solid waste mgt

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“EPA Closes 2025 with Significant Progress Remediating Residential Yards in the Nation’s Heartland | US EPA.” US EPA, 12 Jan. 2026, www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-closes-2025-significant-progress-remediating-residential-yards-nations-heartland?utm_source=chatgpt.com. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.

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EPA Region 7 made significant progress cleaning up lead contaminated residential properties in states including Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska in 2025. The agency removed more than one million cubic yards of hazardous waste from mining areas such as Old Lead Belt, Viburnum Trend, Tri-State Mining District, and former smelter sites. Since the beginning of these efforts, EPA has addressed over 29,000 residential properties and removed 45 million cubic yards of waste. This work protects public health, particularly children. They also educate communities about the health risks of lead exposure, and how to prevent it. EPA plans to continue this work into 2026.

 

This work keeps hazardous material from harming the environment by removing it. Not only that, but it educates people about this problem. By raising awareness we might be able to have more of these kind of projects in the future. It is important for us to make these places safe to live in by removing the material. It is impressive that they were able to remove waste from so much land. After all this effort to get rid of all this waste, we must make sure that we dont repeat our mistakes. Not only does it take effort but also money to restore these environments.

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Toxic Waste or Treasure? Why E-Waste Flows South.

Coria J. (2025, July 28th). Toxic Waste or Treasure? Why E-Waste Flows South. From, https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/internationaldevelopment/2025/07/28/toxic-waste-or-treasure- why-e-waste-flows-south/

It was discovered in Thailand that illegal e-waste imports were occurring, specifically from the U.S. When discovered, not only was it e-waste, but the containers were falsely labeled as “metal scraps.” About 238 tons of e-waste, broken computers, unused appliances, and more, shipped to the Port of Bangkok. However, this sort of behavior isn’t rare, as the U.S is known for using loopholes to place environmental burdens onto poorer countries or countries of “limited infrastructure and oversight.” This behavior leaves these burdened countries with the fate of two possibilities; you’re given valuable items such as gold, copper, and palladium, even earth’s rarest elements. However, some countries aren’t aware of this, going ahead and incinerating or burning away e-waste. But research shows that these valuable “waste” came to be worth about USD $91 Billion, managing to recover only 28 billion. 

Reading this paper helped me gain a stronger understanding of this problem, with pure perspective. Not only do they provide informative statistics, but they also expose the truth with how specific countries like the U.S deal with their environmental issues; illegally exporting and abusing regulations to place environmental burdens onto other countries. Coria fosters a creative solution and a good point to the fact we shouldn’t just ban e-waste, but build infrastructures that would work to manage it. It is poorly managed, and while everyone is focused on just saying goodbye to e-waste, there are better ways to approach it, like cleaning up after ourselves and throwing out the trash, properly disposing of it ourselves. 

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Global E-Waste Exposed.

DeFranco J. F., & Voas J. (2025, February). Global E-Waste Exposed. From, https://www.computer.org/csdl/magazine/co/2025/02/10857853/23VCdqACA1y

Similar to previous articles, research shows alarming numbers such as 34 million tonnes of e-waste jumping to 62 million tonnes in 12 years, from 2010 to 2022. However, as we follow along we come across ways we can combat this issue, more into detail, and more globally. We can fight this issue together as humans. An issue we’re all familiar with is the rapid speed of technology advancing and emerging throughout the world and throughout time. What is problematic about it is that these products aren’t very durable, having a short lifespan. In addition, studies have shown that our efforts to recycle e-waste are about 8 million tonnes and then jumped up close to 14 million tonnes. However, this only shows that since 2010, we’ve been outpaced by a factor of 5, according to the UN. Specific ways to combat e-waste, provided by this paper, that have been implemented were stationed bins around town to be filled with unused electronics, locations to drop off old or unused appliances, and the banning of hazardous imports that included e-waste. 

The importance of e-waste management relies solely on the integrity and accountability of each and everyone involved with technology and electronics. If everyone involved also acknowledged the damage we’re doing to the environment, as well as participating in the solutions to reduce and prevent e-waste, it would make the whole process a lot more simple. This paper provides what we can do, as simple as placing unused electronics in bins can make a huge difference moving forward. It takes consideration and integrity, but this is our environment we’re talking about, and I feel this paper exemplifies the value and importance of e-waste management. 

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From present to future: A review on e-waste recycling processes.

Smith R.L., & Behdad, S. (2025, August 1). From present to future: A review on e-waste recycling processes. From, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0956053X25002740

In a global perspective, this article provides 5 key processes for e-waste recycling. Using a structured sustainability framework, the authors aim to provide a more broader understanding and impact, rather than efficiency. These 5 major processes are physical disassembly, pyrolysis, hydrometallurgy, biometallurgical treatment, and supercritical fluid technology. Essentially, these are ways in which we can extract metal and ensure that we aren’t toxicating our environment, such as waters, soil, and possibly our foods. Concluding with the common concept or idea that practical e-waste management is needed, this paper suggests that recycling is key to the overall improvement of e-waste management, entirely because it fosters awareness of how rapid electronics are thrown out when it isn’t used. 

