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{{redirect-multi|3|Garbage|Rubbish|Municipal waste}}
{{about|the original Xbox|the eighth-generation console|Xbox One}}
{{Redirect|Urban waste|the punk band|Urban Waste (band)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2017}}
{{Globalize/US|date=March 2012}}
{{Infobox VG system
{{Public Infrastructure}}
|name = Xbox
'''Municipal solid waste''' ('''MSW'''), commonly known as '''trash''' or '''garbage''' in the ] and as '''refuse''' or '''rubbish''' in ], is a ] consisting of everyday items that are discarded by the public. "Garbage" can also refer specifically to ], as in a ]; the two are sometimes collected separately.
|logo = ]
|image = ]
|caption = Xbox console with "Controller S"
|developer = ]
|manufacturer = ]<ref name=Wired2011>{{cite web|last=O'Brien|first=Jeffrey M.|title=The Making of the Xbox|url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/9.11/flex.html|work=Wired|publisher=Condé Nast|accessdate=April 17, 2013|date=November 2011}}</ref>
|family = ]
|type = ]
|os = Custom
|generation = ]
|releasedate = {{Video game release|NA|November 15, 2001<ref name=NA_Rel_Date/>|JP|February 22, 2002|AU|March 14, 2002|EU|March 14, 2002}}
|lifespan = 2001–2009
|discontinued = {{Video game release|JP|June 4, 2006|EU|March 11, 2007|NA|March 2, 2009}}
|GPU = 233&nbsp;MHz nVidia ]
|media = ], ], ]
|storage = 8 or 10&nbsp;GB internal ] (formatted to 8&nbsp;GB with allotted system reserve and MS Dash), 8&nbsp;MB ]
|controllers = 4× Xbox controller ports (proprietary ] interface), (Wireless controllers not supported directly - third-party wireless controllers require a wired base unit)
|connectivity = ]
|online service = ]
|CPU = Custom 733&nbsp;MHz ] "]" processor
|RAM = 64&nbsp;MB of ] @ 200&nbsp;MHz
|units sold = 24+ million <small>(as of May 10, 2006)</small><ref name="gamers_catch">{{cite web |url=http://www.xbox.com/zh-SG/community/news/2006/20060510.htm |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080621155352/http://www.xbox.com/zh-SG/community/news/2006/20060510.htm |archivedate=June 21, 2008 |title=Gamers Catch Their Breath as Xbox 360 and Xbox Live Reinvent Next-Generation Gaming |accessdate=March 30, 2009 |date=May 10, 2006|publisher=]}}</ref>
|units shipped =
|top game = '']'', 8.46 million <small>(as of November 2008)</small><ref>{{cite web | url=http://money.cnn.com/2006/05/09/technology/e3_microsoft/index.htm | publisher=CNN | accessdate=July 16, 2008 | first=Chris|last= Morris | title=Grand Theft Auto, Halo 3 headed to Xbox 360 | date=May 9, 2006}}</ref><ref name="halo2sales"/>
|successor=]
}}
The '''Xbox''' is a ] and the first installment in the ] series of consoles manufactured by ]. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, followed by Australia, Europe and Japan in 2002.<ref name=NA_Rel_Date>{{cite web|url=http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2001/nov01/11-14midnightmadnesspr.aspx|title=Xbox Arrives in New York Tonight at Toys "R" Us Times Square - News Center|publisher=|accessdate=December 30, 2016}}</ref> It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console market. The ] competed with Sony's ] and the Nintendo ]. It was also the first console produced by an American company since the ] ceased production in 1996.


==Composition==
Announced in 2000, the Xbox, graphically powerful compared to its rivals, featured a standard ]'s 733&nbsp;MHz ] processor. It was also noted for its PC-like size and weight, and was the first console to feature a built-in ].<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/08/technology/08GAME.html?pagewanted=all</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/11/23/the-life-and-death-of-the-original-xbox|title=The Life and Death of the Original Xbox|first=Mitch|last=Dyer|date=November 23, 2011|publisher=|accessdate=December 30, 2016}}</ref> In November 2002, Microsoft launched ], a fee-based ] service that enabled subscribers to download new content and connect with other players through a ] connection.<ref name="nelson">{{cite web|url=http://majornelson.com/2010/02/05/xbox-live-being-discontinued-for-original-xbox-consoles-and-games/ |title=Xbox Live's Major Nelson » Xbox LIVE being discontinued for Original Xbox consoles and games : |publisher=Majornelson.com |date=April 15, 2010 |accessdate=April 22, 2013}}</ref> Unlike other online services from ] and ], Xbox Live had support in the original console design through an integrated ] port. The service gave Microsoft an early foothold in online gaming and would help the Xbox become a relevant competitor to other sixth-generation consoles. The popularity of blockbuster titles such as '']'' contributed to the popularity of online console gaming, and in particular ]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk-microsites.ign.com/history-of-first-person-shooters/|title=History Of First Person Shooters|publisher=|accessdate=December 30, 2016}}</ref> Despite this and being in second position, ahead of Nintendo's ] and Sega's ], sales of the Xbox were always well behind Sony's ].<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/13/science/playstation-2-shortage-frustrates-more-than-buyers.html</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/3981475.stm|title=BBC NEWS - Technology - Slimmer PlayStation triple sales|publisher=|accessdate=December 30, 2016}}</ref>
The composition of municipal solid waste varies greatly from ] to municipality.<ref></ref> and changes significantly with time. In municipalities which have a well developed waste recycling system, the waste stream consists mainly of intractable wastes such as plastic film, and non-recyclable packaging materials. At the start of the 20th century, the majority of domestic waste (53%) in the UK consisted of ] from open fires.<ref></ref>
In developed areas without significant recycling activity it predominantly includes food wastes, market wastes, yard wastes, plastic containers and product packaging materials, and other miscellaneous solid wastes from residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial sources.<ref> U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Municipal Solid Waste</ref> Most definitions of municipal solid waste do not include ]s, agricultural wastes, ], radioactive waste or ].<ref> U.S. Energy Information Administration</ref> Waste collection is performed by the ] within a given area. The term ''residual waste'' relates to waste left from household sources containing materials that have not been separated out or sent for reprocessing.<ref> Welsh Assembly (2005) Mechanical Biological Treatment, Environment Countryside and Planning Website, Welsh Assembly</ref> ] can be classified in several ways but the following list represents a typical classification:


