98-17123. Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 1997 Update

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 123 (Friday, June 26, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 34873]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-17123]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVRIONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6117-1]


Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 
1997 Update

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In recent years, community officials and the general public 
have increased their attention to the waste generated by households, 
institutions, and commercial businesses. They have used information 
about municipal solid waste (MSW) to plan for programs to reduce and 
recycle this waste and to properly dispose of the remainder. The 
``Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States'' 
report was first prepared by EPA in 1986 in order to determine the 
amounts of waste generated, recovered, and discarded in the nation, and 
to project amounts of waste which will be managed in the future. The 
report has been updated six times since its initial publication in 
1986. Planners nation-wide use this special study to estimate the 
amount and types of MSW that may be generated in their communities, and 
thus are able to plan more effectively for the management of the wastes 
generated, recovered, and/or discarded.
    The Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 
1997 Update report is now available. The 1997 Update is similar to the 
1996 Update, but it contains updated information on the types and 
amounts of municipal solid waste generated, recovered, and discarded in 
the United States through 1996. Some new informational categories are 
also included in the 1997 Update. These include an expanded discussion 
of the markets for recovered recyclable materials.
    Finally, due to sustained interest in tracking national generation, 
recovery, and discard rates for MSW, EPA plans to continue providing 
annual updates of this Report as a service to its stakeholders from 
State and local governments, industry, environmental groups, and the 
public.

DATES: June 26, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
A paper copy of Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United 
States: 1997 Update (EPA Publication Number EPA530-98-R-007) or the 
Report's Executive Summary (EPA Publication Number EPA530-S-98-007) may 
be obtained by calling the RCRA Hotline at 1-800-424-9346. The Report 
is also available in electronic format on the Internet System through 
the EPA Public Access Server at www.epa.gov.

    Dated: May 5, 1998.
Elizabeth A. Cotsworth,
Acting Director, Office of Solid Waste.
[FR Doc. 98-17123 Filed 6-25-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-M