Municipal Solid Waste in
The United States:
2001 Facts and Figures
G e n e r
n
Reduction
Disposal
,
fjii
rinted on paper that contains at least 50 percent postconsumer fiber.
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Office of Solid Waste
and Emergency Response (5305W)
EPA530-R-03-011
www.epa.gov
October 2003
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CHARACTERIZATION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
IN THE UNITED STATES: 2001 UPDATE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter Page
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1
Overview 1
What Is Included in Municipal Solid Waste? 4
Municipal Solid Waste in Perspective 5
Trends Over Time 5
Municipal Solid Waste in 2001 5
Materials in MSW 5
Products in MSW 7
Residential and Commercial Sources of MSW 10
Management of MSW 11
Overview 11
Source Reduction 11
Recycling 14
Disposal 14
Perspective for the Nation 16
For Further Information 16
1 INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY 17
Introduction 17
Background 17
The Solid Waste Management Hierarchy 17
Overview of the Method 18
How This Report Can Be Used 19
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste: In Perspective 22
The Two Methodologies for Characterizing MSW: Site Specific
Versus Materials Flow 22
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Municipal Solid Waste Defined in Greater Detail 24
Other Subtitle D Wastes 25
Materials and Products Not Included in These Estimates 27
Overview of This Report 27
References 29
2 CHARACTERIZATION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE BY WEIGHT 32
Introduction 32
Municipal Solid Waste: Characterized by Material Type 33
Paper and Paperboard 37
Glass 41
Ferrous Metals 43
Aluminum 46
Other Nonferrous Metals 46
Plastics 47
Other Materials 51
Wood 54
Food Wastes 54
Yard Trimmings 55
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes 57
Summary of Materials in Municipal Solid Waste 57
Products in Municipal Solid Waste 62
Durable Goods 63
Nondurable Goods 73
Containers and Packaging 80
Summary of Products in Municipal Solid Waste 91
Summary 94
MSW Generation 94
MSW Recovery 94
Long-Term Trends 96
References 98
11
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3 MANAGEMENT OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE 113
Introduction 113
Source Reduction 114
Source Reduction Through Redesign 116
Modifying Practices To Reduce Materials Use 117
Reuse of Products and Packages 117
Management of Organic Materials 119
Measuring Source Reduction 120
Recovery For Recycling (Including Composting) 122
Recyclables Collection 122
Recyclables Processing 127
Combustion 130
Residues from Waste Management Facilities 132
Landfills 133
Summary of Historical and Current MSW Management 134
References 137
Appendix Page
A Materials Flow Methodology 142
Domestic Production 142
Converting Scrap 142
Adjustments for Imports/Exports 142
Diversion 143
Adjustments for Product Lifetime 143
Municipal Solid Waste Generation and Discards 144
B Source Reduction/Expansion for Individual Components of MSW 147
C Consumer Electronics in Municipal Solid Waste 151
Introduction 151
Products in Consumer Electronics 153
Methodology 153
Definition of Terms 154
in
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Data Collection and Research 155
Generation 155
Recovered for Recycling 159
Discards After Recovery 161
Results 161
Current Recovery Programs 164
References 168
IV
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LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
ES-1 Generation, Materials Recovery, Composting, and Discards of Municipal Solid
Waste, 1960-2001 (In Million of Tons) 2
ES-2 Generation, Materials Recovery, Composting and Discards of Municipal Solid
Waste, 1960-2001 (In Pounds Per Person Per Day) 2
ES-3 Generation, Materials Recovery, Composting, and Discards of Municipal Solid
Waste, 1960 - 2001 (In Percent of Total Generation) 4
ES-4 Generation and Recovery of Materials in MSW, 2001 7
ES-5 Generation and Recovery of Products in MSW by Material, 2001 9
ES-6 Source Reduction of Municipal Solid Waste, 1992 - 2001 12
ES-7 Source Reduction by Major Material Categories, 2001 13
Materials in the Municipal Solid Waste Stream, 1960 to 2001
1 Generated 34
2 Recovery 35
3 Discarded 36
Products in Municipal Solid Waste, 2001
4 Paper and Paperboard 38
5 Glass 41
6 Metal 44
7 Plastics 48
8 Rubber and Leather 53
Categories of Products in the Municipal Solid Waste Stream, 1960 to 2001
9 Generated 64
10 Recovery 65
11 Discarded 66
Products in MSW with Detail on Durable Goods, 1960 to 2001
12 Generated 68
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13 Recovery 69
14 Discarded 70
Products in MSW with Detail on Nondurable Goods, 1960 to 2001
15 Generated 75
16 Recovery 76
17 Discarded 77
Products in MSW with Detail on Containers and Packaging, 1960 to 2001
18 Generated (by weight) 82
19 Generated (by percent) 83
20 Recovery (by weight) 84
21 Recovery (by percent) 85
22 Discarded (by weight) 86
23 Discarded (by percent) 87
Management of Municipal Solid Waste
24 Selected Examples of Source Reduction Practices 116
24A Source Reduction of Municipal Solid Waste - 2000 122
24B Source Reduction by Major Material Categories-2000 122
25 Number and Population Served by Curbside Recyclables Collection Programs,
2001 123
26 Materials Recovery Facilities, 2001 127
27 Municipal Waste-to-Energy Projects, 2001 131
28 Landfill Facilities, 2001 133
29 Generation, Materials Recovery, Composting, Combustion, and Discards of
Municipal SolidWaste, 1960 to 2001 135
Appendices
B-l Source Reduction/Expansion for Individual Components of MSW - 2000 147
C-l Selected Consumer Electronics 154
C-2 Consumer Electronics Data Collection 156
C-3 Estimated Life of Selected Consumer Electronics 158
vi
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C-4 Total Generation of Consumer Electronics by Material in the Municipal
Waste Stream 161
C-5 Generation, Recovery, and Discards of Consumer Electronics in the Municipal
Waste Stream 2001 162
C-6 Selected Consumer Electronics as a Percentage of Total Miscellaneous Durable
Goods and Total MSW, 2001 164
vn
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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure Page
