ABSTRACT
When Things are Discarded , they enter the solid waste infrastructure. In some communities, the solid waste management system consists of a means of collection, a means of disposal, and little else. Other communities supplement the basic solid waste infrastructure by including intermediate measures to remove valuable components of the waste stream, or to convert portions of the waste stream to other forms such as compost or energy. Which forms of solid waste infrastructure are the most sustainable? Is a municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill more or less sustainable than a waste-to-energy (WTE) plant? Is either of these more or less sustainable than a compost facility?
