It looks like state residents could be throwing away money, according to a recent Municipal Solid Waste Composition Study. Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) commissioned the study, which indicates that almost half of the municipal solid waste in state landfills has the potential to be recycled.

The study covered wastes deposited in landfills between September 2006 and June 2007 and involved sorting municipal solid waste at 15 facilities throughout the state. The waste was generated by homes, schools, small businesses, and other commercial activities. The majority of the potentially recyclable materials were metals, paper, plastics, and glass.

DNR estimates that if these materials were recycled, the potential economic value of the materials would be approximately $208 million, and energy equivalent to that used by 262,000 houses in a year would have been saved.

According to the study, more than 1.9 million tons of recyclable materials are disposed of in Missouri landfills each year. DNR asserts that if 1.9 million tons of solid waste were recycled and used in products instead of virgin materials, more than 1.1 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions could be avoided.

DNR hopes the study results will assist the state's solid water management districts in designing programs to reduce, reuse, and recycle targeted materials.

INFO: Contact Renee Bungart at 573-751-4465.