ES-1 MSW Generation Rates from 1960 to 2001 3
ES-2 MSW Recycling Rates from 1960 to 2001 3
ES-3 2001 Total MSW Generation - 229 Million Tons 6
ES-4 Products Generated in MSW-2001 8
ES-5 Number of Landfills in the U.S 15
ES-6 Management of MS Win the U.S.-2001 15
1 Municipal Solid Waste in the Universe of Subtitle D Wastes 25
1-A Definition of Terms 26
Materials Generated and Recovered in Municipal Solid Waste
2 Paper and Paperboard Products Generated in MSW, 2001 37
3 Paper Generation and Recovery, 1960 to 2001 39
4 Glass Products Generated in MSW, 2001 42
5 Glass Generation and Recovery, 1960 to 2001 42
6 Metal Products Generated in MSW, 2001 43
7 Metals Generation and Recovery, 1960 to 2001 45
8 Plastics Products Generated in MSW, 2001 47
9 Plastics Generation and Recovery, 1960 to 2001 51
10 Generation of Materials in MSW, 1960 to 2001 58
11 Recovery and Discards of MSW, 1960 to 2001 59
12 Materials Recovery, 2001 60
13 Materials Generated and Discarded in MSW, 2001 61
Products Generated and Recovered in Municipal Solid Waste
14 Generation of Products in MSW, 1960 to 2001 91
15 Nondurable Goods Generated and Discarded in MSW, 2001 92
16 Containers and Packaging Generated and Discarded in MSW, 2001 93
Vlll
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Management of Municipal Solid Waste
17 Diagram of Solid Waste Management 114
18 Population Served by Curbside Recycling, 2001 124
19 States With Bottle Deposit Rules 126
20 Estimated MRF Throughput, 2001 128
21 Mixed Waste Processing Estimated Capacity, 2001 129
22 MSW Composting Capacity, 2001 129
23 Yard Trimmings Composting Programs, 2001 130
24 Municipal Waste-to-Energy Capacity, 2001 132
25 Number of Landfills in the U.S., 2001 134
26 Municipal Solid Waste Management, 1960 to 2001 136
Materials Flow Methodology
A-l Material Flows Methodology for Estimating Generation of Products and
Materials in MSW 145
A-2 Material Flows Methodology for Estimating Discards of Products and
Materials in MSW 146
C-l Selected Consumer Electronics 154
C-2 Life Cycle for Consumer Electronics 160
IX
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Executive Summary
MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
IN THE UNITED STATES: 2001 FACTS AND FIGURES
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
OVERVIEW
This report describes the national municipal solid waste (MSW) stream based on data
collected for 1960 through 2001. The historical perspective is useful for establishing trends in
types of MSW generated and in the ways it is managed. In this Executive Summary, we briefly
describe the methodology used to characterize MSW in the United States and provide the latest
facts and figures on MSW generation, recycling, and disposal.
In the United States, we generated approximately 229.2 million tons of MSW in 2001—a
decrease of 2.8 million tons from 2000. This is a decrease of 1.2 percent from 2000 to 2001.
Excluding composting, the amount of MSW recovered for recycling increased to 51.4 million
tons, an increase of 0.2 million tons from 2000. This is a 0.4 percent increase in the tons
recycled. The tons recovered for composting rose slightly to 16.6 million tons in 2001, up from
16.5 million tons in 2000. The recovery rate for recycling (including composting) was 29.7
percent in 2001, up from 29.2 percent in 2000.1 (See Tables ES-1 and ES-2 and Figures ES-1 and
ES-2.)
MSW generation in 2001 declined to 4.4 pounds per person per day. This is a decrease of
2.2 percent from 2000 to 2001. The recycling rate in 2001 was 1.3 pounds per person per day.
Discards after recycling declined to 3.1 pounds per person per day in 2001 (Table ES-3).
1 Data shown for 2000 have been adjusted to reflect the latest revisions and, therefore, may differ from the
same measure reported previously. For example, the percentage of MSW recovered for recycling has been revised
downward from 30.1 percent to 29.2 percent.
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Executive Summary
Table ES-1
GENERATION, MATERIALS RECOVERY, COMPOSTING,
AND DISCARDS OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE, 1960 - 2001
(In millions of tons)
Millions of tons
Generation
Recovery for recycling
Recovery for composting*
Total Materials Recovery
Discards after Recovery
1960
88.1
5.6
Neg.
5.6
82.5
1970
121.1
8.0
Neg.
8.0
113.0
1980
151.6
14.5
Neg.
14.5
137.1
1990
205.2
29.0
4.2
33.2
172.0
1995
213.7
46.2
9.6
55.8
158.0
1999
231.4
50.8
14.7
65.5
165.9
2000
232.0
51.2
16.5
67.7
164.3
2001
229.2
51.4
16.6
68.0
161.2
Composting of yard trimmings, food scraps and other MSW organic material.
Does not include backyard composting.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
Table ES-2
GENERATION, MATERIALS RECOVERY, COMPOSTING,
AND DISCARDS OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE, 1960 - 2001
(In percent of total generation)
Percent of total generation
Generation
Recovery for recycling
Recovery for composting*
Total Materials Recovery
Discards after Recovery
1960
100.0%
6.4%
Neg.
6.4%
93.6%
1970
100.0%
6.6%
Neg.
6.6%
93.4%
1980
100.0%
9.6%
Neg.
9.6%
90.4%
1990
100.0%
14.2%
2.0%
16.2%
83.8%
1995
100.0%
21.6%
4.5%
26.1%
73.9%
1999
100.0%
22.0%
6.4%
28.4%
71.6%
2000
100.0%
22.1%
7.1%
29.2%
70.8%
2001
100.0%
22.4%
7.2%
29.7%
70.3%
* Composting of yard trimmings, food scraps and other MSW organic material.
Does not include backyard composting.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
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Executive Summary
Figure ES-1: MSW Generation Rates from 1960to 2001
250
200 --
10.00
1960
1970
1980
-Total MSW generation •
1990
•Per capita generation
2001
Figure ES-2: MSW Recycling Rates from 1960 to 2001
70.0
50.0%
40.0%
• • 10.0%
0.0
0.0%
1960
1970
1980
1990
2001
•Total MSW recycling '
•Percent recycling
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Executive Summary
Table ES-3
GENERATION, MATERIALS RECOVERY, COMPOSTING
AND DISCARDS OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE, 1960 - 2001
(In pounds per person per day)
Pounds
Generation
Recovery for recycling
Recovery for composting*
Total Materials Recovery
Discards after Recovery
Population (millions)
1960
2.68
0.17
Neg.
0.17
2.51
179.979
1970
3.25
0.22
Neg.
0.22
3.03
203.984
>er person per day
1980
3.66
0.35
Neg.
