In 2008, Americans generated 250 million tons of non-hazardous municipal solid waste. Of that waste,
54.2 percent was discarded
33.2 percent was recovered
12.6 percent was burned with energy recovery at
590 kWh of electricity per ton
I
Fill in the table to answer the following:
How many tons were discarded, and what is the method by which solid waste is discarded?
How many tons were recovered, and what are the methods of recovery?
How many tons were burned, what was the method for producing electricity, and how much electricity
was generated?
Discuss the positive and negative environmental impacts of eliminating one of the three endpoints.
The endpoint of municipal solid
Tons (millions)
Method
waste
discarded
recovered
burned with energy recovered

How many tons were discarded, and what is the method by which solid waste is discarded? 54.2% of 250 million can be calculated by multiplying 250 million by 0.542, which equals 135.5 million tons of waste discarded.

How many tons were recovered, and what are the methods of recovery? 83 million tons recovered (250 million * 0.332)

How many tons were burned, what was the method for producing electricity, 31.5 million tons burned (250 million * 0.126)

and how much electricity was generated? 1.8585 X 10^10 kWh or 18.86 billion kWh of electricity generated (31.5 million tons burned * 590 kWh per ton)