Solid waste management: Historical and future perspectives

The perceived problems with the management of solid waste in the United States are a direct result of failed leadership, not of technology or the ability to develop adequate and environmentally safe disposal capacity. The Federal Congress enacted in the 1970s comprehensive laws that focused on solid waste planning, material and energy conservation, recycling and markets for recyclable materials. In each instance, the Congress failed to fund or implement such laws. By 1988, the states began to address the growing solid waste problems, however, after the “barge incident” the Congress realized it could receive coverage and therefore, wants to jump back into the management of solid waste. Unfortunately, the Congress wants the federal government to approve all state plans but it is not providing any money, direction or even assuming responsibility. Meanwhile, disposal capacity is decreasing at an alarming rate and it is projected that this nation will be short 56 million tons of disposal capacity each year by 2000. If this occurs, this nation will either eliminate industrial capacity or eliminate the environmental laws that created this situation. This either/or situation is intolerable and political leadership is urgently needed to ensure increased disposal capacity that is environmentally sound, notwithstanding the objections of the NIMBYists who are more against an industrial society than for environmentally sound disposal capacity. If this nation cannot preserve and increase its solid waste disposal capacity, it will gradually cease to be a competitive industrial nation which will mean it will be less able to protect itself and its environment.