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Data Activity - Topic 7.3 - Solid domestic waste

Topic 7.3 asks us to consider how societies can sustainably manage waste. This activity asks you to consider data from the US on municipal solid waste from 1960 to 2018.

The answers for this activity can be found HERE.

NOTE: This activity is also available as a PDF.

The graph below shows municipal solid waste (MSW) generation rates from 1960 to 2018 for the US.

Source: National Overview: Facts and Figures on Materials, Wastes and Recycling | US EPA

Digging deeper #1...

1. State the total amount of MSW generated in 2018 (in millions of tonnes).

2. State the amount of MSW generated in 2018 per person (lbs per person per day).

3. Calculate the percentage increase in per capita generation from 1960 to 2018.

4. Outline some reasons for the drop in per capita MSW generation from 2000 to  2010.

NOTE: The levels reached in 2010 remained fairly stable until the increase from 2017 to 2018. This increase is mainly the result of EPA's inclusion of additional wasted food in the statistics.

To compare to this, the graph below shows MSW recycling and composting rates for 1960 to 2018.

Source: National Overview: Facts and Figures on Materials, Wastes and Recycling | US EPA

Digging deeper #2...

1. Using the total amount of MSW generated and the total amount of MSW recycled and composted, calculate the percentage of MSW recycled and composted in 1960. Confirm this is equivalent to the black point for 1960 on the graph above.

2. Recycling and composting rates have clearly increased from 1960 to 2018. Calculate the percentage increase in the rates over this period.

3. Outline one advantage and one disadvantage of composting.

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