*]: ], ], ] (most can be recycled although some difficult to compost plant material may be excluded<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccc.govt.nz/services/rubbish-and-recycling/sorting/organics-green-bin/|publisher=Christchurch City Council|title=Organics -Green Bin|access-date=19 March 2016}}</ref>)
Xbox's successor, the ], was launched in November 2005. The Xbox was soon discontinued beginning with Microsoft's worst-performing market, Japan, in 2005. Other countries would follow suit in 2006.<ref name="Story of Xbox - VG247">{{cite web|url=http://www.vg247.com/2011/08/02/the-xbox-story-part-1-the-birth-of-a-console/|title=The Xbox Story, Part 1: The Birth of a Console|last=Garratt|first=Patrick|date=August 5, 2011|publisher=vg247.com|accessdate=June 26, 2013}}</ref> The last Xbox game in Europe was '']'' released in June 2007, and the last game in North America was '']'' released in August 2008. Support for out-of-warranty Xbox consoles was discontinued on March 2, 2009. Support for Xbox Live on the console ended on April 15, 2010.
*] materials: ], ], ], ]s, ]s, ]s, ]s, ], ]s, certain ]s, ]s, ], ]s, ], etc.
*] waste: ], ], ]s, ]
*Electrical and ] (WEEE) - ]s, ]s, ]s, ]s, ]s, screens, ]s, ]s, ]es, etc.
*Composite wastes: waste ], Tetra Packs, waste plastics such as toys
*] including most ]s, ]s, ]s, ], ]s, electrical appliances, ]s, ], and ]s
*] including ]s, ]s, and ]s
*], expired ]s, etc.


== Components of solid waste management ==
==History==
], ], ], ] and incinerable waste.]]
In 1998, four engineers from ]'s ] team, Kevin Bachus, ], Ted Hase and DirectX team leader Otto Berkes, disassembled some ] ] computers to construct a ] ]-based ]. The team hoped to create a console to compete with ]'s upcoming ], which was luring game developers away from the Windows ]. The team approached ], the leader of Microsoft's game publishing business at the time, and pitched their "DirectX Box" console based on the DirectX graphics technology developed by Berkes' team. Fries decided to support the team's idea of creating a Windows DirectX based console.<ref name=seattletimes_20110525>{{cite news |title=Last of Xbox Dream Team, Otto Berkes Is Moving On |first=Brier |last=Dudley |date=May 25, 2011 |newspaper=The Seattle Time |publisher=Seattle Times Co |page=A12 |quote= Berkes and Hase were among a group of four who first pushed Microsoft to develop a Windows-based gaming system to compete with Sony's PlayStation 2, which was luring game companies from the Windows platform in the late 1990s. The other two were Seamus Blackley, who left in 2002, and Kevin Bachus, who left in 2001.}}</ref><ref name=seattletimes_20110524>{{cite news |title= Exclusive: Microsoft loses last Xbox founder, mobile PC visionary |first=Brier |last=Dudley |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/technologybrierdudleysblog/2015137144_its_the_end_of_an.html |newspaper=The Seattle Times |publisher=Seattle Times Co |date=May 24, 2011 |accessdate=May 25, 2011 |quote= In 1998, Berkes and his team ordered a few Dell laptops, took them apart and built the first prototypes of a Windows gaming console. In order to appeal to young people, the name zBar (pronounced zed-BAH); laterm Ed Fries was leading Microsoft's games publishing business when the four Xbox founders pitched a "Direct X Box" based on the Windows DirectX graphics technology that was developed by Berkes' team. |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5yxFmYCBa?url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/technologybrierdudleysblog/2015137144_its_the_end_of_an.html |archivedate=May 25, 2011}}</ref>


The municipal solid waste industry has four components: ], ]ing, ], and ] via incineration.<ref> U.S. Energy Information Administration</ref> There is no single approach that can be applied to the management of all waste streams, therefore the ], federal agency of the ], developed a hierarchy ranking strategy for municipal solid waste.<ref></ref> The ] is made up of four levels ordered from most preferred to least preferred methods based on their environmental soundness: Source reduction and reuse; recycling or composting; energy recovery; treatment and disposal.<ref></ref>
During development, the original DirectXbox name was shortened to Xbox. Microsoft's marketing department did not like the Xbox name, and suggested many alternatives. During focus testing, the Xbox name was left on the list of possible names to demonstrate how unpopular the Xbox name would be with consumers. However, consumer testing revealed that Xbox was preferred by far over the other suggested names and "Xbox" became the official name of the product.<ref name=gamasutra_2009-08-14>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=24831 |title=Interview: Former Microsoft Exec Fries Talks Xbox's Genesis |first=Leigh |last=Alexander |date=August 14, 2009 |work=Gamasutra |publisher=UBM TechWeb |archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/5yxGkLXlW?url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story%3D24831 |archivedate=May 25, 2011 |accessdate=May 25, 2011 |quote=Direct X-Box, of course, was truncated to 'Xbox,' -- and "marketing hated the name," says Fries. "They went off and created this whole, long list of better names for the machine." In focus testing, the marketing team left the name 'Xbox' on that long list simply as a control, to demonstrate to everyone why it was a horrible name for a console. "Of course, 'Xbox' outscored, in focus testing, everything they came up with. They had to admit it was going to be the Xbox."}}</ref>


=== Collection ===
It was ]'s first video game console after collaborating with ] to port ] to the ] console. Microsoft repeatedly delayed the console, which was first mentioned publicly in late 1999 during interviews with Microsoft's then-] ]. Gates stated: "we want Xbox to be the platform of choice for the best and most creative game developers in the world".<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://news.microsoft.com/2000/03/10/xbox-brings-future-generation-games-to-life/ |title=Xbox Brings "Future-Generation" Games to Life |publisher=Microsoft |date=March 10, 2000 |accessdate=May 3, 2009}}</ref>
The functional element of collection includes not only the gathering of solid waste and recyclable materials, but also the transport of these materials, after collection, to the location where the collection vehicle is emptied. This location may be a materials processing facility, a transfer station or a landfill disposal site.


