Mitigation Strategies for Municipal Solid Waste Generation in Lincoln

Authors

Justine Mileski, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Date of this Version

2021

Citation

Environmental Studies Undergraduate Student Thesis, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 2021.

Comments

Copyright Mileski 2021

Abstract

This study was completed to explore mitigation solutions to Municipal Solid Waste (MWS) in the City of Lincoln. Due to population growth, especially in urban environments, waste generation is an increasingly difficult problem that requires complex solutions. This work is done to explore efficacy of various mitigation strategies such as recycling and composting of waste. This study will be conducted utilizing data found in the City of Lincoln Solid Waste Plan 2040 and applying it to the EPA Policy and Program Impact Estimator. Specifically, withing the EPA Policy and Program Impact Estimator, curbside collection and pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) programming will be applied to study landfill source reduction strategies within Lancaster County. Through the use of the estimator using a 6% annual increase in source reduction from PAYT and a 15% annual increase in source reduction from curbside collection it is estimated that the city of Lincoln would be able to divert 14,845 tons of food waste to composting programs and 3,788 tons to recycling programs. With the amount of food waste able to be diverted through compost being higher than the amount of recyclable materials able to be diverted through recycling we are able to understand that significant effects compost-forward policy could have in terms of MSW mitigation.