Although we may not see our trash again after we throw it away, the impacts of our waste are long-lasting. When waste, particularly organic waste, decomposes in a landfill, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas that is more potent and stays in the atmosphere longer than carbon dioxide. Landfills can also pose risks to human health and air quality.

Reducing the amount of waste that we produce while reusing materials and increasing recycling will offer new opportunities to both reduce emissions and diversify our economy.

The Vegas Recycling Center, operated by Republic Services, processes more than 2 million pounds of material every day; it is the largest recycling facility in North America. Republic Services is also opening a Polymer Center in 2023, which will be the first single-source facility for plastics recycling in the nation. The more we recycle, and recycle correctly, the less energy and raw materials are needed to produce the goods we use. In 2019, Clark County residents kept over 355,000 tons of solid waste out of the landfill, avoiding an estimated 878,000 MTCO2e.

Reducing the amount of organic matter, including food waste, that ends up in our landfills is critical for reducing emissions. One example of how large-scale food waste reduction is already being achieved locally can be found at MGM Resorts. Through a partnership with Three Square Food Bank in Las Vegas, MGM Resorts minimizes its food waste while supporting the community. MGM flash freezes leftover food from its events to get it safely to community members in need.

Since 2016, MGM Resorts has donated 1.5 million meals!