United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Solid Waste and
Emergency Response
(5305W)
EPA530-F-97-015
April 1997
v>EPA Environmental Fact Sheet
Recycling Municipal Solid Waste:
1995 Facts and Figures*
In the United States, we generated approximately 208 million tons of municipal solid
waste (MSW) in 1995—a decrease of more than 1 million tons from 1994. The per
capita MSW generation rate in 1995 was 4.3 pounds per person per day. This rate is
expected to remain relatively stable through the year 2000 for two reasons. First, while
the per capita consumption of products continues to rise, efforts by manufacturers to
lightweight the packaging associated with these products is increasing. Second, efforts
such as grasscycling and backyard composting are beginning to reduce the amount of
yard trimmings entering the waste stream. Recovery rates for recycling (including
composting) continue to grow. In 1995, the nations overall recycling rate was 27
percent—up 2 percent from the previous year.
This fact sheet describes 10 of theprimary components of the MSW stream, along
with their generation rates, the percentages of the MSW stream they represent, and
their recovery rates.
*U.S. EPA 1996. Characterization of Muracipa! Solid Waste in the United States: 1996 Update. EPA530-R-97-015.
Washington, DC.
1995 Recovery Rates for Major MSW Components
Printed on paper that contains at least 20 percent postconsumer fiber.
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Materials in MSW: By Weight and Percentage of
Total Generated
Total weight * 208.0 million tons
Yard trimmings
29.8 million tons
Plastics
19.0 million tons
Other*
20.2 million
Metals
15.8 million tons
Wood
14.9 million tons
Paper and paperboard
81.5 million tons
Glass
12.8 million tons
Food
14.0 million tons
"Includes rubber, leather, textiles,
and miscellaneous wastes
Aluminum
Ferrous Metals
GENERATION: A total of 3.0 million tons of
aluminum waste was generated in 1995.
Aluminum containers and packaging, such as soft
drink and beer cans, contributed 2.0 million tons.
PERCENT: Aluminum made up 1.4 percent of
the total MSW generated in 1995.
RECOVERY: Approximately 62.7 percent of
aluminum containers were recycled in 1995. The
overall recycling rate for aluminum packaging
was 51.8 percent in 1995.
Aluminum cans and other packaging comprise the largest
source of aluminum in MSW. Because of their high
market value, aluminum cans generally supply a large
percentage of revenues for many municipal recycling
programs. Most of the aluminum recovered from the
waste stream is used to manufacture new cans.
GENERATION: About 11.6 million tons of
ferrous metal waste (e.g., iron and steel) was
generated in 1995.
PERCENT: Ferrous metals constituted
5.6 percent of the MSW stream in 1995.
RECOVERY: Overall, about 30.7 percent of
ferrous metals from durable goods were recycled
in 1995. Approximately 54.4 percent of steel
packaging (e.g., cans and strapping) was recycled.
Ferrous metals are the largest category of metals by weight
in the MSW stream. Most ferrous metals in MSW are
found in durable goods, such as appliances, furniture, and
tires. Steel cans and other packaging are another major
source of ferrous metals in MSW.
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Food Scraps
GENERATION: Nearly 14.0 million tons of
food scraps were generated in 1995.
PERCENT: Food scraps comprised
approximately 6.7 percent of the MSW stream in
1995.
RECOVERY: In 1995, approximately 4.1
percent of food scraps were composted.
Food scraps include uneaten food and food preparation
wastes from homes; commercial establishments, such as
restaurants; institutional sources, such as school cafeterias;
and industrial sources, such as factory lunchrooms.
Glass Containers
GENERATION: Approximately 12.8 million
tons of glass waste was generated in 1995. Food
and beverage containers made up 90 percent of
this amount; the remainder came from products
such as cookware and glassware, home
furnishings, and plate glass.
PERCENT: Glass constituted 6.2 percent of the
MSW stream in 1995.
RECOVERY: About 27.2 percent of all glass
food and beverage containers were recycled in
1995. Glass had an overall recovery rate of 24.5
percent in 1995-
Most of the glass recovered in the United States is used in
new glass containers. A portion is also used in fiberglass
and "glasphalt" for highway construction.
Paper and Paperboard
GENERATION: Nearly 81.5 million tons of paper
and paperboard waste was generated in 1995.
PERCENT: Paper and paperboard constitute the
largest portion of the MSW stream, representing
39.2 percent in 1995.
