As organic wastes decompose in landfills, they produce methane gas, which contributes to global warming. LMOP shows companies, utilities, and communities how to capture landfill gas and convert it to energy. Back to top
Where can I get general information on climate change or specific EPA climate studies and reports?Explore the Global Warming Site. Go directly to the Publications section, try out the site's Search Engine, or take a look at the Sitemap for an overview of what is here. You can also find descriptions of many additional climate sites by searching in the Global Warming Links page, which allows you to search by category and/or enter text.
You can also call EPA's Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Hotline at (800) 424-9346. For EPA reports and general information on climate change, write to: EPA, State and Local Capacity Building Branch, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue (6205 J) Washington, DC 20460. Back to top
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