Solid Waste Management
Managing solid waste effectively requires a thorough understanding of the waste, the community or organization producing the waste, and the alternatives available. Franklin Associates offers that understanding to both its public and private clients. Franklin Associates is not involved in the business of solid waste disposal. As a result, our recommendations reflect what is best for your bottom line.
- Solid Waste Characterization and Composition
- Municipal Solid Waste Projects
- The Paper Industry
- Other Recovered Materials Markets
- Industrial Waste Projects
- Litigation Support
- Regulatory Analysis
Solid Waste Characterization and Composition
For many years, Franklin Associates has prepared the national characterization of municipal solid waste (MSW) published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Municipal Solid Waste in the United States and widely used by planners.
This 40-year data series on generation and disposal of more than 40 product categories in the MSW stream is invaluable for many types of analysis (view chart). Franklin Associates is the only private consultant with access to this database, which has been enhanced by work for private clients as well as the EPA.
Additionally, we developed baseline estimates of generation and management of used and end-of-life (EOL) electronic products to aid strategic and policy considerations aimed at providing national, regional, or local solutions to this waste management issue for the U.S. EPA in our report Electronics Waste Management in the United States (PDF).
In addition to our national MSW characterizations, we have characterized waste streams for many local, regional, and state agencies. We have also characterized other solid waste streams, such as process wastes and construction & demolition debris (C&D) in Characterization of Building-Related Construction and Demolition Debris in the United States (PDF) for EPA and other clients.
Municipal Solid Waste Projects
When Franklin Associates approaches a local waste management project, we first characterize the composition and current management of the solid waste. After characterizing the waste, we help the municipal or county agency optimize waste handling, first through waste prevention techniques, then by looking at materials recovery and recycling, composting, waste-to-energy, and landfilling alternatives. Our projects include technology and cost assessments, market analyses, environmental and site assessments, and recommendations for implementation.
The Paper Industry
Franklin Associates is nationally renowned for its expertise in recovered paper market studies. Many of these studies help paper companies expand their recycling of all grades of recovered paper at new or existing paper mills, while other studies benefit communities seeking to expand collection of recovered paper. In addition to site-specific studies, we have conducted nationwide analyses and projections for the American Forest & Paper Association, including projections of new paper supply (by grade and recovered paper supply) and demand. We have expertise in markets for recovered newspapers, corrugated containers, office papers, and other grades of recovered paper.
Other Recovered Materials Markets
In addition to recycling markets for recovered paper, we offer experience in market analysis for containers (aluminum, glass, steel, and plastics), compost, and other products typically found in the MSW stream. We also have analyzed markets for "problem" materials (e.g., tires) in the waste stream.
Industrial Waste Projects
Franklin Associates characterizes the quantities and composition of industrial process wastes and evaluates current and projected management alternatives. We can also help to identify markets for unusual materials in the waste stream.
Litigation Support
Franklin Associates has provided the following kinds of litigation support:
- Detailed analysis of technical data and depositions, and preparation of background documents for use by attorneys.
- Depositions.
- Courtroom and hearing testimony.
Regulatory Analysis
Franklin Associates analyzes the effects of proposed regulations for private industry and government clients. These proposed regulations have included deposit and redemption laws, tax incentives to increase recycling, bans on products, labeling, "environmentally preferable" regulations and programs, mandatory recycling, charges to internalize disposal costs, and laws to control the flow of wastes.
Franklin Associates has an extensive historical database on generation, recovery, and disposal of more than 40 products and materials in the U.S. municipal solid waste stream.