Recycling of MSW in the USA _____.

Question

​Recycling of MSW in the USA _____.

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Examining the statement about Recycling of MSW in the USA, we need to evaluate each option for accuracy and logical consistency.
Option 1: 'has decreased steadily since the 1970s' — This is not accurate overall. Recycling rates have fluctuated over time due to policy changes, market conditions, and program expansions, but they have not shown a consistent steady decline across the entire period. In many years recycling and recovery have improved or remained stable in certain regions.
Option 2: 'really only works for food waste' — This is incorrect because recycling programs target a wide range of materials beyond food waste, including paper, plastics, metals, and glass. Food waste management involves composting or anaerobic digestion, not recycling in the traditional sense, so claiming it’s the only thing that works misrepresents the scope of MSW recycling.
Option 3: 'has worked best for plastics' — This is not accurate. Plastics recycling has faced significant challenges such as contamination, economic viability, and diverse polymer types, which have limited its overall effectiveness compared to other materials like paper or metals in many contexts. It does not stand out as the material that has worked best.
Option 4: 'has been successful in reducing some waste materials that would otherwise go to landfills' — This statement aligns with the general understanding of municipal solid waste (MSW) recycling: programs have diverted a portion of waste from landfills, reducing the volume of materials sent to landfills and recovering materials for reuse. The degree of success varies by material and region, but the phrase captures the measured, non-absolute impact of recycling.
Option 5: 'contributes in only a minor way to overall MSW management (<5%)' — This underestimates the impact. While the exact percentage depends on year and method, recycling and composting together contribute a non-trivial share of MSW management in many states, and labeling it as under 5% oversimplifies the role of recycling within integrated waste management.
In summary, the most accurate depiction among the choices is that recycling has been successful in reducing some waste materials that would otherwise go to landfills, while other statements either overstate, misstate, or ignore the broader scope and variability of MSW recycling efforts. Each incorrect option contains a flawed premise: either an unsupported trend, an overly narrow scope, a mischaracterization of material performance, or an underestimation of recycling's contribution.

11:375:101:01 INTRO ENV SCIENCE Exam #3

Recycling of MSW in the USA _____.

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11:375:101:01 INTRO ENV SCIENCE Exam #3

​Recycling of MSW in the USA _____.

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

Which of the following were waste disposal systems discussed in Lecture 4?

Which strategy would be least effective for industry and communities in their efforts to reduce resource use, waste, and pollution?

Which statement is not a key principle for transitioning to a low-waste society?

Waste materials have limited investment recovery options.

Select the statements that are correct

What is the purpose of the waste management hierarchy?

According to the lecture, disposal is the most common waste management strategy for which parts of society?

What is the general focus of the unit Sustainable Waste Management?

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Making Your Study Simpler

Recycling of MSW in the USA _____.