=== Waste handling and separation, storage and processing at the source ===
The Xbox was officially announced at the ] on March 10, 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/features/2000/03-10xbox.aspx |title=Xbox Brings "Future-Generation" Games to Life |publisher=] |date=March 10, 2000 |accessdate=August 12, 2013}}</ref> Audiences were impressed by the console's technology. At the time of Gates' announcement, Sega's Dreamcast sales were diminishing and Sony's PlayStation 2 was just going on sale in Japan.<ref name="xboxtimeline1">{{cite web|first=Steven L. |last=Kent |url=http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/january04/Xboxtimeline/ |title=Xbox Timeline |publisher=GameSpy.com |date=February 16, 2004 |accessdate=May 3, 2009 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425202720/http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/january04/Xboxtimeline/ |archivedate=April 25, 2009 }}</ref> Gates was in talks with Sega's late chairman ] about the possibility of Xbox compatibility with Dreamcast games, but negotiations fell apart over whether or not the Dreamcast's ] online service should be implemented.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/5447897/how-xbox-could-have-helped-the-dreamcast-survive|title=How Xbox Could Have Helped The Dreamcast Survive|first=Brian|last=Ashcraft|publisher=|accessdate=December 30, 2016}}</ref>
Waste handling and separation involves activities associated with waste management until the waste is placed in storage containers for collection. Handling also encompasses the movement of loaded containers to the point of collection. Separating different types of waste components is an important step in the handling and storage of solid waste at the source.


=== Segregation and processing and transformation of solid wastes ===
The Xbox was officially unveiled to the public by Gates and guest professional wrestler ] at ] 2001 in ] on January 3, 2001.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1040-250632.html |title=Microsoft got game: Xbox unveiled |publisher=] |work=CNET News |date= January 6, 2001 |accessdate=August 12, 2013 |first=David |last=Becker}}</ref> Microsoft announced Xbox's release dates and prices at ] in May.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/news/e3-2001-microsoft-delivers-xbox-launch-details-2761182 |title=E3 2001: Microsoft delivers Xbox launch details |publisher=] |work=GameSpot.com |date=May 16, 2001 |accessdate=August 12, 2013 |author=Lauren Fielder, Shane Satterfield}}</ref> Most Xbox launch titles were unveiled at E3, most notably '']'' and '']''.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}}
The types of means and facilities that are now used for the recovery of waste materials that have been separated at the source include curbside ('kerbside' in the UK) collection, drop-off and buy-back centers. The separation and processing of wastes that have been separated at the source and the separation of commingled wastes usually occur at a materials recovery facility, transfer stations, combustion facilities and disposal sites.


=== Transfer and transport ===
Due to the immense popularity of gaming consoles in Japan, Microsoft delayed the release of the Xbox in Europe to focus on the Japanese video game market. Although delayed, the European release proved to be more successful than the launch of the Xbox in Japan.
This element involves two main steps. First, the waste is transferred from a smaller collection vehicle to larger transport equipment. The waste is then transported, usually over long distances, to a processing or disposal site.


=== Disposal ===
Some of Microsoft's plans proved effective. In preparation for its launch, Microsoft acquired ] and used '']'' as its launch title. At the time, '']'' for the ] had been one of the few hit ] games to appear on a console, as well as titles such as '']'' and '']''. ''Halo: Combat Evolved'' proved a good application to drive the Xbox's sales.<ref name="xboxtimeline1"/> In 2002, Microsoft made the second place slot in consoles sold in North America. The Xbox Live service gave Microsoft an early foothold in online gaming and would help the Xbox become a relevant competitor to other sixth-generation consoles.
], ] ]]
Today, the disposal of wastes by land filling or land spreading is the ultimate fate of all solid wastes, whether they are residential wastes collected and transported directly to a landfill site, residual materials from ] (MRFs), residue from the combustion of solid waste, ], or other substances from various solid waste processing facilities. A modern sanitary landfill is not a dump; it is an engineered facility used for disposing of solid wastes on land without creating nuisances or hazards to public health or safety, such as the problems of insects and the contamination of ].


===Promotion=== === Reusing ===
In the recent years environmental organizations, such as ] or ], have been gaining popularity for their online reuse networks. These networks provide a worldwide online registry of unwanted items that would otherwise be thrown away, for individuals and nonprofits to reuse or recycle. Therefore, this free Internet-based service reduces landfill pollution and promotes the ].
In 2002, the ] (ITC) banned a television advertisement for the Xbox in the ] after complaints that it was "offensive, shocking and in bad taste". It depicted a mother giving birth to a baby boy, who is fired like a projectile through a window aging rapidly as he flies through the air. The advertisement ends with an old man crash-landing into his own grave and the slogan, "Life is short. Play more."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/2028725.stm |title='Shocking' Xbox advert banned|accessdate=July 18, 2007|date=June 6, 2002|publisher=]}}</ref>


===Landfills===
===Discontinuation and successor===
]s are created by land dumping. Land dumping methods vary, most commonly it involves the mass dumping of waste into a designated area, usually a hole or sidehill. After the waste is dumped, it is then compacted by large machines. When the dumping cell is full, it is then "sealed" with a plastic sheet and covered in several feet of dirt. This is the primary method of dumping in the United States because of the low cost and abundance of unused land in North America. Landfills pose the threat of pollution, and can intoxicate ground water. The signs of pollution are effectively masked by disposal companies and it is often hard to see any evidence. Usually landfills are surrounded by large walls or fences hiding the mounds of debris. Large amounts of chemical odor eliminating agent are sprayed in the air surrounding landfills to hide the evidence of the rotting waste inside the plant.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Rogers|first1=Heather|title=Gone Tomorrow: The Hidden Life of Garbage <!--all that follows appears to be spurious - book was not published by Bedford/St. Martins, is not dated 2015, does not have an ISBN anywhere close to this, looked at book preview and info in article is not included in book at those pages |date=12 March 2015|publisher=Bedford/St. Martins|isbn=978-0-312-6784-1|pages=188-190-->}}</ref>
{{Main article|Xbox 360|List of Xbox games compatible with Xbox 360}}


