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Waste Management and Recycling

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Environment Indicators

The following indicators are metrics of how well South Carolina is performing with respect to the quality of its environment. Data are divided into four separate categories— waste management and recycling, air quality, water quality, and energy. For each category, one or more indicators are listed and defined, and in brief, the significance or relevance of the indicator is included. When available, data are compared to other states (state rankings) and historical data are provided. Additionally, where possible the data sources for each indicator are given via hyperlink. In other cases, sources simply are referenced. Suggested readings are indicated to explain the technical definitions, uses, limitations, etc., of the data. Endnotes are included—as appropriate—for explanatory purposes.

South Carolina Indicators Project

Environment Indicators

At-a-Glance

Categories	Indicators	State Rankings (SC) (1=highest)	Data
Waste Management and Recycling	1. Hazardous Waste Generation	25	YR 2005: 177,734 tons
	2. Number of Superfund Sites	17	YR 2006: 26
	3. Toxic Chemical Releases	20	YR 2006: 75,338,907 pounds
	4. Municipal Solid Waste Generated	No Rank	YR 2006: 6.4 pounds per person per day
	Municipal Solid Waste Disposal	No Rank	YR 2006: 4.4 pounds per person per day
	5. Recycling Rates	No Rank	YR 2006: 30.4% of MSW Recycled
	6. Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal	No Rank	YR 2006: 322,491.19 curies
	7. Spent Nuclear Fuel	No Rank	29 Metric Tons Heavy Material (MTHM) at Savannah River Site
Air Quality	1. Emissions of Toxic Chemicals into the Air	12	YR 2006: 51.71 million pounds
	2. People Living in Areas with High Ozone Levels	21	YR 2004: 2.7 million people
Water Quality	1. Percent of Population Served By A Community Water System Reporting a Health Violation	13	YR 2007: 11.4% of Population Served By A Facility Reporting a Health Violation
		13
	2. Number of Impaired Waters	15	YR 2002-06: 866
Energy	1. Emissions from Electric Power Generation
	A. Carbon Dioxide Emissions	24	YR 2006 CO₂: 40,847,197 metric tons
	B. Sulfur Dioxide Emissions	16	YR 2006 SO_2: 218,658 metric tons
	C. Nitrogen Oxide Emissions	32	YR 2006 NO: 49,251 metric tons
	2. Total Megawatt Hours Produced by Nuclear Power Plants	3	YR 2006: 50.8 million megawatt hours

Rev. 04.17.08

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