Materials and Energy Recovery From Municipal Solid Waste: Why They Are Both Needed

The United States is the largest generator of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the world. It also landfills the largest amount of MSW. In this article, the authors present a comprehensive argument for implementing a more sustainable approach to the management of MSW. This approach includes the significant expansion of energy recovery from MSW, both to avoid burying massive amounts of waste and to expand generation of renewable, carbon-efficient electricity.