I found this article extremely informative and interesting. Those 5 major processes helped me narrow down an idea of what it is exactly we should be doing, and how it should be done. While I necessarily can’t get to that level of action, like extracting the metals myself, I can certainly study and move closer into spreading awareness, appreciating the hard work, and understanding how to avoid these problems or prevent them from happening. It is key to remember that we’re not just trying to solve the problem, but prevent it, as the article specifically explains. 

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As Electronic Waste Surges, Countries Look For Answers.

UNEP. (2025, March 11) As Electronic Waste Surges, Countries Look For Answers.  From, https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/electronic-

waste-surges-countries-look-answers.

In Almaty, Kazakhstan, a man named Oleg Zaitsev and his crew work to recycle used electronics that no longer serve a purpose to its previous owners. Further pursuing his goal, the United Nations environment programme (UNEP) began a campaign that encouraged others to rise to action and stop the pollution of e-waste. Since 2010, studies show that we as a whole have grown worse in regards to e-waste management, with an 82% increase in pollution. As UNEP combats this issue with support from the Basel Convention, an international treaty or agreement, it has helped regulate the movement to reduce e-waste, and eventually put it to an end. Experts say that with investments made towards this movement, it could benefit many lives including improving human health, protecting valuable ecosystems, and revive, if not already active, the recycling industry. 

I truly believe that the best way to combat an issue, if seeking to overcome the issue or erase it completely, is finding what is feeding it. As we are progressively advancing as humans, we are also overcomplicating things by advancing forward into the future with more and more electronics and technology without the sense of care or moment of consideration. It is up to us to deal with specific problems as such, and this article fully demonstrates that idea. The UN has created a campaign to combat this problem, and the Basel Convention had gone into effect to reduce e-waste products. 

 

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Why E-Waste Is Becoming An Issue.

Anderson K. (2025, May 15). Why E-Waste Is Becoming An Issue. From, https://greenly.earth/en-us/blog/industries/why-e-waste-is-becoming-an-issue. 

 

According to the UN, e-waste production has been awful with the amount of 62 million tonnes of waste. While having the prediction of reaching 82 million tonnes by 2030. Essentially, e-waste comes from the poor management of technology users. Copywriter, Kara Anderson, explains the way in which people tend to abuse or neglect technology waste or extra. When no longer using specific technology materials, Anderson includes the possibility of these materials leeching into our soils and water which would be environmentally damaging and harmful. Countries that suffer these problems mostly are Ghana, Nigeria, and Malaysia. Some reasons for and examples of e-waste that are, in recent years, progressively getting worse are e-cigarettes or vape pens, which are quickly produced as technology advances. In this article are also ways to prevent or reduce e-waste, as well as percentage rates, by the UN, that show how certain countries lack in the practice of recycling electronics. 

 

By truly grasping the danger and the importance of being aware of e-waste, this article goes on to show us plenty of examples and statistics in terms of e-waste according to the UN’s study. It was easy to understand how e-waste was beginning to trend, which I feel is essential to keeping track on how to begin managing this issue properly. I imagine that several countries will now consider this problem when facing the facts of how potentially dangerous this truly is for our environment and how many people are arguably neglecting and choosing to waste electronics. I also appreciate the section that provides ways in which we could implement solutions to e-waste problems, ways to reduce, if not immediately eliminate, poor e-waste management. 

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EPA Southern California Wildfires management

Environmental Protection Agency. (2025, February 7). 2025 Southern California Wildfires | US EPA. US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/california-wildfires

 

On January 7, 2025 there were many horrific wildfires in Los Angeles county. The EPA (environmental protection agency) was given the task of disposing of hazardous materials from all burned areas. This task is the first step to a cleanup after a natural disaster. This cleanup was the largest hazardous materials cleanup in the history of EPA. EPA workers disposed of more than 1,000 lithium ion batteries from cars, houses, and other battery powered objects. The EPA made a group with partners from utility, federal, and county in charge of overseeing the operation of drinking water, and identifying the needs in the water sector. By March 25, 2025 eight of nine affected public water systems were restored. The EPA plans to rebuild Los Angeles communities with the goal of making the communities more prepared for future natural disasters.

 

This article shows the operations that California has put in place for when natural disasters strike, specifically wild fires. With the climate getting warmer and California struggling with droughts becoming more frequent and severe, the amount of wild fires is increasing. Using environmental science we can know how to clean up after these disasters. Using environmental science the EPA will be able to learn from this disaster and build communities more equipped and ready for the next wild fire. I think we learn a lot of how to stop the elements that are affecting the wildfire frequency, but it is equally important to plan for when these disasters do happen. That’s what will save lives until we come up with an effective solution.