0.35
3.31
227.255
1990
4.50
0.64
0.09
0.73
3.77
249.907
1995
4.45
0.96
0.20
1.16
3.29
263.168
1999
4.65
1.02
0.30
1.32
3.32
272.691
2000
4.52
1.00
0.32
1.32
3.20
281.422
2001
4.41
0.99
0.32
1.31
3.10
284.797
* Composting of yard trimmings, food scraps and other MSW organic material.
Does not include backyard composting.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
The state of the economy has a strong impact on consumption and waste generation.
Waste generation continued to increase through the 1990s as economic growth continued to be
strong. Between 1999 and 2000, total MSW generation increased only slightly. Between 2000
and 2001 total MSW generation decreased 1.2 percent, and this can be attributed, to a great
extent, to a decline in production of paper and paperboard of 5.7 percent.
(Paper industry production is very sensitive to economic factors, and 2001 was not a good
year for the industry.) At the same time, recovery of products (including paper and paperboard)
increased slightly in 2001, and therefore a recycling rate of 29.7 percent was achieved in spite of
the slowdown in the economy. The paper and paperboard recovery, as a percent of generation,
increased from 42.3 percent to 44.9 percent in 2001. Export markets continued to play a major
role in paper and paperboard recovery.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE?
MSW—otherwise known as trash or garbage—consists of everyday items such as product
packaging, grass clippings, furniture, clothing, bottles, food scraps, newspapers, appliances, and
batteries. Not included are materials that also may be disposed in landfills, but are not generally
considered MSW, such as construction and demolition debris, municipal wastewater treatment
sludges, and non-hazardous industrial wastes.
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Executive Summary
MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE IN PERSPECTIVE
Trends Over Time
Over the last few decades, the generation, recycling, and disposal of MSW have changed
substantially (see Tables ES-1, ES-2, and ES-3 and Figures ES-1 and ES-2). MSW generation
has continued to increase from 1960, when it was 88 million tons. The generation rate in 1960
was just 2.7 pounds per person per day; it grew to 3.7 pounds per person per day in 1980; reached
4.5 pounds per person per day in 1990; and it stabilized at 4.4 pounds per person per day in 2001
after increasing through the 1990s.
Over time, recycling rates have increased from 10 percent of MSW generated in 1980 to
16 percent in 1990, to 29.7 percent in 2001. Disposal has decreased from 90 percent of the
amount generated in 1980 to 70 percent of MSW in 2001. This compares to 71 percent in 2000.
MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE IN 2001
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has two ways of analyzing the 229.2
million tons of MSW generated in 2001. The first is by material (paper and paperboard, yard
trimmings, food scraps, plastics, metals, glass, wood, rubber, leather and textiles, and other); the
second is by several major product categories. The product-based categories are containers and
packaging; nondurable goods (e.g., newspapers) durable goods (e.g., appliances); food scraps;
and other materials.
Materials in MSW
A breakdown, by weight, of the MSW materials generated in 2001 is provided in Figure
ES-3. Paper and paperboard products made up the largest component of MSW generated (36
percent), and yard trimmings comprised the second-largest component (12 percent). Glass,
metals, plastics, wood, and food scraps each constituted between 5 and 12 percent of the total
MSW generated. Rubber, leather, and textiles combined made up about 7 percent of MSW, while
other miscellaneous wastes made up approximately 3 percent of the MSW generated in 2001.
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Executive Summary
Figure ES-3: 2001 Total MSW Generation - 229 Million Tons
(Before Recycling)
[Yard trimmings 12.2%]
Rubber, leather & textiles
7.1%
A portion of each material category in MSW was recycled or composted in 2001. The
highest rates of recovery were achieved with yard trimmings, paper products, and metal products.
About 57 percent (15.8 million tons) of yard trimmings were recovered for composting in 2001.
This represents nearly a four-fold increase since 1990. About 45 percent (36.7 million tons) of
paper and paperboard were recovered for recycling in 2001. Recycling these organic materials
alone diverted nearly 23 percent of municipal solid waste from landfills and combustion
facilities. In addition, about 6.3 million tons, or about 35 percent, of metals were recovered for
recycling. Recycling rates for all materials categories in 2001 are listed in Table ES-4.
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Executive Summary
Table ES-4
GENERATION AND RECOVERY OF MATERIALS IN MSW, 2001
(In millions of tons and percent of generation of each material)
Paper and paperboard
Glass
Metals
Steel
Aluminum
Other nonferrous metals*
Total metals
Plastics
Rubber and leather
Textiles
Wood
Other materials
Total Materials in Products
Other wastes
Food, other**
Yard trimmings
Miscellaneous inorganic wastes
Total Other Wastes
TOTAL MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
Weight
Generated
81.9
12.6
13.5
3.2
1.4
18.1
25.4
6.5
9.8
13.2
4.2
171.5
26.2
28.0
3.5
57.7
229 2
Weight
Recovered
36.7
2.4
4.6
0.8
0.9
6.3
1.4
1.1
1.4
1.3
0.9
51.4
0.7
15.8
Neg.
16.6
68.0
Recovery as
a Percent
of Generation
44.9%
19.1%
33.8%
24.5%
64.8%
34.5%
5.5%
17.4%
14.6%
9.5%
20.7%
30.0%
2.8%
56.5%
Neg.
28.7%
29.7%
Includes waste from residential, commercial, and institutional sources.
* Includes lead from lead-acid batteries.
** Includes recovery of other MSW organics for composting.
Neg. = Less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percent.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
Products in MSW
The breakdown, by weight, of product categories generated in 2001 is shown in Figure
ES-4. Containers and packaging comprised the largest portion of products generated, at 32.0
percent (74 million tons) of total MSW generation. Nondurable goods were the second-largest
fraction, comprising 26.4 percent (60 million tons). The third-largest category of products is
durable goods, which comprised 16.4 percent (38 million tons) of total MSW generation.
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Executive Summary
Figure ES-4: Products Generated in MSW - 2001
(Total Weight = 229 million tons)
Containers & Packaging
32.0%
The generation and recovery of the product categories in MSW in 2001 are shown in
Table ES-5. This table shows that recovery of containers and packaging was the highest of the
three product categories—38 percent of containers and packaging generated in 2001 were
recovered for recycling. About 49 percent of all aluminum cans were recovered (40 percent of all
aluminum packaging, including foil), while 59 percent of steel packaging (mostly cans) was
recovered. Paper and paperboard containers and packaging were recovered at a rate of 55
percent; corrugated containers accounted for most of that amount.
