The challenge of how to dispose of municipal waste exists throughout the world. Rising populations and increasing consumer needs and desires are placing great pressures on our natural resources. The most common methods of waste disposal, land filling, incineration or composting, pose many environmental concerns and simply can't handle the massive waste streams that are generated globally.

Together, the US and Canada cover nearly 18.8 million square kilometers (7.25 million square miles) which equals 14% of the world’s land area and is commonly known as North America.  The combined population of each country is over 340 million people.

On average, 2.08 kilograms (4.6 lbs) of municipal solid waste are produced per person in the US and Canada every year.  Municipal solid waste (MSW) is the “stuff” that we throw away every day, such as:  product packaging, grass clippings, furniture, clothing, bottles, food scraps, newspaper, appliances and batteries.  MSW is generated by people and by businesses and most of this MSW in the US and Canada goes to landfill each year. 

Just because we have the land, doesn’t mean that we should use it all for landfill.

Also included in the MSW figures are the items that no one wants to talk about:  diapers, nappies, adult incontinence and feminine hygiene products (AHPS).  In different communities, we recycle different items, but AHPs are among the few remaining household items that still go straight to landfill or incineration.

So, why recycle these AHPs?

Because we can!

AHPs do not belong in landfills

·         They take 500 years to decompose

·         They contain human waste

·         We can salvage the raw materials

Recycling diapers, adult incontinence and feminine hygiene products helps meet government directives for recycling. The time is now for innovative environmental solutions.  The time is now for Knowaste. 

Next: Facts on AHP Waste >