We Recycled More Than a Billion Pounds of Batteriesã¢â‚¬â€again
On this page:
- The Electric current National Pic
- Generation
- Recycling
- Composting/Other Food Management
- Combustion with Free energy Recovery
- Landfilling
- Trends - 1960 to Today
- Generation Trends
- Recycling and Composting Trends
- Other Nutrient Management Trends
- Recycling, Composting and Other Nutrient Direction Trends Specific to 2015-2018
- Greenhouse Gas Benefits
The Current National Movie
EPA began collecting and reporting information on the generation and disposition of waste material in the United States more than 35 years ago. The Bureau uses this information to measure the success of materials direction programs across the state and to characterize the national waste material stream. These Facts and Figures are current through calendar twelvemonth 2018.
The full generation of municipal solid waste matter (MSW) in 2018 was 292.four meg tons (U.Due south. short tons, unless specified) or 4.ix pounds per person per day. Of the MSW generated, approximately 69 meg tons were recycled and 25 one thousand thousand tons were composted. Together, almost 94 million tons of MSW were recycled and composted, equivalent to a 32.1 pct recycling and composting charge per unit. An boosted 17.7 meg tons of food were managed by other methods. Other food management includes the following direction pathways: animal feed, bio-based materials/biochemical processing, co-digestion/anaerobic digestion, donation, country application and sewer/wastewater handling. For more information on nutrient direction, see Food: Material-Specific Information. In add-on, nearly 35 1000000 tons of MSW (11.viii percent) were combusted with energy recovery and more than than 146 million tons of MSW (50 percent) were landfilled.
EPA refers to trash, or MSW, as various items consumers throw abroad after they are used. These items include bottles and corrugated boxes, food, grass clippings, sofas, computers, tires and refrigerators. However, MSW does non include everything that may exist landfilled at the local level, such every bit construction and sabotage (C&D) debris, municipal wastewater sludge, and other non-chancy industrial wastes. While the assay in Facts and Figures focuses primarily on MSW, EPA has been including estimates of C&D generation and management equally a separate not-chancy waste stream in recent years.
*MSW generation rose considerably from 2017 to 2018 mainly because EPA enhanced its nutrient measurement methodology to more fully account for all the ways wasted food is managed throughout the food system.
Direction of MSW continues to be a loftier priority for country and local governments. This includes the source reduction of wastes before they enter the waste stream and the recovery of generated waste for recycling, composting or other methods. It also includes environmentally audio waste product management through combustion with energy recovery and conversion, besides as landfilling practices that meet current standards or newly emerging waste conversion technologies.
EPA developed the non-chancy materials and waste material management hierarchy in recognition that no single waste matter management approach is suitable for managing all materials and waste matter streams in all circumstances. The hierarchy ranks the various management strategies from about to least environmentally preferred. The hierarchy places emphasis on reducing, reusing, and recycling as primal to sustainable materials management.
Generation
The full generation of MSW in 2018 was 292.4 million tons, which was approximately 23.vii 1000000 tons more than than the amount generated in 2017. This is an increase from the 268.7 million tons generated in 2017 and the 208.iii one thousand thousand tons in 1990.
*MSW generation rose considerably from 2017 to 2018 mainly considering EPA enhanced its food measurement methodology to more fully business relationship for all the ways wasted nutrient is managed throughout the nutrient system.
Municipal Solid Waste product Management: 1960-2018
Per capita MSW generation increased from 4.v pounds per person per day in 2017 to 4.9 pounds per person per day in 2018. The increase from 2017 to 2018 is mainly the result of EPA'southward inclusion of boosted wasted nutrient management pathways. Run across Food: Cloth-Specific Data.
Paper and paperboard products fabricated up the largest pct of all the materials in MSW, at 23.one percentage of total generation. Generation of paper and paperboard products declined from 87.7 million tons in 2000 to 67.4 million tons in 2018. Generation of newspapers has been declining since 2000, and this trend is expected to continue, partly due to decreased page size, but mainly due to the increased digitization of news. The generation of office-type (high form) papers also has been in decline, due at least partially to activities such as the increased utilize of the electronic transmission of reports. Paper and paperboard products have ranged between 28.4 and 23.1 percent of generation since 2010.