=== Energy generation ===
The Xbox's successor, the Xbox 360, was officially unveiled announced on May 12, 2005 on ]. It was the first next generation system to be announced. It was released in North America on November 22, 2005. ] ceased production of the Xbox's GPU in August 2005, which marked the end of brand-new Xbox production.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/08fce29a-c334-11d9-abf1-00000e2511c8.html |publisher=Financial Times |title=Nvidia ends shipments of chips for Xbox |accessdate=August 12, 2013}}</ref> The last Xbox game in Europe was '']'' released in June 2007, and the last game in North America was '']'' released in August 2008. Support for out-of-warranty Xbox consoles was discontinued on March 2, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/27/psa-microsoft-ends-original-xbox-support-on-march-2/|title=PSA: Microsoft ends original Xbox support on March 2|last=de Matos|first=Xav|date=February 27, 2009|accessdate=December 10, 2015}}</ref> Support for Xbox Live on the console ended on April 15, 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/news/xbox-live-cut-original-xbox|title=Xbox Live to Cut Off Original Xbox Support on April 15|last=Pereira|first=Chris|date=February 5, 2015|accessdate=December 10, 2015}}</ref>
Municipal solid waste can be used to generate energy. Several technologies have been developed that make the processing of MSW for energy generation cleaner and more economical than ever before, including landfill gas capture, combustion, ], ], and ].<ref></ref> While older waste incineration plants emitted a lot of pollutants, recent regulatory changes and new technologies have significantly reduced this concern. ] (EPA) regulations in 1995 and 2000 under the ] have succeeded in reducing emissions of ] from ] facilities by more than 99 percent below 1990 levels, while mercury emissions have been reduced by over 90 percent.<ref></ref> The EPA noted these improvements in 2003, citing waste-to-energy as a power source "with less environmental impact than almost any other source of ]".<ref></ref>


==See also==
The Xbox 360 supports ] if the player has an official Xbox 360 Hard Drive. Xbox games were added up until November 2007. Xbox game saves cannot be transferred to Xbox 360, and the ability to play Xbox games through Xbox LIVE has been discontinued since April 15, 2010. It is still possible to play Xbox games with ] functionality online via both the original console and the Xbox 360 with tunneling software such as ].
* ] (study of modern refuse and trash)
* ]
* ] (municipal solid waste and ])
* ]
* ]


==Hardware== ==References==
{{Refimprove|date=April 2011}}
]
{{Reflist|2}}
]
{{See also|Xbox special limited editions}}


==Further reading==
The Xbox was the first video game console to feature a built-in ], used primarily for storing game saves and content downloaded from Xbox Live. This eliminated the need for separate ]s (although some older consoles, such as the ], used internal flash memory, and others, like the ], ], and ], had featured built-in battery backup memory prior to 2001). An Xbox user could ] music from ] to the hard drive, and these songs were used for the custom soundtracks in some games.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://support.microsoft.com/kb/909942 |title = Xbox: Description of custom soundtracks |accessdate = January 13, 2008 |date = April 25, 2007 |publisher = Microsoft Knowledge Base}}</ref>
* {{Cite journal | last1 = Vergara | first1 = S. E. | last2 = Tchobanoglous | first2 = G. | doi = 10.1146/annurev-environ-050511-122532 | title = Municipal Solid Waste and the Environment: A Global Perspective | journal = Annual Review of Environment and Resources | volume = 37 | pages = 277 | year = 2012 | pmid = | pmc = }}<ref>* {{Cite journal|last1=Kumar|first1=Sunil|last2=Dhar|first2=Hiya|last3=Nair|first3=Vijay V.|last4=Bhattacharyya|first4=J. K.|last5=Vaidya|first5=A. N.|last6=Akolkar|first6=A. B.|title=Characterization of municipal solid waste in high-altitude sub-tropical regions|journal=Environmental Technology|date=22 March 2016|volume=37|issue=20|pages=2627–2637|doi=10.1080/09593330.2016.1158322}}</ref>

The Xbox was the first gaming product to feature Dolby Interactive Content-Encoding Technology, which allows real-time Dolby Digital encoding in game consoles. Previous game consoles could only use Dolby Digital 5.1 during non-interactive "cut scene" playback.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.dolby.com/assets/pdf/press_releases/841_co.pr.0104.xbox.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060219162524/http://www.dolby.com/assets/pdf/press_releases/841_co.pr.0104.xbox.pdf |archivedate=February 19, 2006 |title=The Xbox Video Game System from Microsoft to Feature Groundbreaking Dolby Interactive Content-Encoding Technology |date=April 18, 2001 |publisher=] |accessdate=July 3, 2008 |format=PDF}}</ref>

The Xbox is based on commodity PC hardware and is much larger and heavier than its contemporaries. This is largely due to a bulky tray-loading ] drive and the standard-size 3.5&nbsp;inch hard drive. The Xbox has also pioneered safety features, such as breakaway cables for the controllers to prevent the console from being pulled from the surface it rests on.

Several internal hardware revisions have been made in an ongoing battle to discourage ] (hackers continually updated ] designs in an attempt to defeat them), to cut manufacturing costs, and to make the DVD-ROM drive more reliable (some of the early units' drives gave Disc Reading Errors due to the unreliable Thomson DVD-ROM drives used). Later generation units that used the Thomson TGM-600 DVD-ROM drives and the Philips VAD6011 DVD-ROM drives were still vulnerable to failure that rendered the consoles either unable to read newer discs or caused them to halt the console with an error code usually indicating a ]/] identification failure, respectively. These units were not covered under the extended warranty.

In 2002 Microsoft and ] entered arbitration over a dispute on the pricing of Nvidia's chips for the Xbox.<ref name="eetimes-chip-dispute">{{cite web|url=http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4094562/Microsoft-takes-Nvidia-to-arbitration-over-pricing-of-Xbox-processors|title= Microsoft takes Nvidia to arbitration over pricing of Xbox processors|accessdate=June 29, 2006|date=April 29, 2002|publisher=]}}</ref> Nvidia's filing with the ] indicated that Microsoft was seeking a $13 million discount on shipments for NVIDIA's fiscal year 2002. Microsoft alleged violations of the agreement the two companies entered, sought reduced chipset pricing, and sought to ensure that Nvidia fulfill Microsoft's chipset orders without limits on quantity. The matter was privately settled on February 6, 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eetimes.com/electronics-news/4090108/Microsoft-and-Nvidia-settle-Xbox-chip-pricing-dispute|title=Microsoft and Nvidia settle Xbox chip pricing dispute|accessdate=June 29, 2006|date=February 6, 2003|publisher=]}}</ref>

The Xbox includes a standard AV cable which provides ] and ] or ] to TVs equipped with ] inputs. European Xboxes also included an RCA jack to ] converter block as well as the standard AV cable.{{clear}}

An 8&nbsp;MB removable ] ] can be plugged into the controllers, onto which game saves can either be copied from the hard drive when in the Xbox dashboard's memory manager or saved during a game. Most Xbox game saves can be copied to the memory unit and moved to another console but some Xbox saves are digitally signed. It is also possible to save an Xbox Live account on a memory unit, to simplify its use on more than one Xbox.