Approximately 22 percent of glass containers were recovered, while about 15 percent of
wood packaging (mostly wood pallets re-moved from service) was recovered for recycling.
About 10 percent of plastic containers and packaging were recovered, mostly soft drink, milk,
and water bottles.
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Executive Summary
Table ES-5
GENERATION AND RECOVERY OF PRODUCTS IN MSW
BY MATERIAL, 2001
(In millions of tons and percent of generation of each product)
Durable Goods
Steel
Aluminum
Other non-ferrous metals*
Total metals
Glass
Plastics
Rubber and leather
Wood
Textiles
Other materials
Total durable goods
Nondurable Goods
Paper and paperboard
Plastics
Rubber and leather
Textiles
Other materials
Total nondurable goods
Containers and Packaging
Steel
Aluminum
Total metals
Glass
Paper and paperboard
Plastics
Wood
Other materials
Total containers and packaging
Other wastes
Food, other**
Yard trimmings
Miscellaneous inorganic wastes
Total Other Wastes
TOTAL MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
Weight
Generated
10.9
1.0
1.4
13.3
1.7
8.0
5.6
5.0
2.9
1.2
37.6
43.5
6.1
0.9
6.7
3.2
60.4
2.6
2.0
4.6
10.9
38.4
11.2
8.2
0.2
73.5
26.2
28.0
3.5
57.7
229.2
Weight
Recovered
3.0
Neg.
0.9
4.0
Neg.
0.3
1.1
Neg.
0.3
0.9
6.6
15.6
Neg.
Neg.
1.1
Neg.
16.7
1.5
0.8
2.3
2.4
21.1
1.1
1.3
Neg.
28.1
0.7
15.8
Neg.
16.5
68.0
Recovery as
a Percent
of Generation
27.8%
Neg.
64.8%
29.6%
Neg.
3.9%
20.1%
Neg.
11.8%
73.7%
17.5%
35.9%
Neg.
Neg.
16.1%
Neg.
27.7%
58.8%
40.0%
50.8%
22.0%
55.0%
9.6%
15.2%
Neg.
38.3%
2.8%
56.5%
Neg.
28.7%
29.7%
Includes waste from residential, commercial, and institutional sources.
Includes lead from lead-acid batteries.
Includes recovery of other MSW organics for composting.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Neg. = Less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percent.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
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Executive Summary
Overall recovery of nondurable goods was 27.7 percent in 2001. Most of this recovery
comes from paper products such as newspapers and high-grade office papers (e.g., white papers).
Newspapers constituted the largest portion of this recovery, with 60 percent of newspapers
generated being recovered for recycling. An estimated 55 percent of high-grade office papers and
32 percent of magazines were recovered in 2001. Newspaper and high-grade office paper
recovery increased in percentage between 2000 and 2001. Magazine recovery remained the same.
Recovery percentage of other commercial printing increased to 22 percent. The other
paper products in the nondurable goods category decreased slightly between 2000 and 2001, with
Standard (A) mail* recovered at an estimated 32 percent, and directories at an estimated 15
percent.
The nondurable goods category also includes clothing and other textile products—14
percent of these products were recovered for recycling or export in 2001.
Overall, durable goods were recovered at a rate of 17.5 percent in 2001. Nonferrous
metals other than aluminum had one of the highest recovery rates, at 65 percent, due to the high
rate of lead recovery from lead-acid batteries. Recovery of steel in all durable goods was 27.8
percent, with high rates of recovery from appliances and other miscellaneous durable goods.
Thirty-nine percent of rubber in tires was recovered for recycling. (Other tires were retreaded and
shredded rubber tires were made into tire-derived fuel.)
One of the products with a very high recovery rate was lead-acid batteries, recovered at a
rate of 93.5 percent in 2001. Other products with particularly high recovery rates were steel from
major appliances (73.9 percent), corrugated boxes (70.1 percent), newspapers (60.2 percent),
steel cans (58.1 percent), and aluminum cans (49.0 percent).
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL SOURCES OF MSW
Sources of MSW, as characterized in this report, include both residential and commercial
locations. We estimated residential waste (including waste from multi-family dwellings) to be 55
Standard (A) mail was formerly called Third Class mail by the U.S. Postal Service.
10
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Executive Summary
to 65 percent of total MSW generation. Commercial waste (including waste from schools, some
industrial sites where packaging is generated, and businesses) constitutes between 35 and 45
percent of MSW. Local and regional factors, such as climate and level of commercial activity,
contribute to these variations.
MANAGEMENT OF MSW
Overview
EPA's integrated waste management hierarchy includes the following three components,
listed in order of preference:
• Source reduction (or waste prevention), including reuse of products and onsite, or
backyard, composting of yard trimmings.
• Recycling, including offsite, or community, composting.
• Disposal, including waste combustion (preferably with energy recovery) and
landfilling.
Although EPA encourages the use of strategies that emphasize the top of the hierarchy whenever
possible, all three components remain important within an integrated waste management system.
Source Reduction
When EPA established its waste management hierarchy in 1989, it emphasized the
importance of reducing the amount of waste created, reusing whenever possible, and then
recycling what is left. When municipal solid waste is reduced and reused, this is called "source
reduction"—meaning the material never enters the waste stream. Instead it is managed at the
source of generation.
Source reduction, also called waste prevention, includes the design, manufacture,
purchase, or use of materials, such as products and packaging, to reduce their amount or toxicity
before they enter the MSW management system. Examples of source reduction activities are:
11
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Executive Summary
• Designing products or packaging to reduce the quantity or the toxicity of the
materials used, or to make them easy to reuse.
• Reusing existing products or packaging; for example, refillable bottles, reusable
pallets, and reconditioned barrels and drums.
• Lengthening the lives of products such as tires as fewer need to be produced and
therefore disposed of.
• Using packaging that reduces the amount of damage or spoilage to the product.
• Managing nonproduct organic wastes (e.g., food scraps, yard trimmings) through
onsite composting or other alternatives to disposal (e.g., leaving grass clippings on
the lawn).
As the nation has begun to realize the value of its resources, both financial and material,
efforts to reduce waste generation have increased. EPA has been able to estimate source
reduction for the nation based on economic and waste data. Table ES-6 shows that steady
progress was made in waste prevention since 1990. In 2000, the United States prevented more
than 55 million tons of municipal solid waste from entering the waste stream (using a 1990
baseline).
