America First Waste-to-Energy Policy: A Common-Sense Solution for Plastic Waste

Economy
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Let’s be real—plastic waste isn’t going away anytime soon. We’ve been told for decades that recycling will fix the problem, but here’s the truth: over 85% of plastics still end up in landfills. Compostable plastics? They don’t break down like people think and just create more waste headaches.

Instead of chasing failed solutions, why not use what already works? Landfills aren’t just trash piles—they’re massive energy sources waiting to be tapped. Landfill Gas-to-Energy (LFGTE) captures methane from decomposing waste and turns it into clean, American-made power.

Here’s the plan:

  1. Design plastics for LFGTE - make sure they break down in landfills and help generate renewable energy, not pollution.

  2. Stop wasting money on recycling programs that don’t work and invest in real energy solutions instead.

  3. Make U.S. landfills work for us by expanding LFGTE projects to create jobs, energy independence, and less waste.

  4. Hold companies accountable - if they make plastic, they should be helping turn it into energy, not just dumping it.

This isn’t some radical new idea - it’s common sense. America doesn’t need bans, gimmicks, or policies that don’t scale. We need a real plan that actually does something with all this plastic while boosting U.S. energy production.

Let’s stop pretending recycling is the answer and start turning waste into power.

2 Likes
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I think Japan burns trash to produce energy, a lot of energy. At first there was a lot of bad gases produced, but the technology has improved greaty. It might be a winner, too.

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A solid point, waste-to-energy (WTE) has come a long way, especially in places like Japan where landfill space is scarce. But here’s the key: landfills already exist, they already capture waste, and LFGTE (Landfill Gas-to-Energy) turns that reality into renewable energy.

Instead of waiting for perfect infrastructure, why not make plastics work within the primary system we have? LFGTE-compatible plastics can fuel energy recovery while eliminating long-term pollution. No waste, just opportunity.