United State s
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5305W)
EPA530-F-95-005
July 1995
Environmental
Fact Sheet
Recycling Municipal Solid Waste:
1994 Facts and Figures
In the United States, we generated approximately 207 million tons of municipal solid
waste (MSW) in 1993—an average of 4.4 pounds per person per day. To safely and
effectively manage all of this trash, communities across the nation are using "integrated
waste management systems," which combine source reduction, recycling, combustion,
and landfilling to manage waste, Recycling, including composting, is a key component
of many integrated waste management systems. EPA has challenged the nation to
reduce ami recycle at least 25 percent of its MSW (in 1993, the nation's overall
recycling rate was just under 22 percent). Many communities have far exceeded the
national goal. This fact sheet describes eight of the primary components of the MSW
stream, along with their generation rate, the percentage of the MSW stream they
represent, and their recovery rate.
1993 Recovery Rates for Major MSW Components
Recycled/Recyclable
Printed on paper that
contains at least 20
percent postconsumer fiber.
100% r-
80%
40%
20%
Aluminum Automotive
53.0% Batteries
94.6%
Glass
22.0%
"1990 data
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Materials Generated in MSW by Weight, 1993
Total weight = 206.9 million tons
Yard trimmings
32.8 million tons
Plastics
19.3 million tons
Other *
18.7 million tons
Metals
17.1 million tons
Food
13.8 million tons
Paper and paperboard
77.8 million tons
Glass
13.7 million tons
Wood
13.7 million tons
* Includes rubber, leather, textiles, and
miscellaneous wastes
Aluminum
GENERATION: A total of 3 million tons of
aluminum waste was generated in 1993.
Aluminum containers and packaging, such as son
drink and beer cans, contributed 2 million tons.
PERCENT: Aluminum made up 1.4 percent of
the total MSW generated in 1993.
RECOVERY: Approximately 53 percent of all
aluminum containers and packaging were
recycled in 1993. The overall recycling rare for
aluminum was 35.4 percent in 1993.
Aluminum generally has a high market value, and
aluminum cans supply a large percentage of the income
for many municipal recycling programs. Almost all of the
aluminum collected is used to make new cans.
Automotive Batteries
GENERATION: About 1.7 million tons of used
automotive (lead-acid) batteries were generated
in 1993.
PERCENT: Automotive batteries constitute less
than 1 percent of the MSW stream.
RECOVERY: About 95 percent of automotive
batteries were recycled in 1993.
Although automotive batteries constitute a small portion
ol the MSW stream, they contain metals that may be a
concern when disposed of in landfills and combustors. All
three components of automotive batteries are recyclable:
the lead, the acid, and the plastic casing. Retailers often
accept used automotive batteries that manufacturers then
recycle into new batteries.
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Ferrous Metals
GENERATION: About 12.9 million tons of
ferrous metal waste (e.g., iron and steel) was
generated in 1993.
PERCENT: Ferrous metals constituted 6.2
percent of the MSW stream in 1993.
RECOVERY: Overall, about 26 1 percent of
ferrous metals in MSW were recycled in 1993.
More than 46.3 percent of steel cans and other
steel packaging materials were recycled. Much
greater amounts of steel are recovered; however,
these steel products (e.g., junked cars, steel
girders) are usually not considen d MSW.
Demand for steel scrap is growing as steelmakers are using
more steel scrap to produce new products and less scrap is
being produced within the steel-making process. Some1
steel foundries are also beginning to use si eel cans
as a source of new raw materials.
GENERATION: Nearly 77.8 million tons of paper
and paperboard waste was generated in 1993.
PERCENT: Paper and paperboard constitute the
largest portion of the MSW stream, representing
37.6 percent in 1993.
rate
RECOVERY: Paper had an overall recycling r;
of 34 percent in 1993. About 55.5 percent of
corrugated boxes, 45.7 percent of newspapers,
16.2 percent of books, 18 percent of magazines,
and 36.5 percent of office papers were recycled
in 1993.
Markets for recycled paper products are generally stable
and expanding as more mills build new deinking facilities
to process waste paper and as the demand for recycled
paper products grows. Significant new capacity has come
on line over the past several years. Paper is recycled into
paper products, paperboard products, and construction
products.
Glass
Plastics
GENERATION: Approximately 13.7 million
tons of glass waste was generated in 1993. Food
and beverage containers made up almost 90
percent of this amount; the remainder came Irom
products like cookware and glassware, home
furnishings, and plate glass.
PERCENT: Glass constituted 6.6 percent of the
MSW stream in 1993.
RECOVERY: About 24.6 percent of all glass
food arid beverage containers were recycled in
1993. Glass had an overall recovery rate of 22
percent in 1993.
Glass manufacturers typically use 30 percent crushed glass
(known as "cullet") along with raw materials to make new
glass. Cullet also can be used as an aggregate in road
building.
GENERATION: Over 19 million tons of plastic
waste was generated in 1993.
PERCENT: Plastics comprised 9.3 percent of the
total MSW stream in 1993.
RECOVERY: About 3.5 percent of all plastics
were recycled in 1993, with plastic soda bottles
being the most commonly recycled product
(more than 41 percent were recovered).
Much of the plastic that ends up in the waste stream is
from packaging and containers. Plastics recycling has
increased dramatically in recent years. Products made from
recycled plastic include drainage pipes, toys, carpet, filler
for pillows and sleeping bags, and cassette casings. While
accounting for just over 9 percent of the MSW stream by
weight, plastics made up nearly 24 percent of the total
waste stream by volume in 1993.
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Tires
GENERATION: Approximately 3.4 million
tons of rubber tires (or 250 million scrap tires-
about 1 tire per person in the United States)
were generated in 1993.
PERCENT: Tires made up about 1.6 percent of
the MSW stream in 1993.
RECOVERY: In 1993, approximately 12.9
percent of scrap tires were recycled.
Scrap used tires are difficult to dispose of in landfills and
waste combustors. An estimated 1 billion tires are
currently stockpiled. These stockpiles can provide
convenient habitats for rodents, serve as breeding grounds
for mosquitos, and pose fire hazards. Of the scrap tires
that are utilized, most are burned for energy. Scrap tires
also are used for rubberized asphalt paving, molded rubber
products, and athletic surfaces.
Used Oil
GENERATION: Over 1.3 billion gallons of
used oil are generated yearly.
PERCENT: Used oil makes up less than 1
percent of the MSW stream.
RECOVERY: Sixty-seven percent of all used oil
is recovered (900 million gallons). Only 10
percent of the amount generated by people who
change their own motor oil is re turned to
collection programs.
Yard Trimmings
GENERATION: Nearly 33 million tons of yard
trimmings (including grass, leaves, and tree and
brush trimmings) were generated in 1993.
PERCENT: Yard trimmings made up 15.9
percent of the MSW stream in 1993.
RECOVERY: In 1993, nearly 20 percent of yard
trimmings were composted.
Yard trimmings can be transformed into compost for
homeowners, farmers, public agencies, landscapers, and
nurseries. Grass clippings can be beneficial when left on
the lawn.
Source of data for this fact sheet: U.S. EPA's
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in
the United States: 1994 Update, Office of Solid
Waste and Emergency Response. Data are
from 1993. *Used oil data are from 1990.
If disposed of improperly (i.e., poured down sewage
drains), used oil can contaminate soil, ground water, and
surface water. Many state and local governments are
taking steps to ensure the safe and effective management
of used oil. In some communities, used motor oil is
collected at service stations, corporate or municipal
collection sites, or curbside.
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