===Technical specifications===
{{Main article|Xbox technical specifications}}

Its ] is a ] 733&nbsp;], custom Intel ] ] processor. It has a 133&nbsp;MHz 64-bit ] ] (FSB) with a 1.06 GB/s bandwidth. The system has 64&nbsp;] unified ], with a 6.4 GB/s bandwidth, of which 1.06 GB/s is used by the CPU and 5.34 GB/s is shared by the rest of the system.<ref name="anandtech">{{cite web|url=http://www.anandtech.com/show/853/2 |title=Anandtech Microsoft's Xbox |publisher=Anandtech.com |date= |accessdate=November 11, 2010}}</ref>

Its ] is ]'s 233&nbsp;MHz ]. It has a floating-point performance of 7.3 ], capable of geometry calculations for up to a theoretical 115 million vertices/second. It has a peak fillrate of 932 ]s/second, capable of rendering a theoretical 29 million 32-pixel triangles/second. With bandwidth limitations, it has a realistic fillrate of 250–700 megapixels/second, with ], ], ], and ],<ref>, ], 2001</ref> giving it a real-world performance of 7.8–21 million 32-pixel triangles/second.

===Controllers===
{{Main article|Xbox Controller}}
]
]

The Xbox controller features two ]s, a pressure-sensitive directional pad, two analog triggers, a Back button, a Start button, two accessory slots and six 8-bit analog action buttons (A/Green, B/Red, X/Blue, Y/Yellow, and Black and White buttons).<ref>{{cite web| url = http://euc.jp/periphs/xbox-controller.en.html |title = Inside Xbox 360 Controller}}</ref> The standard Xbox controller (also nicknamed the "Fatty"<ref name="nickname">{{cite web|title=Xbox 360 Wireless Controller Tour |url=http://gear.ign.com/articles/613/613588p1.html |publisher=IGN |accessdate=July 2, 2011 |date=May 13, 2005 |quote=the original "Fatty" Xbox controller didn't have a specific public name}}</ref> and later, the "Duke"<ref name="nickname2">{{cite web |title=Xbox's original beast of a controller making a comeback? |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-20071383-1/xboxs-original-beast-of-a-controller-making-a-comeback/ |publisher=CNET |accessdate=October 16, 2011 |date=June 15, 2005 |quote=Anyone who purchased the original Xbox during its launch window quickly came to know its behemoth of a controller, now nicknamed "Duke."}}</ref>) was originally the controller bundled with Xbox systems for all territories except Japan. The controller has been criticized for being bulky compared to other video game controllers; it was awarded "Blunder of the Year" by '']'' in 2001,<ref>Games of 2001. '']'' (January 2002, pg. 48).</ref> a Guinness World Record for the biggest controller in ] 2008, and was ranked the second-worst video game controller ever by ] editor Craig Harris.<ref>{{cite web |title=Top 10 Tuesday: Worst Game Controllers |url=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/690/690449p1.html |publisher=IGN |accessdate=August 7, 2009 |date=February 21, 2006}}</ref>

The "Controller S" (codenamed "Akebono"), a smaller, lighter Xbox controller, was originally the standard Xbox controller only in Japan,<ref>Ninja Beach Party. '']'' (October 2002, issue 11, pg. 44).</ref> designed for users with smaller hands.<ref>{{cite web|author=Christopher Buecheler chrisb@gamespy.com |url=http://archive.gamespy.com/hardware/march02/xboxcontrollers/ |title=GameSpy.com - Hardware: Xbox Controller S |publisher=Web.archive.org |date=June 24, 2008 |accessdate=November 11, 2010 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080624085615/http://archive.gamespy.com/hardware/march02/xboxcontrollers/ |archivedate = June 24, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamer20.com/features/150/4 |title=Xbox Retrospective: All-Time Top Xbox News |publisher=Gamer 2.0 |accessdate=November 11, 2010 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100503155438/http://www.gamer20.com/features/150/4 |archivedate=May 3, 2010 }}</ref> The "Controller S" was later released in other territories by popular demand and by 2002 replaced the standard controller in the Xbox's retail package, with the larger original controller remaining available as an accessory.

==Software==

===Operating system===
The Xbox runs a custom ] which is based on the Windows architecture ]. It exposes ]s similar to APIs found in ], such as ] 8.1. The system software may have been based on the Windows NT kernel, but it has modified log files.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/xboxteam/archive/2006/02/17/534421.aspx|title=The Xbox Operating System|work=Xbox Team Blog|accessdate=July 3, 2008}}</ref>

The ] for the Xbox is called the Xbox Dashboard. It features a ] that can be used to play music CDs, rip CDs to the Xbox's built-in ] and play music that has been ripped to the hard drive; it also lets users manage game saves, music, and downloaded content from Xbox Live, and lets Live users sign in and manage their account. The dashboard is only available when the user is not watching a movie or playing a game. It uses many shades of green and black for the user interface, to be consistent with the physical Xbox color scheme. When the Xbox was released in 2001, the Live service was not online yet so the dashboard's Live feature was unusable.

Xbox Live was released in 2002, but in order to access it, users had to buy the Xbox Live starter kit containing a ], a subscription, and supplemental.{{clarify|date=August 2013}} While the Xbox was still being supported by Microsoft, the Xbox Dashboard was updated via Live several times to reduce cheating and add features.