Table ES-6
SOURCE REDUCTION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE SINCE 1990
(In millions of tons)
Year
1992
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
Million Tons
Source Reduced
0.6
8.0
21.4
31.0
31.8
37.3
42.8
55.1
* Source reduction estimates for 2001 are not included in this report. The impact to the 2001
MSW waste generation is expected to be similar to 2000.
12
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Executive Summary
The waste prevention achieved to date comes from all parts of the waste stream.
However, reducing the amount of yard trimmings is a particularly important source reduction
success story. Table ES-7 shows that almost half of the waste prevented in 2000 came from
organic waste materials, particularly yard trimmings. This is likely the result of many locally
enacted bans on the disposal of yard trimmings from landfills around the country, as well as
successful campaigns promoting onsite composting and the use of mulching lawn mowers.
Table ES-7
SOURCE REDUCTION BY MAJOR MATERIAL CATEGORIES, 2000
(In millions of tons)
Waste Stream
Durable Goods (e.g., appliances, furniture)
Nondurable Goods (e.g., newspapers, clothing)
Containers & Packaging (e.g., bottles, boxes)
Other MSW (e.g., yard trimmings, food scraps)
Total Source Reduction (1990 baseline)
Million Tons
Source Reduced
5.4
9.3
15.5
25.0
55.1
Prevention of waste other than yard trimmings has been important as well. Containers and
packaging represent approximately 28 percent of the materials source reduced in 2000, in
addition to nondurable goods (e.g., newspapers, clothing) at 17 percent, durable goods (e.g.,
appliances, furniture, tires) at 10 percent, and other MSW (e.g., yard trimmings, food scraps) at
45 percent.
Much of the nation's increase in waste generation in the 1990s was due to the booming
economy. As a group, Americans spent more, recycled more, and disposed more. However, the
United States made progress in the area of waste reduction and reuse, as indicated by the 55
million tons of source reduction in 2000, the latest year for which we have estimates available.
Had this source reduction not occurred, waste generation in 2000 would have risen from the
actual level, 232 million tons, to 287 million tons. Source reduction avoided an increase of nearly
25 percent.
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Executive Summary
Recycling
Recycling (including community composting) recovered 30 percent (68 million
tons) of MSW in 2001.
There were about 9,700 curbside recycling programs in the United States in 2001.
This is approximately 5 percent more than the 9,250 curbside recycling programs
identified in 2000. Much of this increase was in the western United States.
About 3,800 yard trimmings composting programs were reported in 2001.
Disposal
An estimated 14.7 percent of MSW was combusted in 2001, slightly higher than the 14.5
percent estimated in 2000. During 2001, about 55.7 percent of MSW was landfilled, down
somewhat from 56.3 percent in 2000. As shown in Figure ES-5, the number of municipal solid
waste landfills decreased substantially over the past 10 years, from nearly 8,000 in 1988 to 1,858
in 2001—while average landfill size increased. At the national level, capacity does not appear to
be a problem, although regional dislocations sometimes occur.
• The percentage of MSW landfilled decreased slightly from 2000 to 2001. Over the
long term, the tonnage of MSW landfilled in 1990 was 140.1 million tons, but
decreased to 122.4 million tons in 1995. The tonnage increased to 131.8 million
tons in 1999, then declined to 127.6 in 2001. The tonnage landfilled results from
an interaction among generation, recycling, and combustion, which do not
necessarily rise and fall at the same time.
• The net per capita discard rate (after recovery for recycling, including composting)
was 3.10 pounds per person per day, down from 3.20 pounds per person per day in
2000 (Table ES-3).
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Executive Summary
Figure ES-5: Number of Landfills in the U.S.
4000 -
7924
—
?37£
6326
581?
5386
L
148S
3558
3197 30g1
, ,
2514
|— 1 2314 2216
I— 1_ 1967 1858
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
MSW recovered for recycling (including composting) and disposed of by combustion and
landfilling in 2001 is shown in Figure ES-6. In 2001, 68.0 millions tons (29.7 percent) of MSW
were recycled, 33.6 million tons (14.7 percent) were combusted, and 127.6 million tons (55.7
percent) were landfilled or otherwise disposed. (Relatively small amounts of this total
undoubtedly were littered or illegally dumped rather than landfilled.)
Figure ES-6: Management of MSW in the U.S. - 2001
Land Disposal 55.7%
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Executive Summary
PERSPECTIVE FOR THE NATION
As economic growth results in more products and materials being generated, there will be
an increased need to invest in source reduction activities such as lightweighting of products and
packaging, reuse of products, grasscycling, and backyard composting. Also important will be
utilizing existing recycling and composting facilities, further developing this infrastructure, and
buying recycled products, to conserve resources and minimize our dependence on disposal
through combustion and landfilling.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
This report and related additional data are available on the Internet at
. Additional information on source reduction is available in National Source
Reduction Characterization Report for Municipal Solid Waste in the United States, EPA530-R-
99-034, November 1999.
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Chapter 1 Introduction and Methodology
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION AND METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
This report is the most recent in a series of reports sponsored by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency to characterize municipal solid waste (MSW) in the United States. Together
with the previous reports, this report provides a historical database for a 41-year characterization
(by weight) of the materials and products in MSW.
Management of the nation's municipal solid waste (MSW) continues to be a high priority
for communities in the 21st century. The concept of integrated solid waste management—source
reduction of wastes before they enter the waste stream, recovery of generated wastes for
recycling (including composting), and environmentally sound disposal through combustion
facilities and landfills that meet current standards—is being used by communities as they plan for
the future.
This chapter provides background on integrated waste management and this year's
characterization report, followed by a brief overview of the method. Next, is a section on the
variety of uses for the information in this report. Then, more detail on the method is provided,
followed by a description of the contents of the remainder of the report.
BACKGROUND
The Solid Waste Management Hierarchy
EPA's 1989 Agenda for Action endorsed the concept of integrated waste management, by
which municipal solid waste is reduced or managed through several different practices, which
can be tailored to fit a particular community's needs. The components of the hierarchy are:
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Chapter 1 Introduction and Methodology
• source reduction (including reuse of products and backyard composting of yard
trimmings).
• recycling of materials (including composting).
• waste combustion (preferably with energy recovery) and landfilling.
Each component of the hierarchy is addressed in this report.