Food waste comprised the quaternary largest material category, estimated at 63.ane million tons or 21.6 percent of total generation in 2018. Thou trimmings comprised the adjacent largest material category, estimated at 35.4 million tons, or 12.1 percent of full generation, in 2018. This compares to 35 million tons (16.viii percent of full generation) in 1990. The pass up in 1000 trimmings generation since 1990 is largely due to state legislation discouraging yard trimmings disposal in landfills, including source reduction measures such as backyard composting and leaving grass trimmings on the thousand.
In 2018, plastic products generation was 35.7 one thousand thousand tons, or 12.2 percentage of generation. This was an increment of 4.3 million tons from 2010 to 2018, and it came from durable appurtenances and the containers and packaging categories. Plastics generation has grown from 8.two per centum of generation in 1990 to 12.2 percent in 2018. Plastics generation equally a per centum of total generation has varied from 12.2 to 13.2 percent over the past 8 years.
In 2018, ii.seven one thousand thousand tons of selected consumer electronics were generated, representing less than i percent of MSW generation. Selected consumer electronics include products such as TVs, VCRs, DVD players, video cameras, stereo systems, telephones and computer equipment.
Recycling
The total MSW recycled was more than 69 1000000 tons, with paper and paperboard accounting for approximately 67 percent of that corporeality. Metals comprised about 13 percent, while drinking glass, plastic and woods made up between four and five percent.
Measured by tonnage, the most-recycled products and materials in 2018 were corrugated boxes (32.1 1000000 tons), mixed nondurable paper products (8.8 million tons), newspapers/mechanical papers (3.three million tons), atomic number 82-acid batteries (2.9 million tons), major appliances (3.one million tons), wood packaging (3.1 million tons), glass containers (3 million tons), tires (2.half dozen million tons), mixed paper containers and packaging (1.8 million tons) and selected consumer electronics (1 one thousand thousand tons). Collectively, these products accounted for ninety percent of total MSW recycling in 2018.
Check out our Reduce, Reuse, Recycle web expanse for more than data on recycling.
Composting/Other Food Direction
The total MSW composted was 25 million tons. This included approximately 22.iii meg tons of yard trimmings (more than than a five-fold increase since 1990) and 2.6 million tons of food waste (4.one percent of generation of wasted food).
Other methods of food management were estimated for the starting time time in 2018. In 2018, 17.vii million tons of food (28.ane percent of generation of wasted nutrient) was managed through animal feed, co-digestion/anaerobic digestion, bio-based materials/biochemical processing, donation, state application and sewer/wastewater treatment.
Combustion with Energy Recovery
Cheque out our Energy Recovery from the Combustion of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) page for more than information.
In 2018, 34.6 meg tons of MSW were combusted with energy recovery. Food made up the largest component of MSW combusted at approximately 22 pct. Rubber, leather and textiles accounted for over 16 pct of MSW combustion. Plastics comprised about 16 percent, and paper and paperboard made up about 12 percent. The other materials accounted for less than 10 percent each.
Landfilling
In 2018, nigh 146.1 one thousand thousand tons of MSW were landfilled. Food was the largest component at about 24 percent. Plastics accounted for over xviii percent, paper and paperboard made up about 12 percent, and condom, leather and textiles comprised over 11 per centum. Other materials accounted for less than 10 percent each.
Trends – 1960 to Today
In 2018, the corporeality of MSW generated was 292.4 million tons. The amount of MSW recycled was 69.0 million tons and the corporeality composted was 24.nine meg tons. Near 17.7 million tons of food were managed by other methods. The amount of MSW combusted with energy recovery was 34.half-dozen million tons, while the amount of MSW sent to landfills was 146.2 million tons. Presented beneath are details of these trends:
- Over the last few decades, the generation and management of MSW has changed substantially. Generation of MSW increased (except in recession years) from 88.1 million tons in 1960 to 292.4 meg tons in 2018. Generation decreased 1 pct betwixt 2005 and 2010, followed by a rising in generation of 7 percent from 2010 to 2017. Generation rose from 268.seven million tons to 292.4 1000000 tons in 2018, mainly every bit a result of EPA'due south inclusion of boosted food management pathways.
- The generation charge per unit in 1960 was but 2.68 pounds per person per day. It increased to 3.66 pounds per person per mean solar day in 1980. In 2000, it reached 4.74 pounds per person per day and then decreased to four.69 pounds per person per day in 2005. The generation charge per unit was four.9 pounds per person per day in 2018, an 8 percent increment from 2017. The increase from 2017 to 2018 is mainly the result of EPA's inclusion of additional wasted food management pathways.
