Regional integrated municipal solid waste management in the Northeastern United States

This thesis evaluates the extent to which regional integrated municipal solid waste management (RIMSWM) eliminates the gap in MSWM capacity the Northeastern U.S. It also investigates how regulation, administration, markets and technology (RAMT) have impacted MSWM nationwide. Three definitions of a region are used to assess the impacts of RIMSWM. Regional mass balances are employed to calculate the ratio of available to needed MSWM capacity in a region. This ratio is defined as the percent capacity. It is used to measure a region's capacity gap. A dataset of annual gate receipts in tons per year was compiled for all the operating MSW landfills and incinerators in the 12-State region. These gate receipts constituted available operating capacity for the host region. The regional mass balance results show that RIMSWM does not eliminate the capacity gap for Counties or States. However, it does so for the 12-States when they recycle. Thus the Federal policy of RIMSWM can work across multiple States provided that interstate MSW transfers are not restricted.; Historical factors are shown to have fragmented MSWM into a locally implemented set of unit operations. Regulations are shown to have contributed to private regional facilities. The impact of the Carbone decision on local flow control is discussed. Proposed Federal legislation to empower State restrictions on the interstate transportation of MSW is analyzed. The waste management industry is shown to have three major revenue earners which accounted for 52% of the industry's revenue in 1994. New opportunities are revealed for shipping companies under the policy of reverse logistics. Recycling is shown to be the most costly waste management option. The thesis closes with a recommendation to update and expand the dataset created for the analysis. A flexible inventory system for municipal recyclables is also proposed.