Overview of the Method
Readers should note that this report characterizes the municipal solid waste stream of the
nation as a whole. Data in this report can be used at the national level. It can also be used to
address state, regional, and local situations, where more detailed data are not available or would
be too expensive to gather. More detail on uses for this information in this report for both
national and local uses is provided later in this chapter.
At the state or local level, recycling rates often are developed by counting and weighing
all the recyclables collected, and then aggregating these data to yield a state or local recycling
rate. At the national level, we use instead a materials flow method, which relies heavily on a
mass balance approach. Using data gathered from industry associations, key businesses, and
such industry sources, and supported by government data from sources such as the Department of
Commerce and the U.S. Census Bureau, we estimate tons of materials and products generated,
recycled, or discarded. Other sources of data, such as waste characterizations and surveys
performed by governments, industry, or the press, supplement these data.
To estimate MSW generation, production data are adjusted by imports and exports from
the United States, where necessary. Allowances are made for the average lifespans of different
products. Information on amounts of disposed MSW managed by combustion comes from
industry sources as well. MSW not managed by recycling (including composting) or combustion
is assumed to be landfilled.
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Chapter 1 Introduction and Methodology
In any estimation of MSW generation, it is important to define what is and is not included
in municipal solid waste. EPA includes those materials that historically have been handled in the
municipal solid waste stream-those materials from municipal sources, sent to municipal landfills.
In this report, MSW includes wastes such as product packaging, newspapers, office and
classroom papers, bottles and cans, boxes, wood pallets, food scraps, grass clippings, clothing,
furniture, appliances, automobile tires, consumer electronics, and batteries.
A common error in using this report is to assume that all nonhazardous wastes are
included. As shown later in this chapter, municipal solid waste as defined here does not include
construction and demolition wastes, biosolids (sewage sludges) industrial process wastes, or a
number of other wastes that, in some cases, may go to a municipal waste landfill. These
materials, over time, have tended to be handled separately and are not included in the totals in
this report. EPA has addressed several of these materials separately, for instance in Biosolids
Generation, Use, and Disposal in the United States, EPA 530-R-99-009, September 1999, and
Characterization of Building-Related Construction and Demolition Debris in the United States,
EPA530-R-98-010, May 1998. Recycling (including composting) is encouraged for these
materials as well.
In addition, the source of municipal solid waste is important. EPA's figures include
municipal solid waste from homes, institutions such as schools and prisons, commercial sources
such as restaurants and small businesses, and occasional industrial sources. MSW does not
include wastes of other types or from other sources, automobile bodies, municipal sludges,
combustion ash, and industrial process wastes that might also be disposed in municipal waste
landfills or incinerators.
HOW THIS REPORT CAN BE USED
Nationwide. The data in this report provide a nationwide picture of municipal solid
waste generation and management. The historical perspective is particularly useful in
establishing trends and highlighting the changes that have occurred over the years, both in types
of wastes generated and in the ways they are managed. This perspective on MSW and its
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Chapter 1 Introduction and Methodology
management is useful in assessing national solid waste management needs and policy. The
consistency in method and scope aids in the use of the document for reporting over time. The
report is, however, of equal or greater value as a solid waste management planning tool for state
and local governments and private firms.
Local or state level. At the local or state level, the data in this report can be used to
develop approximate (but quick) estimates of MSW generation in a defined area. That is, the
data on generation of MSW per person nationally may be used to estimate generation in a city or
other local area based on the population in that area. This can be of value when a "ballpark"
estimate of MSW generation in an area is needed. For example, communities may use such an
estimate to determine the potential viability of regional versus single community solid waste
management facilities. This information can help define solid waste management planning areas
and the planning needed in those areas. However, for communities making decisions where
knowledge of the amount and composition of MSW is crucial, (e.g., where a solid waste
management facility is being sited), local estimates of the waste stream should be made.
Another useful feature of this report for local planning is the information provided on
MSW trends. Changes over time in total MSW generation and the mix of MSW materials can
affect the need for and use of various waste management alternatives. Observing trends in MSW
generation can help in planning an integrated waste management system that includes facilities
sized and designed for years of service.
While the national average data are useful as a checkpoint against local MSW
characterization data, any differences between local and national data should be examined
carefully. There are many regional variations that require each community to examine its own
waste management needs. Such factors as local and regional availability of suitable landfill
space, proximity of markets for recovered materials, population density, commercial and
industrial activity, and climatic and groundwater variations all may motivate each community to
make its own plans.
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Chapter 1 Introduction and Methodology
Specific reasons for regional differences may include:
• Variations in climate and local waste management practices, which greatly
influence generation of yard trimmings. For instance, yard trimmings exhibit
strong seasonal variations in most regions of the country. Also, the level of
backyard composting in a region will affect generation of yard trimmings.
• Differences in the scope of waste streams. That is, a local landfill may be
receiving construction and demolition wastes in addition to MSW, but this report
addresses MSW only.
• Variance in the per capita generation of some products, such as newspapers and
telephone directories, depending upon the average size of the publications.
Typically, rural areas will generate less of these products on a per person basis
than urban areas.
• Level of commercial activity in a community. This will influence the generation
rate of some products, such as office paper, corrugated boxes, wood pallets, and
food scraps from restaurants.
• Variations in economic activity, which affect waste generation in both the
residential and the commercial sectors.
• Local and state regulations and practices. Deposit laws, bans on landfilling of
specific products, and variable rate pricing for waste collection are examples of
practices that can influence a local waste stream.
While caution should be used in applying the data in this report, for some areas, the
national breakdown of MSW by material may be the only such data available for use in
comparing and planning waste management alternatives. Planning a curbside recycling program,
for example, requires an estimate of household recyclables that may be recovered. If resources
are not available to adequately estimate these materials by other means, local planners may turn
to the national data. This is useful in areas that may have typical MSW generation or in areas
where appropriate adjustments in the data can be made to account for local conditions.
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Chapter 1 Introduction and Methodology
In summary, the data in this report can be used in local planning to:
• Develop approximate estimates of total MSW generation in an area.
• Check locally developed MSW data for accuracy and consistency.
• Account for trends in total MSW generation and the generation of individual
components.
• Help set goals and measure progress in source reduction and recycling (including
composting).
CHARACTERIZATION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE: IN PERSPECTIVE
The Two Methodologies for Characterizing MSW: Site-Specific versus Materials Flow
There are two basic approaches to estimating quantities of municipal solid waste at the
local, state, or national levels—site-specific and materials flow. This report is based on the
materials flow approach.
