Minnesota generates over 5 million tons of
municipal solid wasteAny garbage, refuse, and other solid waste from residential, commercial, industrial, and community activities that the generator of the waste aggregates for collection, but does not include auto hulks, street sweepings, ash, construction debris, mining waste, sludges, tree and agricultural wastes, tires, lead-acid batteries, motor and vehicle fluids and filters, and other materials collected, processed, and disposed of as separate waste streams (Minnesota Statutes § 115A.03, Subd. 21).
annually, and this amount is increasing every year. Much of this
waste comes from disposable and over-packaged products. Preventing
waste can conserve natural resources and avoid the need to build
new, expensive
waste disposalThe act of getting rid of unwanted items and material having no value in excess of their basic material content. Mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) is typically disposed of at landfills, mixed-waste composting facilities, or energy recovery facilities. facilities. You prevent waste when:
- Reducing the amount of material you
buy to accomplish any task;
- Reusing a product in its original
form; or
- Using repairable, refillable, or
durable products.
