Publication Summary

This paper discusses how solid waste has been disposed of over the years and suggests how it will be disposed of in the future.

This background paper for the Beyond Waste Summary Document discusses waste disposal as a critical element of Washington's system of solid waste management. Despite laudable progress toward meeting the state law′s priorities for waste prevention and recycling, most wastes generated in Washington are still disposed of instead of recycled. The paper tells the story of past and present waste disposal practices, its costs and environmental legacies, and describes proposals for reaching a preferred future where less solid wastes are generated and more materials are recovered and recycled. It includes recommendations for addressing the legacies left over from yesterday′s closed and abandoned landfill sites, a necessary step to protect public health and the environment. Also included are recommendations for ensuring that today′s disposal facilities minimize human health and environmental risks. Finally, actions for the future are recommended, to make certain that we do not create future legacies of pollution.