Site-specific studies. In the first method, which is site-specific, sampling, sorting, and
weighing the individual components of the waste stream could be used. This method is useful in
defining a local waste stream, especially if large numbers of samples are taken over several
seasons. Results of sampling also increase the body of knowledge about variations due to
climatic and seasonal changes, population density, regional differences, and the like. In addition,
quantities of MSW components such as food and yard trimmings can only be estimated through
sampling and weighing studies.
A disadvantage of sampling studies based on a limited number of samples is that they
may be skewed and misleading if, for example, atypical circumstances were experienced during
the sampling. These circumstances could include an unusually wet or dry season, delivery of
some unusual wastes during the sampling period, or errors in the sampling methodology. Any
errors of this kind will be greatly magnified when a limited number of samples are taken to
represent a community's entire waste stream for a year. Magnification of errors could be even
22
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Chapter 1 Introduction and Methodology
more serious if a limited number of samples was relied upon for making the national estimates of
MSW. Also, extensive sampling would be prohibitively expensive for making the national
estimates. An additional disadvantage of sampling studies is that they do not provide
information about trends unless performed in a consistent manner over a long period of time.
Of course at the state or local level, sampling may not be necessary—many states and
localities count all materials recovered for recycling, and many weigh all wastes being disposed
to generate state or local recycling rates from the "ground up." To use these figures at the
national level would require all states to perform these studies, and perform them in a way
conducive to developing a national summary, which so far has not been practical.
Materials flow. The second approach to quantifying and characterizing the municipal
solid waste stream-the method used for this report-utilizes a materials flow approach to estimate
the waste stream on a nationwide basis. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, EPA's Office of Solid
Waste and its predecessors at the Public Health Service sponsored work that began to develop
this methodology. This report represents the latest version of this database that has been
evolving for over 20 years.
The materials flow methodology is based on production data (by weight) for the materials
and products in the waste stream. To estimate generation data, specific adjustments are made to
the production data by each material and product category. Adjustments are made for imports
and exports and for diversions from MSW (e.g., for building materials made of plastic and
paperboard that become construction and demolition debris.) Adjustments are also made for the
lifetimes of products. Finally, food wastes and yard trimmings and a small amount of
miscellaneous inorganic wastes are accounted for by compiling data from a variety of waste
sampling studies.
One problem with the materials flow methodology is that product residues associated
with other items in MSW (usually containers) are not accounted for. These residues would
include, for example, food left in ajar, detergent left in a box or bottle, and dried paint in a can.
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Chapter 1
Introduction and Methodology
Some household hazardous wastes, (e.g., pesticide left in a can) are also included among these
product residues.
Municipal Solid Waste Defined in Greater Detail
As stated earlier, EPA includes those materials that historically have been handled in the
municipal solid waste stream-those materials from municipal sources, sent to municipal landfills.
In this report, MSW includes wastes such as product packaging, newspapers, office and
classroom paper, bottles and cans, boxes, wood pallets, food scraps, grass clippings, clothing,
furniture, appliances, automobile tires, consumer electronics, and batteries. For purposes of
analysis, these products and materials are often grouped in this report into the following
categories: durable goods, nondurable goods, containers and packaging, food wastes and yard
trimmings, and miscellaneous inorganic wastes.
Municipal solid wastes characterized in this report come from residential, commercial,
institutional, or industrial sources. Some examples of the types of MSW that come from each of
the broad categories of sources are:
Sources and Examples
Residential (single-and multi-family homes)
Commercial (office buildings, retail and
wholesale establishments, restaurants)
Institutional (schools, libraries, hospitals,
prisons)
Industrial (packaging and administrative; not
process wastes)
Example Products
Newspapers, clothing, disposable tableware,
food packaging, cans and bottles, food scraps,
yard trimmings
Corrugated boxes, food wastes, office papers,
disposable tableware, paper napkins, yard
trimmings
Cafeteria and restroom trash can wastes, office
papers, classroom wastes, yard trimmings
Corrugated boxes, plastic film, wood pallets,
lunchroom wastes, office papers.
The materials flow methodology used in this report does not readily lend itself to the
quantification of wastes according to their source. For example, corrugated boxes may be
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Chapter 1 Introduction and Methodology
unpacked and discarded from residences, commercial establishments such as grocery stores,
institutions such as schools, or factories. The methodology estimates only the total quantity of
such boxes generated, not their places of disposal or recovery for recycling.
Other Subtitle D Wastes
Some people assume that "municipal solid waste" must include everything that is
landfilled in Subtitle D landfills. (Subtitle D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
deals with wastes other than the hazardous wastes covered under Subtitle C.) As shown in
Figure 1, however, RCRA Subtitle D includes many kinds of wastes. It has been common
practice to landfill wastes such as municipal sludges, nonhazardous industrial wastes, residue
from automobile salvage operations, and construction and demolition debris along with MSW,
but these other kinds of wastes are not included in the estimates presented in this report.
Figure 1: Municipal Solid Waste in the Universe of Subtitle D Wastes
Subtitle D Wastes
The Subtitle D Waste included in this report is Municipal Solid Waste, which includes:
Containers & packaging such as soft drink bottles and cardboard boxes
Durable goods such as furniture and appliances
Nondurable goods such as newspapers, trash bags, and clothing
Other wastes such as food scraps and yard trimmings.
Subtitle D Wastes not included in this report are:
Municipal sludges Agricultural wastes
Industrial nonhazardous wastes Oil and gas wastes
Construction and demolition debris Mining wastes
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Chapter 1 Introduction and Methodology
Figure 1-A: Definition of Terms
The materials flow methodology produces an estimate of total municipal solid waste generation in the
United States, by material categories and by product categories.
The term generation as used in this report refers to the weight of materials and products as they enter the
waste management system from residential, commercial, institutional, and industrial sources and before materials
recovery or combustion takes place. Preconsumer (industrial) scrap is not included in the generation estimates.
Source reduction activities (e.g., backyard composting of yard trimmings) take place ahead of generation.
Source reduction activities reduce the amount or toxicity of wastes before they enter the municipal solid
waste management system. Reuse is a source reduction activity involving the recovery or reapplication of a
package, used product, or material in a manner that retains its original form or identity. Reuse of products such as
refillable glass bottles, reusable plastic food storage containers, or refurbished wood pallets is considered source
reduction, not recycling.
