United States Solid Waste and
Environmental Protection Emergency Response EPA/530-F-92-019
Agency (OS-305) June 1992
Office of Solid Waste
&EPA Environmental
Fact Sheet
Characterizing Municipal Solid Waste:
Facts and Figures
EPA recently released the 1992 Update to its report "Characterization of
Municipal Solid Waste in the United States." MSW refers to waste generated
by commercial and household sources that is typically collected and disposed in
municipal solid waste facilities. The report presents information from 1960 to 1990
on waste generation, disposal, combustion, and recovery through composting and
recycling. This fact sheet highlights some of the reports key findings reflecting
national approximations and projections.
The Current Picture
Recycling Makes Large Gains
In 1990, Americans generated 195 million tons of municipal solid waste, an eight
percent increase over 1988. Of this total, 33 million tons were recovered for recycling
or composting, representing a 17 percent recycling rate in 1990. This compares to a
13 percent rate in 1988. The amount of yard debris that was collected for composting
increased dramatically, from 2 percent of yard debris in 1988 to 12 percent in 1990.
The net result is that between 1985 and 1990, the amount of material recovered
annually from MSW more than doubled, from 16.4 to 33.4 million tons. Two
important factors in these improvements are the efforts of communities to compost
yard trimmings and to set up recycling programs, and the efforts of manufacturers
to use more recycled materials recovered from MSW.
Waste Generation Rates Also Rising
Despite this good news, Americans are still producing more garbage today than
ever before. In 1988, U.S. households, commercial establishments, and institutions
generated 180 million tons of MSW, or 4 pounds per person per day (ppd). In 1990,
the per capita waste generation rate jumped to 4.3 ppd. So, although Americans
recycled more, they also generated and threw away more: evidence that many
opportunities for recycling and source reduction still exist. (Simply put, source
reduction is waste prevention. It includes many actions that reduce the overall
amount or toxicity of waste created.)
MSW Management After Recycling and Composting
In 1990, 16 percent of all MSW was managed by combustion, up from 14 percent in
1988. The amount of MSW landfilled is on the decline, from 73 percent in 1988 to 67
percent in 1990. The study projects an increase in combustion with energy recovery
and a continued decrease in landfllling through the 1990s.
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United States Solid Waste and
Environmental Protection Emergency Response EPA/530-F-92-019
Agency (OS-305) June 1992
Office of Solid Waste
SEPA Environmental
Fact Sheet
Characterizing Municipal Solid Waste:
Facts and Figures
EPA recently released the 1992 Update to its report 'Characterization of
Municipal Solid Waste in the United States." MSW refers to waste generated
by commercial and household sources that is typically collected and disposed in
municipal solid waste facilities. The report presents information from 1960 to 1990
on waste generation, disposal, combustion, and recovery through composting and
recycling. This fact sheet highlights some of the report's key findings reflecting
national approximations and projections.
The Current Picture
Recycling Makes Large Gains
In 1990, Americans generated 195 million tons of municipal solid waste, an eight
percent increase over 1988. Of this total, 33 million tons were recovered for recycling
or composting, representing a 17 percent recycling rate in 1990. This compares to a
13 percent rate in 1988. The amount of yard debris that was collected for composting
increased dramatically, from 2 percent of yard debris in 1988 to 12 percent in 1990.
The net result is that between 1985 and 1990, the amount of material recovered
annually from MSW more than doubled, from 16.4 to 33.4 million tons. Two
important factors in these improvements are the efforts of communities to compost
yard trimmings and to set up recycling programs, and the efforts of manufacturers
to use more recycled materials recovered from MSW.
Waste Generation Rates Also Rising
Despite this good news, Americans are still producing more garbage today than
ever before. In 1988, U.S. households, commercial establishments, and institutions
generated 180 million tons of MSW, or 4 pounds per person per day (ppd). In 1990,
the per capita waste generation rate jumped to 4.3 ppd. So, although Americans
recycled more, they also generated and threw away more: evidence that many
opportunities for recycling and source reduction still exist. (Simply put, source
reduction is waste prevention. It includes many actions that reduce the overall
amount or toxicity of waste created.)
MSW Management After Recycling and Composting
In 1990, 16 percent of all MSW was managed by combustion, up from 14 percent in
1988. The amount of MSW landfilled is on the decline, from 73 percent in 1988 to 67
percent in 1990. The study projects an increase in combustion with energy recovery
and a continued decrease in landfilling through the 1990s.
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