Disposal of the estimated 450,000 tons of municipal solid waste discarded daily in the United States poses serious challenges to both municipal and state governments. Landfilling and inceration options, the traditional methods of waste removal, are becoming impractical due to environmental, space, or cost constraints. Resource recovery, via burning waste for conversion to energy, represents an alternative for meeting long-term waste disposal needs which is gaining in use. Over 51 plants are in the planning stages, including facilities to be located in most major metropolitan areas. Currently, S&P rate 14 municipal financings representing almost $1.5 billion in debt for resource recovery projects.