===Games===
<!-- ]'', Xbox's best selling game]] image has no rationale for this article -->
{{Main article|List of video game console launch games#Microsoft Xbox|List of Xbox games|l1=List of Xbox launch games}}
{{See also|List of Xbox games compatible with Xbox 360}}

The Xbox launched in North America on November 15, 2001. Popular launch games included '']'', '']'', and '']''. All three of these games would go on to sell over a million copies in the US.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.the-magicbox.com/Chart-USPlatinum.shtml|title=The Magic Box - US Platinum Chart Games.|publisher=|accessdate=December 30, 2016}}</ref>

Although the console gained strong third party support from its inception, many early Xbox games did not fully use its powerful hardware until a full year after its release. Xbox versions of cross-platform games sometimes came with a few additional features and/or graphical improvements to distinguish them from the PS2 and GameCube versions of the same game, thus negating one of the Xbox's main selling points. Sony countered the Xbox for a short time by temporarily securing PlayStation 2 exclusives for highly anticipated games such as the ] and the ] as well as Nintendo for the ]. Notable 3rd party support came from ], who announced an 11-game exclusivity deal at ].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.microsoft.com/2001/03/30/sega-and-microsoft-team-up-for-strategic-xbox-alliance/|title=Sega and Microsoft Team Up for Strategic Xbox Alliance - News Center|publisher=|accessdate=December 30, 2016}}</ref> ] released exclusives such as '']'' and '']'', which met with a strong reception among critics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox/537421-panzer-dragoon-orta/index.html|title=Panzer Dragoon Orta for Xbox - GameRankings|publisher=|accessdate=December 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox/475263-jsrf-jet-set-radio-future/index.html|title=JSRF: Jet Set Radio Future for Xbox - GameRankings|publisher=|accessdate=December 30, 2016}}</ref>

In 2002 and 2003, several high-profile releases helped the Xbox gain momentum and distinguish itself from the PS2. ] purchased ], responsible for many ] hit games, to expand their 1st party portfolio.<ref name="ign.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/09/24/microsoft-buys-rare|title=Microsoft Buys Rare|first=Aaron|last=Bouldling|date=September 24, 2002|publisher=|accessdate=December 30, 2016}}</ref> The ] online service was launched in late 2002 alongside pilot titles ''MotoGP'', '']'' and '']''. Several best-selling and critically acclaimed titles for the Xbox soon followed, such as '']'', and '']''. ]'s exclusivity deal with ] was amended to allow '']'' and its ] to be published for the Xbox. Many other publishers got into the trend of releasing the Xbox version alongside the PS2 version, instead of delaying it for months.

2004 saw the release of highly rated exclusives ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox/516688-fable/index.html|title=Fable for Xbox - GameRankings|publisher=|accessdate=December 30, 2016}}</ref> and ],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox/561532-ninja-gaiden/index.html|title=Ninja Gaiden for Xbox - GameRankings|publisher=|accessdate=December 30, 2016}}</ref> both of these games would become big hits for the Xbox.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/09/23/fable-sells-big|title=Fable Sells Big|first=David|last=Adams|date=September 23, 2004|publisher=|accessdate=December 30, 2016}}</ref> Later that year, '']'' was released and became the highest-grossing release in entertainment history, making over $125 million in its first day<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/Halo-2-clears-record-125-million-in-first-day/2100-1043_3-5447379.html| title='Halo 2' clears record $125 million in first day|accessdate=September 30, 2007|last=Becker|first= David|date=November 10, 2004| publisher=News.com}}</ref> and became the ] worldwide.<ref name="halo2sales">{{cite web | author=Asher Moses | date=August 30, 2007 | url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/biztech/prepare-for-allout-war/2007/08/30/1188067256196.html | title=Prepare for all-out war | publisher=] | accessdate=July 16, 2008 | quote=Combined, the first two Halo games have notched up sales of more than 14.5 million copies so far, about 8 million of which can be attributed to Halo 2, which is the best-selling first-generation Xbox game worldwide.}}</ref> '']'' became Xbox Live's third ] after '']'' & '']''. That year Microsoft made a deal to put ]'s popular titles on ] to boost the popularity of their service.

By 2005, despite notable first party releases in '']'' and ], Microsoft began phasing out the Xbox in favor of their next console, the ]. Games such as '']'' and '']'', which were originally to be developed for the Xbox,<ref name="ign.com"/> became ] launch titles instead. The last game released on the Xbox was '']'', on August 12, 2008.

==Services==
]
{{Main article|Xbox Live}}

On November 15, 2002, Microsoft launched its Xbox Live online gaming service, allowing subscribers to play online Xbox games with other subscribers around the world and download new content directly to the system's ]. The online service works only with a ] Internet connection. Approximately 250,000 subscribers signed up within two months of Xbox Live's launch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://games.ign.com/articles/381/381618p1.html |title=Xbox Live Subscriptions Double Expectations |accessdate=September 30, 2007 |author=Coleman, Stephen |date=January 7, 2003 |publisher=IGN |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314203443/http://games.ign.com/articles/381/381618p1.html |archivedate=March 14, 2007 }}</ref> In July 2004, Microsoft announced that Xbox Live had reached 1 million subscribers; in July 2005, membership reached two million, and by July 2007 there were more than 3 million subscribers. By May 2009, the number had ballooned to 20 million current subscribers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/28/microsoft-touts-30-million-xbox-360s-sold-20-million-xbox-live/ |title=Microsoft touts 30 million Xbox 360s sold, 20 million Xbox LIVE members |publisher=Engadget |accessdate=November 11, 2010}}</ref> On February 5, 2010, it was reported that Xbox Live support for the original Xbox games would be discontinued as of April 14, 2010.<ref name="nelson"/> Services were discontinued on schedule, but a group of 20 gamers continued to play for almost a month afterwards by simply leaving their consoles on connected to ''Halo 2''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/people-still-playing-halo-2-somehow|title=People still playing Halo 2 somehow|date=April 26, 2010|accessdate=June 4, 2010|publisher=]}}</ref>

==Sales==
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin:0 0 0.5em 1em;"
|-
! Region
! ] <br /><small>(as of May 10, 2006)</small>
! First available
|-
| North America
| 16 million
| November 15, 2001
|-
| Europe
| 6 million
| March 14, 2002
|-
| Asia & Pacific
| 2 million
| February 22, 2002
|-
| '''Worldwide'''
| '''24 million'''
|}

