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In this paper we explain why long-distance trash transport is on the rise in the United States and we describe the legislative remedies that have been proposed in the Congress. We observe that, while Congress has delegated municipal waste management to the state and local agencies, they are currently handicapped in their ability to control the movement of waste over their borders. At present, policymaking for waste management in the United States remains much more about fostering commerce than about controlling pollution. We frame our discussion of these issues through selected comparisons with waste generation and management patterns in western Europe and Japan, where the principles of proximity, harmonization, equity, and pollution prevention provide the foundation for waste management policies. ..PAT.-Conference Proceeding [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]