Municipal solid waste disposal is becoming complex as costs, wastes, and environmental restrictions increase. Recovery and recycling of materials presents problems of financing, ownership, and operation, technology, and marketing. Energy and materials recovery offers long-term economic and environmental incentives in terms of growing shortages and…

Describes the composition of household refuse and analyses the economic considerations involved in recovering usable material and energy resources from urban solid waste. (JR)

Describes the circumstances leading to a recent spill of radioactive wastes at the Atomic Energy Commission's Hanford Reservation in Washington. Also briefly discusses previous accidental leaks and plans for safer storage of radioactive waste materials in the future. (JR)

Examines a variety of options and costs involved in the safe disposal of radioactive wastes from nuclear fission reactors. (JR)

Describes current research and development aimed at producing techniques for conversion of organic wastes to fuel, although these sources can only provide less than 10

Discusses a number of ways in which food processing innovations have actual or potential value in drastically reducing waste, maintaining product quality and improving product yield. (JR)

Advocates the large-scale production and use of methanol as a substitute for the diminishing reserves of low-cost petroleum resources. Describes the manufacturing process and advantages of the versatile fuel. (JR)

Discusses problems relating to an international solution to the disposal of high-level radioactive waste problem. (SL)

The controversy surrounding the potential storage of nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain, Nevada, is discussed. Arguments about the stability of the site and the groundwater situation are summarized. The role of the U.S. Department of Energy and other political considerations are described. (CW)

Considers our scientific knowledge of environmental matters inadequate. New efforts related to solar energy, energy conservation, environmental determination, water quality, and chemical pollutants are suggested. (HM)

Discusses the impact of radioactive waste management system on social and political development. The article also presents (1) types of information necessary to estimate the costs and consequences of radioactive waste management; and (2) an index of radioactive hazards to improve the basis for policy decisions. (HM)

Announces the final rules published by the Environmental Protection Agency requiring that generators, transporters, and disposers of hazardous wastes report exactly where the wastes will be taken. (Author/SA)