On November 15, 2001, Xbox launched in North America and quickly sold out. Its launch in that region was successful, selling 1.53 million units three months after launch, which is higher than its successor Xbox 360, as well as the ], ], ], and even the ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|last=Orland |first=Kyle |url=http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/02/wii-u-has-historically-bad-january-sells-about-50000-units-in-us/ |title=Wii U has historically bad January, sells about 50,000 units in U.S |publisher=Arstechnica.com |date=February 15, 2013 |accessdate=April 25, 2014}}</ref>

The Xbox has sold 24 million units worldwide as of May 10, 2006, according to Microsoft.<ref name="gamers_catch" /> This is divided out to 16 million units sold in North America, six million units in Europe, and just two million units sold in Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

The Xbox was almost always behind the PlayStation 2 in terms of sales, although in April 2004, the Xbox outsold the PS2 in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.gamespot.com/news/xbox-officially-outsells-ps2-in-us-6099369 |title=Xbox officially outsells PS2 in US |publisher=] |work=GameSpot.com |date=May 26, 2004 |accessdate=August 12, 2013 |first=Tor |last=Thorsen}}</ref> Despite lagging far behind the PlayStation 2's sales, the Xbox was overall a success (especially in North America), keeping a steady second place in the generation sales.

===Japan===
Despite a strong promotion in Japan,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thegia.psy-q.ch/sites/www.thegia.com/news/0202/n22a.html |title=Xbox launches in Japan |publisher=The Gaming Intelligence Agency |date=February 22, 2002 |accessdate=August 12, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/02/22/Japan-xbox.htm |title=Xbox unleashed in Japan |publisher=The Age Company Ltd. |date=February 22, 2002 |accessdate=August 12, 2013}}</ref> the country saw very poor sales (450,000 as of November 2011).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2011/11/23/the-life-and-death-of-the-original-xbox?page=2 |title=The Life and Death of the Original Xbox|publisher=''IGN UK'' |accessdate=April 25, 2014}}</ref> Some analysts already believed that the Xbox would have trouble competing with Sony and Nintendo before its Japanese launch, claiming that the Xbox would be competing against its local counterparts and that the console does not fit well with Japanese society (e.g., console size), as well as the lack of Japanese-appealing launch titles, such as ]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/worldbiz/archives/2002/02/21/0000124876 |title=Game-over for Xbox in Japan? |publisher=] |date=February 21, 2002 |accessdate=August 12, 2013}}</ref> For the week ending April 14, 2002, the Xbox was by far outsold by its Sony and Nintendo rivals, as well as the ] and even the ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2002/04/18/japan-gcn-sales |title=Japan GCN sales |publisher='']'' |date=April 18, 2002 |accessdate=August 12, 2013}}</ref> In November 2002, the Xbox chief in Japan stepped down, leading to further consultations about Xbox's future, which had by then sold just 278,860 units in the country since its February launch.<ref>{{Citation|date=December 2002| title = Xbox dead in Japan?| magazine = ]| issue = 1| publisher = ]| page = 11| issn = 1478-5889| url = https://archive.org/details/gamesTM001| accessdate = April 25, 2014| quote = "Xbox is failing in Japan, there's no denying it. Despite the country's fascination with America, it seems uneasy investing in a non- Japanese product; so far just 278,860 Xbox consoles have been sold, compared to almost 700,000 GameCubes during the same period. These embarrassing figures have resulted in Hirohisa Ohura, Director of Xbox Japan, being moved to a different department within Microsoft, hinting that a certain amount of re-structuring is about to take place."}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pinoyexchange.com/forums/showthread.php?t=124138 |title=Japan Xbox chief steps down |publisher=PinoyExchange Forums |date=November 10, 2002 |accessdate=August 12, 2013}}</ref> For the week ending July 18, 2004, the Xbox sold just 272 units, which was so poor that even the PSone outsold it by four.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox/games/news/37034.shtml |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040817075442/http://www.gamepro.com/microsoft/xbox/games/news/37034.shtml |title=Xbox Outsold by PS one in Japan |publisher=] |work=GamePro.com |date=July 23, 2004 |accessdate=August 12, 2013 |archivedate=August 17, 2004 |author=Funky Zealot}}</ref> The Xbox did, however, outsell the GameCube for the week ending May 26, 2002.<ref></ref> Despite Microsoft's struggles, some Japanese-appealing games were released exclusively for the Xbox, such as '']'' or '']'', which hugely contributed to the sales of Xbox in Japan. Its successor ] sold 1.6 million units as of February 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last=Phillips |first=Tom |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-02-26-wii-u-has-finally-overtaken-xbox-360-in-japan |title=Wii U has finally overtaken Xbox 360 in Japan • |publisher=Eurogamer.net |date=February 26, 2014 |accessdate=April 25, 2014}}</ref>

==Modding==
{{Main article|Xbox modding}}

The popularity of the Xbox, as well as (in the United States) its comparatively short 90-day warranty, inspired efforts to circumvent the built-in hardware and software security mechanisms, a practice informally known as ].

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}


==External links== == External links ==
* {{cite web | url = http://www.unep.org/documents.multilingual/default.asp?DocumentID=52&ArticleID=69&l=en | title = Environmentally Sound Management of Solid Wastes and Sewage-Related Issues | accessdate = 2011-02-23 | publisher = ]}}
{{Commons category|Xbox}}
* {{cite web | url = http://envfor.nic.in/legis/hsm/mswmhr.html | title = Municipal Solid Waste Management and Handling Rules 2000, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India | accessdate = 2011-02-25 | publisher = envfor.nic.in}}
{{Portal|Xbox}}
* by the ]'s
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* {{official website|http://www.xbox.com/}}
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Revision as of 04:20, 10 June 2017

"Garbage", "Rubbish", and "Municipal waste" redirect here. For other uses, see Garbage (disambiguation), Rubbish (disambiguation), and Municipal waste (disambiguation). "Urban waste" redirects here. For the punk band, see Urban Waste (band).

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Municipal solid waste (MSW), commonly known as trash or garbage in the United States and as refuse or rubbish in Britain, is a waste type consisting of everyday items that are discarded by the public. "Garbage" can also refer specifically to food waste, as in a garbage disposal; the two are sometimes collected separately.

