Question

In the united states, the largest single component of municipal solid waste is

Answer 1

The largest single component of municipal solid waste in the United States is food waste, comprising 15.2% of all trash sent to landfills.

Step-by-step explanation:

Municipal Solid Waste in the United States

In the United States, the largest single component of municipal solid waste (MSW) is typically food waste. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than 40 million tons of food waste were generated in 2017, making up 15.2% of all the trash sent to landfills. The composition of MSW can vary, but for a well-developed waste recycling system, the waste stream primarily consists of intractable wastes such as plastic film and non-recyclable packaging materials. Other common components include plastics, paper, yard wastes, and other miscellaneous solid wastes from various sources. Strategies for waste management are crucial for controlling ground pollution and include reducing, reusing, and recycling to minimize the impact on landfills and facilitate a safer, cleaner environment.

Answer 2

Step-by-step explanation:

As shown in Figure 9.3, paper and paperboard products are the largest single component of MSW (34.2 percent by weight; another 37 percent is roughly equally divided among yard trimmings, food scraps and plastics). Figure 9.4 shows the historical growth in generation of MSW, by source.