- Over fourth dimension, recycling and composting rates have increased from just over vi pct of MSW generated in 1960 to about 10 percent in 1980, to 16 percent in 1990, to about 29 pct in 2000, and to about 35 percentage in 2017. It decreased to 32.1 pct in 2018.
- The amount of MSW combusted with free energy recovery increased from zero in 1960 to 14 percent in 1990. In 2018, it was about 12 percent.
- Landfilling of waste has decreased from 94 per centum of the amount generated in 1960 to 50 percent of the amount generated in 2018.
*MSW generation rose considerably from 2017 to 2018 mainly considering EPA enhanced its food measurement methodology to more than fully business relationship for all the means wasted food is managed throughout the food system.
Generation Trends
The generation of paper and paperboard, the largest fabric component of MSW, fluctuates from year to yr, but has decreased from 87.vii million tons in 2000 to 67.4 million tons in 2018. Generation of chiliad trimmings and food waste has increased since 2000. Generation of other textile categories fluctuates from year to year, merely overall MSW generation increased from 1960 to 2005, with the trend reversing from 2005 to 2010, and ascension once again from 2010 through 2018.
Recycling and Composting Trends
In percentage of total MSW generation, recycling (including composting) did not exceed xv percent until 1990. Growth in the recycling charge per unit was significant over the next 15 years, spanning until 2005. The recycling rate grew more slowly over the concluding few years. The 2018 recycling charge per unit was 32.1 percent.
The recycling and composting rates (as a percent of generation) of the below materials in MSW has generally increased over the last 58 years. Run across the table below for examples.
| 1960 | 1970 | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2017 | 2018 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newspaper and Paperboard | 17% | fifteen% | 21% | 28% | 43% | 50% | 63% | 67% | 66% | 68% |
| Drinking glass | two% | i% | v% | 20% | 23% | 21% | 27% | 28% | 25% | 25% |
| Plastics | Neg. | Neg. | <1% | 2% | vi% | 6% | eight% | ix% | 9% | 9% |
| Yard Trimmings | Neg. | Neg. | Neg. | 12% | 52% | 62% | 58% | 61% | 69% | 63% |
| Pb-acid Batteries | Neg. | 76% | lxx% | 97% | 93% | 96% | 99% | 99% | 99% | 99% |
"Neg." means less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percentage.
The rate of yard trimmings composting was negligible in 1980, rose to 12 percentage in 1990 and 52 percent in 2000. In 2005 information technology was 62 percent, in 2017 information technology was 69 percent, and in 2018 it was 63 percent.
Food composting was negligible in 1990, rose to two.two percent (680,000 tons) in 2000, five.iii percent (2.1 1000000 tons) in 2015 and half-dozen.three percent (two.six meg tons) in 2017. In 2018 the food composting charge per unit was 4.i percentage (2.six million tons). Due to a change in methodology, there was an increase in the wasted food generation guess between 2017 and 2018, which resulted in a lower composting rate even though the tons composted remained the aforementioned from 2017 to 2018.
Other Food Management Trends
Other food management pathways, estimated for the start time in 2018, was 17.seven one thousand thousand tons (28.1 percent of wasted food generation). These management pathways include animal feed, codigestion/anaerobic digestion, bio-based materials/biochemical processing, donation, land awarding and sewer/wastewater treatment. See the Nutrient: Cloth-Specific Information spider web page.
Recycling, Composting and Other Food Management Trends Specific to 2015-2018
Included in the generation number are the near 94 million tons of MSW recycled and composted and an boosted 17.7 million tons of other food direction in 2018. The post-obit provides a detailed breakdown of the numbers:
- 69 one thousand thousand tons of MSW were recycled in 2018, a 2.ii percent increase from the 67.half dozen million tons recycled in 2015.
- There was an increase from 23.four million to 24.ix million tons of food and g trimmings composted between 2015 and 2018.
- The recycling rate (including composting) was 32.i percentage in 2018, down from 34.seven percentage in 2015.
- The per capita rates in 2018 were:
- 1.xvi pounds per person per mean solar day for recycling.
- 0.42 pounds per person per day for composting.
- 0.30 pounds per person per solar day for other food management.
Listed here are the recycling or composting rates for three categories of materials, including paper and paperboard, chiliad trimmings, and food:
- In 2018, the rate of paper and paperboard recycling was 68.2 percentage (46.0 million tons), up from 65.9 per centum in 2017 (44.2 million tons), and up from 42.8 percent in 2000.
