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6 Methods of Sustainable Municipal Solid Waste Management

 by General Kinematics,

methods of sustainable waste management general kinematics
Whether you donate a basket of fresh food or hand over a used cell charger at an in-store drop-off you are helping to eliminate waste. In the large picture, Americans bag up close to 251 million tons of trash, otherwise known as municipal solid waste (MSW), according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

While many tossed out items could be refurbished or given to those in need, unfortunately, most of that rubbish is transported into landfills.

MSW: Electronics and Food

Consider the high consumption and turnover of electronics—and the inherent waste that accumulates. As spotlighted by the EPA, Americans own close to 24 electronic products per household, according to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA.) (That’s 7.65 billion electronics!)

Or, think of all of the fridge leftovers that are tossed out. Perishables that rot in landfills produce methane—a greenhouse gas that holds 21 times greater potential for increasing global warming than carbon dioxide. Landfills account for more than 20 percent of all methane emissions.

MSW Sorting Solutions

Reflecting on electronic and food waste, amongst other goods, the importance of MSW sorting solutions becomes clear. To help, General Kinematics engineers progressive waste sorting equipment, which efficiently recovers reusable throwaway goods. Thisvibratory technology mechanizes the sorting process and separates materials by size, density and shape.

In addition to recycling, the EPA outlines five other categories connected to sustainable municipal solid waste management, along with specific variables of each category:

Food waste management:

Feed food scraps to animals, compost, or turn oils into biofuel

In-Store Take-Back Programs:

Items include electronics, plastic bags, and refrigerators

Pharmaceuticals:

Important waste management for healthcare facilities

Recycling:

Ideal for public locations such as shopping centers

Electronics:

Prevents valuable materials from going to wast

Waste and Materials Management:

Solutions for landscaping, industrial waste, common non-hazardous materials, and greenhouse gas emissions

To learn more regarding responsible MSW waste management visit the EPA Municipal Solid Waste sustainability website page or check out General Kinematics MSW sorting solutions.

General Kinematics Corporation, incorporated in 1960, was established to market, design, and custom fabricate innovative vibratory equipment for the foundry, recycling, mining, and processing industries. Today the company continues as one of the world’s largest suppliers of vibratory processing equipment and has evolved into an industry-leading EPC firm. Headquartered in Crystal Lake, IL, General Kinematics has seven global locations providing engineering and support to a world-wide customer base. GK is a third generation, family-owned company and is ISO 9001 certified.