 

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President Donald Trump & Waste Management

Although Trump has not been in office for very long, his already established executive orders and decisions are likely to impact the waste and recycling industries in America. Trump has called for reviewing plenty of numerous federal actions, including those concerning greenhouse gasses and climate change. Trump has frozen funding from the inflation reduction act and infrastructure investment and jobs act. These two laws have provided millions for recycling and waste related initiatives. There have also been laws set that require review from the president in order to pass any energy related regulation and rules. Additionally, Trump withdrew from the Paris Agreement. The initiative aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and with its withdrawal, it will likely spark a lack of communication for waste management strategies. Trump has also issued a federal hiring freeze. This could prevent new positions from being created that may benefit our waste managing abilities. 

 

Environmental science plays a crucial role in understanding the behavior of PFAS in ecosystems, like their persistence in water, soil, and wildlife. Trump’s decision to support recycling efforts highlights the need for better waste management strategies to mitigate pollution. It emphasizes the importance of research into more effective ways of detecting toxic substances. Overall, Trump’s initiatives and withdrawals from certain agreements like the Paris Agreement, contributes to the growing concern among environmentalists, public health experts, and other policymakers. Overall, Trump’s actions underlines the intersection of environmental science and political policy, relating to the ongoing challenge of climate change and dealing with hazardous waste in the increasingly polluted earth. 

 

Quin, M. (2025, January 24). 8 trump actions that could affect waste and recycling. Waste Dive. https://www.wastedive.com/news/trump-administration-orders-pfas-waste-recycling-labor-funding/738230/ 

 

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Solid Waste Mgmt. Statistics in Food Waste

According to the article, the United States discards more food waste than any other country in the world. Almost 40 percent of the entire food supply is discarded. Food is the largest component that takes up space in the United states landfills. The article adds that we waste an abundance of food while others are struggling to find food because Americans misunderstand expiration labels. In an attempt to not risk the potential of an illness, Americans are very likely to discard any food with even a slight potential of expiration. According to the article, current laws are changing to curb a lot of waste. New York as an example, expanded their separation of waste so that nearly 100,000 tons of wasted foods are organized in landfills per year. They are also growing more apparent in school systems, Maine and Rhode Island have established into law that they will aim to reduce the amount of food waste in schools. The EPA is attempting to reduce food waste by half. The article dives deep into the addition that waste management has an environmental and an economical impact.  

 

This relates to environmental science because it considers the environmental impact of waste management in America. It also provides context as to why the food supply in America is the way that it is. I find it interesting how this article considers food waste in schools. Given that Menlo-Atherton does not manage its waste well, it’s a very concerning issue to me. M-A efficiently hands out breakfast and lunch to any students that beads it. However, with the acquired lunch handouts, each kid also gets milk/juice/chocolate milk and some sort of side, like carrots or apples. So many kids throw out the extra pieces that M-A started to place bins that sort these sides if someone doesn’t want it. That, however, does not seem like the most effective way to manage waste. Instead, shouldn’t the school just only hand out whatever it is that the kids hope to eat? Or is it a set in stone rule that they may not do so? Its cool how the issues this article is concerned with relates to M-A. 

 

Food waste in America in 2025: Statistics & Facts: RTS. Recycle Track Systems. (n.d.). https://www.rts.com/resources/guides/food-waste-america/ 

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New Research Improves Predictions for Solid Waste Mgmt.

This article is about a new form of solid waste that can improve the capability of landfill operations. The new method performs by taking an evidenced based approach to know how many tons of solid waste will be generated at the county level and incorporate a separate complimentary model that predicts the makeup of the waste. Companies are attempting to find ways to forecast the amount of certain types of waste, as well. Researchers add that with the ability to know the forecast researchers can make a more strategic impact and facilitate the ability to create their “modeling toolkit.” The ability to forecast the amount of waste produced is one not finalized in its operation, its clear that there is plenty room for change and improvement. Although there is no clear separation on each kind of waste, there is an average percent that allows for some concept on how much of the waste is food waste. Additionally, they are attempting to tell how much of the waste is aluminum cans. With this information, companies can understand how much of their waste has the potential to be recycled, promoting an overall large benefit to the environment. 

 

This relates to environmental science as it promotes a new strategy to environmentally friendly waste management. This not only targets environmental improvement, but also economical improvement; as companies can utilize this strategy to manage their waste in a method that promotes recycling. In this way, this article clearly aims to aid the environment and all its factors, specifically targeting my topic, waste management. Additionally, this article provides insight into the mindset and considerations of environmental research. 

 

Lasson, R. (2025, January 14). New research improves predictions for Solid Waste Management. Operations Research Graduate Program. https://or.ncsu.edu/news/2025/new-research-improves-predictions-for-solid-waste-management/