The statistics are shocking: Humans produce over 2 billion tons of waste annually, with a projected 45% increase in municipal waste over the next 25 years. Yet surprisingly, only 13% of urban waste is converted into energy, while 80% of landfill contents could potentially be recycled or composted. In Part 1 of Landfills, Jorden and Kimberly consider the sophisticated management of modern landfills.
Key Topics Jorden and Kimberly discuss include:
The profitable side of waste management
Innovative waste-to-energy technologies
Successful municipal initiatives making a difference
Cultural differences in waste handling between North America and Europe
How landfills can power vehicles
Recommended Resources
An armchair landfill visit video
The EPA’s Municipal Solid Waste requirements
The UN’s Municipal Solid Waste report
The EPA’s waste data
The UNEP’s waste report
Criticisms of Waste-to-Energy conversion
Kimberly’s Substack newsletter post