- The rate of m trimmings composted in 2018 was 63 pct (22.3 million tons), downwardly from 69.four percent (24.iv meg tons) in 2017. The rate of g trimmings composted in 2000 was 51.7 percent .
- In 2018, the charge per unit of food and other MSW organics composting was 4.i pct (2.half-dozen one thousand thousand tons). Although this is down from 6.3 pct in 2017, the tons composted remained the same between 2017 and 2018 (ii.6 million tons). Due to a change in methodology, there was an increase in the wasted food generation approximate between 2017 and 2018, which results in a lower composting rate even though the tons composted remained the same from 2017 to 2018. The rate of food composting was 2.2 per centum in the twelvemonth 2000 (.seven 1000000 tons).
Greenhouse Gas Benefits
EPA'south report Sustainable Materials Direction: The Route Ahead serves every bit the foundation for the EPA SMM Program. The recommendations and analytical framework under the Route Ahead encourage the consideration of multiple ecology benefits when developing materials management strategies. Currently, EPA has a tool for estimating greenhouse gas reductions resulting from sustainable materials management – the Waste matter Reduction Model (WARM). This section shows those GHG reduction environmental benefits. The Agency is developing additional tools to provide information on other environmental benefits and will include these tools and data as they go bachelor.
In 2018, the recycling, composting, combustion with energy recovery and landfilling of MSW saved over 193 meg metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTCOtwoE). This is comparable to the emissions that could be reduced from taking about 42 million cars off the road in a year.
Paper and paperboard recycling, at about 46 million tons, resulted in the largest portion of the total MSW reduction over 155 MMTCOtwoE in 2018. This reduction is equivalent to removing over 33 1000000 cars from the road for one year.
The free energy and GHG benefits of recycling, composting, combustion with free energy recovery and landfilling shown in the table below are calculated using the WARM methodology. The estimates of MMTCOiiE are calculated using WARM, and place not only the ecology benefits of recycling, composting and combustion for energy recovery, simply also the benefit of not landfilling materials. Numbers in parentheses point a reduction in either greenhouse gases or vehicles, and therefore correspond environmental benefits.
| Material | Recycled | Composted | Combustion with Energy Recovery | Landfilled | GHG Benefits (MMTCO2Due east) | Passenger Vehicle Emissions/Twelvemonth (millions of cars) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper and Paperboard | 45.97 | - | iv.20 | 17.22 | (155.17) | (33.52) |
| Drinking glass | iii.06 | - | 1.64 | 7.55 | (0.90) | (0.xix) |
| Steel | half-dozen.36 | - | 2.31 | x.53 | (15.fifty) | (3.35) |
| Aluminum | 0.67 | - | 0.56 | two.66 | (6.12) | (1.32) |
| Other Nonferrous Metals** | one.69 | - | 0.08 | 0.74 | (7.54) | (ane.63) |
| Total Metals | 8.72 | - | 2.95 | 13.93 | (29.16) | (6.30) |
| Plastics | 3.09 | - | 5.62 | 26.97 | 4.13 | 0.89 |
| Rubber and Leather† | 1.67 | - | ane.73 | 0.78 | 0.17 | 0.04 |
| Textiles | two.51 | - | three.22 | eleven.30 | (ii.56) | (0.55) |
| Wood | 3.10 | - | 2.84 | 12.15 | (3.30) | (0.71) |
| Food, Other‡ | - | 2.59 | vii.55 | 35.28 | (half-dozen.97) | (one.51) |
| Yard Trimmings | - | 22.30 | 2.57 | 10.53 | 0.78 | 0.17 |
| Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes | - | - | 0.fourscore | 3.27 | (0.28) | (0.06) |
| Totals | 68.12 | 24.89 | 33.12 | 138.98 | (193.26) | (41.74) |
*Includes fabric from residential, commercial and institutional sources (except not industrial process waste matter).
**Includes pb-acid batteries. Other nonferrous metals are calculated in WARM as mixed metals.
†Only includes rubber from tires.
‡Includes collection of other MSW organics for composting.
These calculations practise not include an additional 24.9 million tons of MSW that could not exist addressed in the WARM model (including 17.seven million tons from nutrient waste managed by means exterior of the telescopic of the WARM model). MMTCO2E is one thousand thousand metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. Details might not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: WARM model Version xv. Number of cars taken off the road/twelvemonth was calculated using the Greenhouse Gas Equivalency Calculator, updated March 2020.
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Source: https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling/national-overview-facts-and-figures-materials
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