Composition

The composition of municipal solid waste varies greatly from municipality to municipality. and changes significantly with time. In municipalities which have a well developed waste recycling system, the waste stream consists mainly of intractable wastes such as plastic film, and non-recyclable packaging materials. At the start of the 20th century, the majority of domestic waste (53%) in the UK consisted of coal ash from open fires. In developed areas without significant recycling activity it predominantly includes food wastes, market wastes, yard wastes, plastic containers and product packaging materials, and other miscellaneous solid wastes from residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial sources. Most definitions of municipal solid waste do not include industrial wastes, agricultural wastes, medical waste, radioactive waste or sewage sludge. Waste collection is performed by the municipality within a given area. The term residual waste relates to waste left from household sources containing materials that have not been separated out or sent for reprocessing. Waste can be classified in several ways but the following list represents a typical classification:

Components of solid waste management

Bins to collect paper, aluminium, glass, PET bottles and incinerable waste.

The municipal solid waste industry has four components: recycling, composting, disposal, and waste-to-energy via incineration. There is no single approach that can be applied to the management of all waste streams, therefore the Environmental Protection Agency, federal agency of the United States of America, developed a hierarchy ranking strategy for municipal solid waste. The Waste Management Hierarchy is made up of four levels ordered from most preferred to least preferred methods based on their environmental soundness: Source reduction and reuse; recycling or composting; energy recovery; treatment and disposal.

Collection

The functional element of collection includes not only the gathering of solid waste and recyclable materials, but also the transport of these materials, after collection, to the location where the collection vehicle is emptied. This location may be a materials processing facility, a transfer station or a landfill disposal site.

Waste handling and separation, storage and processing at the source

Waste handling and separation involves activities associated with waste management until the waste is placed in storage containers for collection. Handling also encompasses the movement of loaded containers to the point of collection. Separating different types of waste components is an important step in the handling and storage of solid waste at the source.

Segregation and processing and transformation of solid wastes

The types of means and facilities that are now used for the recovery of waste materials that have been separated at the source include curbside ('kerbside' in the UK) collection, drop-off and buy-back centers. The separation and processing of wastes that have been separated at the source and the separation of commingled wastes usually occur at a materials recovery facility, transfer stations, combustion facilities and disposal sites.

Transfer and transport

This element involves two main steps. First, the waste is transferred from a smaller collection vehicle to larger transport equipment. The waste is then transported, usually over long distances, to a processing or disposal site.

Disposal

Mixed municipal waste, Hiriya, Tel Aviv

Today, the disposal of wastes by land filling or land spreading is the ultimate fate of all solid wastes, whether they are residential wastes collected and transported directly to a landfill site, residual materials from materials recovery facilities (MRFs), residue from the combustion of solid waste, compost, or other substances from various solid waste processing facilities. A modern sanitary landfill is not a dump; it is an engineered facility used for disposing of solid wastes on land without creating nuisances or hazards to public health or safety, such as the problems of insects and the contamination of ground water.

Reusing

In the recent years environmental organizations, such as Freegle or Freecycle Network, have been gaining popularity for their online reuse networks. These networks provide a worldwide online registry of unwanted items that would otherwise be thrown away, for individuals and nonprofits to reuse or recycle. Therefore, this free Internet-based service reduces landfill pollution and promotes the gift economy.

Landfills

Landfills are created by land dumping. Land dumping methods vary, most commonly it involves the mass dumping of waste into a designated area, usually a hole or sidehill. After the waste is dumped, it is then compacted by large machines. When the dumping cell is full, it is then "sealed" with a plastic sheet and covered in several feet of dirt. This is the primary method of dumping in the United States because of the low cost and abundance of unused land in North America. Landfills pose the threat of pollution, and can intoxicate ground water. The signs of pollution are effectively masked by disposal companies and it is often hard to see any evidence. Usually landfills are surrounded by large walls or fences hiding the mounds of debris. Large amounts of chemical odor eliminating agent are sprayed in the air surrounding landfills to hide the evidence of the rotting waste inside the plant.

Energy generation

Municipal solid waste can be used to generate energy. Several technologies have been developed that make the processing of MSW for energy generation cleaner and more economical than ever before, including landfill gas capture, combustion, pyrolysis, gasification, and plasma arc gasification. While older waste incineration plants emitted a lot of pollutants, recent regulatory changes and new technologies have significantly reduced this concern. United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations in 1995 and 2000 under the Clean Air Act have succeeded in reducing emissions of dioxins from waste-to-energy facilities by more than 99 percent below 1990 levels, while mercury emissions have been reduced by over 90 percent. The EPA noted these improvements in 2003, citing waste-to-energy as a power source "with less environmental impact than almost any other source of electricity".

See also

References

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Xbox" console – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (April 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
  1. Centenary history of waste and waste managers in London and south east England- Page 7
  2. Non-hazardous Waste U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Municipal Solid Waste
  3. Municipal Solid Waste U.S. Energy Information Administration
  4. Mechanical Biological Treatment Welsh Assembly (2005) Mechanical Biological Treatment, Environment Countryside and Planning Website, Welsh Assembly
  5. "Organics -Green Bin". Christchurch City Council. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
  6. Nonhazardous waste U.S. Energy Information Administration
  7. System Overview
  8. Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: Facts and Figures
  9. Rogers, Heather. Gone Tomorrow: The Hidden Life of Garbage.
  10. Environmental and Energy Study Institute Issue Brief
  11. Combustion Emissions from Hazardous Waste Incinerators, Boilers and Industrial Furnaces, and Municipal Solid Waste Incinerators- Results from Five STAR Grants and Research Needs U.S. EPA
  12. U.S. EPA Letter to Maria Zannes, President, Integrated Waste Services Association

Further reading

  • Vergara, S. E.; Tchobanoglous, G. (2012). "Municipal Solid Waste and the Environment: A Global Perspective". Annual Review of Environment and Resources. 37: 277. doi:10.1146/annurev-environ-050511-122532.

External links

Biosolids, waste, and waste management
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  1. * Kumar, Sunil; Dhar, Hiya; Nair, Vijay V.; Bhattacharyya, J. K.; Vaidya, A. N.; Akolkar, A. B. (22 March 2016). "Characterization of municipal solid waste in high-altitude sub-tropical regions". Environmental Technology. 37 (20): 2627–2637. doi:10.1080/09593330.2016.1158322.
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