Integrated Waste Management (IWM): A Simple Guide to Reducing Waste

Integrated Waste Management (IWM) is a smart way to manage waste. It helps us recycle and reduce the trash we create. This method values waste as a useful resource and supports sustainable practices.

1. Recycling

Recycling is one of the best ways to reduce waste. In 2018, Americans recycled and composted over 94 million tons of waste! This means about 35% of what we throw away was recycled. Recycling helps keep trash out of landfills and saves natural resources. Here are a few examples:

• Aluminum Recycling: Recycling aluminum can save up to 95% of the energy used to make new aluminum from scratch.
• Paper Recycling: When we recycle one ton of paper, we save 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, and 4,100 kilowatts of electricity.

2. Composting

Composting is another important method in IWM. It turns organic waste, like food scraps, into useful fertilizers for plants. The EPA says that around 25% of the trash we create is organic material that can be composted. Here’s why composting is great:

• Less Trash in Landfills: Composting can keep about 30% of organic waste out of landfills. This helps reduce methane emissions, which is a harmful gas that comes from decomposing waste.
• Healthier Soil: Compost adds nutrients to soil, helps plants grow better, and keeps water in the ground, making ecosystems healthier.

3. Waste-to-Energy (WTE) Processes

Waste-to-energy processes turn non-recyclable waste into energy, like electricity and heat. In the U.S., there are around 87 waste-to-energy facilities that handle over 30 million tons of waste each year. Here are some important facts about WTE:

• Creating Energy: These facilities produce about 600 trillion BTUs of energy, enough to power more than 1.5 million homes.
• Less Waste in Landfills: WTE can keep around 90% of waste from going to landfills, which helps lessen the amount of trash and its impact on the environment.

4. Overall Benefits

IWM provides many benefits for everyone:

• Using Resources Wisely: By recycling, composting, and turning waste into energy, IWM creates a system where we reduce waste and reuse materials.
• Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Good waste management can cut down on the roughly 13% of greenhouse gases that come from landfills in the U.S.
• Economic Benefits: Investing in recycling and composting can create jobs. The recycling industry alone supports over 1.1 million jobs and adds $236 billion to the U.S. economy each year.

In summary, Integrated Waste Management helps us recover resources efficiently through recycling, composting, and waste-to-energy processes. This approach not only reduces trash but also supports the environment and conserves our resources. This is important for tackling both current and future environmental issues.