RECOVERY: Paper and paperboard had an
overall recycling rate of 40.0 percent in 1995.
About 64.2 percent of corrugated boxes, 53.0
percent of newspapers, 18.8 percent of books,
28.3 percent of magazines, and 44.3 percent of
office papers were recycled in 1995.
Recovered paper and paperboard can be used to make a
variety of products, including copier paper, paper towels
and napkins, corrugated boxes, and hydraulic mulch.
Demand for recovered paper is growing, as more mills are
processing recovered paper and consumers continue to
demand recycled paper products for their homes and
offices.
Plastic Containers & Packaging
GENERATION: Approximately 19.0 million
tons of plastic waste was generated in 1995.
PERCENT: Plastics comprised 9.1 percent of the
total MSW stream in 1995.
RECOVERY: Recovery of plastic containers and
packaging was 9-7 percent in 1995, with plastic
soda bottles being the most commonly recycled
product (an estimated 45.5 percent were recovered).
Overall, recovery of plastics is 5.3 percent.
Plastic containers and packaging comprise the largest
portion of the plastic that ends up in the waste stream.
Other categories include plastics in durable goods and
nondurables, e.g., plates, cups, and clothing. Although the
overall recovery of plastic is fairly small, recovery of plastic
soft drink, milk, and water botdes is increasing. Products
made from recovered plastic botdes include drainage pipes,
toys, carpet, filler for pillows and sleeping bags, and
cassette casings.
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Textiles
GENERATION: An estimated 7.4 million tons
of textiles were generated in 1995.
PERCENT: Textiles made up nearly 3.6 percent
of the MSW stream.
RECOVERY: About 12.2 percent of textiles
were recovered from the MSW stream.
Textiles in MSW consist primarily of discarded clothing,
although other sources include furniture, carpets, tires,
footwear, and other nondurable goods, such as sheets and
towels. A significant amount of textiles are recovered for
reuse. These reused garments eventually re-enter the waste
stream, and are, therefore, not included in the recovery for
recycling estimate above. Textiles that are considered
permanently recovered from the waste stream include
clothing and items such as sheets and pillowcases that are
recovered for export or reprocessing.
Wood Packaging
GENERATION: A total of 14.9 million tons of
wood materials were generated in 1995. Wood
packaging represents 10.6 million tons of the
total amount generated.
PERCENT: Wood materials constituted
7.1 percent of the MSW stream.
RECOVERY: Approximately 9.6 percent of total
wood discards were recovered in 1995. Recovery
of wood packaging is estimated at 13.5 percent.
The sources of wood in MSW include furniture; wood
packaging, such as crates and pallets; and miscellaneous
durables, such as kitchen cabinets and other products.
Recovery of wood pallets, usually by chipping, is increasing
along with recovery of other wood materials. A growing
number of pallets are also recovered for reuse, a trend that
may impact generation and recovery numbers in the future.
Tires
GENERATION: Approximately 3.8 million
tons of rubber tires (or 257 million scrap tires—
about 1 tire per person in the United States)
were generated in 1995.
PERCENT: Tires made up about 1.8 percent of
the MSW stream in 1995.
RECOVERY: In 1995, approximately 17.5
percent of scrap tires were recycled, excluding
retreads and tires combusted for energy.
Because of the difficulties of disposing of scrap tires in
landfills or waste combustors, most old tires generated in
the United States each year are stockpiled. These huge
stockpiles invite rodents and mosquitoes and pose fire
hazards. Scrap tires can be retreaded, burned for energy, or
converted into molded rubber products, rubberized
asphalt paving, and athletic surfaces.
Yard Trimmings
GENERATION: Approximately 29.8 million
tons of yard trimmings (including grass, leaves,
tree, and brush trimmings) were generated in
1995.
PERCENT: Yard trimmings made up
14.6 percent of the MSW stream in 1995.
RECOVERY: In 1995, nearly 30.3 percent of yard
trimmings were composted. Communities
sponsored 3,300 yard trimming programs in 1995.
Composting of yard trimmings has grown significandy in
the past few years. In 1995, composting of these materials
contributed to the second largest fraction of total MSW
recovery (after paper and paperboard) at 9 million tons.
This is largely due to state and local efforts to divert yard
trimmings from landfills.
Source of data for this fact sheet: U.S. EPA
1996. Characterization of Municipal Solid
Waste in the United States: 1996 Update.
EPA530-R-97-015. Washington, DC.
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