Table of Contents

Part I. Wastes in the Municipal Solid Waste StreamIntroductionProduction, Use, and Disposal of Plastics and Plastic ProductsImpacts of Plastic Debris on the Marine EnvironmentImpacts of Post-Consumer Plastics Waste on the Management of Municipal Solid WasteOptions to Reduce the Impacts of Post-Consumer Plastics WastesObjectives and Action ItemsAppendix A: - Statutory and Regulatory Authorities Available to EPA and Other Federal AgenciesAppendix B: - State and Local Recycling EffortsAppendix C: - Substitutes for Lead and Cadmium Additives for PlasticsPart II. Recycling in the Industrial SectorIntroductionPlastic Waste ProjectionsThe Energy Content of Plastic WastesThe Cost of Recycling Versus DisposalAn Update of Recent Institutional Changes that May Promote RecyclingRecent Legislative and Regulatory ActionsThe Potential for Divertable Plastic WastePlastics Recycling from the Current Industry's PerspectiveConclusionsAppendix: - Plastic Waste Projections: Methodology and Assumptions