Recovery of materials as estimated in this report includes products and yard trimmings removed from the
waste stream for the purpose of recycling (including composting). For recovered products, recovery equals
reported purchases of postconsumer recovered material (e.g., glass cullet, old newspapers) plus net exports (if any)
of the material. This, recovery of old corrugated containers (OCC) is the sum of OCC purchases by paper mills
plus net exports of OCC. If recovery as reported by a data source includes converting or fabrication (preconsumer)
scrap, the preconsumer scrap is not counted towards the recovery estimates in this report. Imported secondary
materials are also not counted in recovery estimates in this report. For some materials, additional uses, such as
glass used for highway construction or newspapers used to make insulation, are added into the recovery totals.
Combustion of MSW was estimated with and without energy recovery. Combustion with energy recovery
is often called "waste-to-energy," while combustion without energy recovery is called incineration in this report.
Combustion of separated materials-wood, rubber from tires, paper, and plastics-is included in the estimates of
combustion in this report.
Discards include MSW remaining after recovery for recycling (including composting). These discards
presumably would be combusted or landfilled, although some MSW is littered, stored or disposed onsite, or burned
onsite, particularly in rural areas. No good estimates for these other disposal practices are available, but the total
amounts of MSW involved are presumed to be small.
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Chapter 1 Introduction and Methodology
Materials and Products Not Included in These Estimates
As noted earlier, other Subtitle D wastes (illustrated in Figure 1) are not included in these
estimates, even though some may be managed along with MSW (e.g., by combustion or
landfilling). Household hazardous wastes, while generated as MSW with other residential
wastes, are not identified separately in this report. Transportation equipment (including
automobiles and trucks) is not included in the wastes characterized in this report.
Certain other materials associated with products in MSW are often not accounted for
because the appropriate data series have not yet been developed. These include, for example,
inks and other pigments and some additives associated with packaging materials. Considerable
additional research would be required to estimate these materials, which constitute a relatively
small percentage of the waste stream.
Some adjustments are made in this report to account for packaging of imported goods,
but there is little available documentation of these amounts.
OVERVIEW OF THIS REPORT
Following this introductory chapter, Chapter 2 presents the results of the municipal solid
waste characterization (by weight). Estimates of MSW generation, recovery, and discards are
presented in a series of tables, with discussion. Detailed tables and figures summarizing 2001
MSW generation, recovery, and discards of products in each material category are included.
In Chapter 3 of the report, estimates of 2001 MSW management by the various
alternatives are summarized. These include recovery for recycling (including composting),
combustion, and landfilling. Also presented is a discussion of source reduction practices,
incorporating a summary of the most recent (year 2001) estimates of source reduction for the
nation. Summaries of the infrastructure currently available for each waste management
alternative are also included in Chapter 3.
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Chapter 1 Introduction and Methodology
A brief discussion of the materials flow methodology, for estimating generation,
recycling, and disposal is presented in Appendix A. Appendix B provides the methodology and
detailed results for source reduction for the year 2000. Appendix C provides the methodology
and results for estimates of generation, recovery, and discards of selected consumer electronics.
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Chapter 1 Introduction and Methodology
CHAPTER 1
REFERENCES
Darnay, A., and W.E. Franklin, The Role of Packaging in Solid Waste Management, 1966 to
1976. Public Health Service Publication No. 1855. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1969.
Franklin, W.E., and A. Darnay. The Role of Nonpackaging Paper in Solid Waste Management,
1966 to 1976. Public Health Service Publication No. 2040. U.S. Government Printing Office.
1971.
Darnay, A., and W.E. Franklin. Salvage Markets for Materials in Solid Wastes. Environmental
Protection Publication SW-29c. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1972.
Franklin, W.E., et al. Base Line Forecasts of Resource Recovery 1972 to 1990. Midwest
Research Institute for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. March 1975.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste Management Programs. Second
Report to Congress: Resource Recovery and Source Reduction (SW-122). 1974.
Smith, F.L., Jr. A Solid Waste Estimation Procedure: Material Flows Approach. U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (SW-147). May 1975.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste Management Programs. Third
Report to Congress: Resource Recovery and Source Reduction (SW-161). 1975.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste Management Programs. Fourth
Report to Congress: Resource Recovery and Waste Reduction (SW-600). 1977.
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Chapter 1 Introduction and Methodology
Franklin Associates, Ltd. Post-consumer Solid Waste and Resource Recovery Baseline. Prepared
for the Resource Conservation Committee. May 16, 1979.
Franklin Associates, Ltd. Post-consumer Solid Waste and Resource Recovery Baseline: Working
Papers. Prepared for the Resource Conservation Committee. May 16, 1979.
Resource Conservation Committee. Choices for Conservation: Final Report to the President and
Congress (SW-779). July 1979.
Franklin Associates, Ltd. Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States, 1960
to 2000. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. July 11, 1986.
Franklin Associates, Ltd. Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States, 1960
to 2000 (Update 1988). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. March 30, 1988.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United
States: 1990 Update. (EPA/SW-90-042). June 1990.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United
States: 1992 Update. (EPA/530-R-92-019). July 1992.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United
States: 1994 Update. EPA/530-R-94-042. November 1994.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United
States: 1995 Update. EPA/530-R-945-001. March 1996.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United
States: 1996 Update. EPA/530-R-97-015. June 1997.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United
States: 1997 Update. EPA/530-R-98-007. May 1998.
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Chapter 1 Introduction and Methodology
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United
States: 1998 Update. EPA/530-R-99-021. September 1999.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling and
Disposal in the United States: Facts and Figures for 1998. EPA/530-F-00-024. April 2000.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Municipal Solid Waste in The United States: 1999 Facts
and Figures. EPA/530-R-01-014. July 2001.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Municipal Solid Waste in The United States: 2000 Facts
and Figures. EPA/530-R-02-001. June 2002.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Municipal Solid Waste Task Force, Office of Solid
Waste. The Solid Waste Dilemma: An Agenda for Action. February 1989.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste. Subtitle D Study Phase I Report
(EPA/530-SW-054). October 1986.
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
CHAPTER 2
CHARACTERIZATION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE BY WEIGHT
INTRODUCTION
The tables and figures in this chapter present the results of the update of EPA's municipal
solid waste characterization report through 2001. The data presented also incorporate some
revisions to previously reported data for 2000 and, in some instances, to data for earlier years.
The revisions are generally due to revisions and improvements in the data available from data
sources used in developing this report.
This chapter discusses how much municipal solid waste (MSW) is generated, recovered,
and disposed. First, an overview presents this information for the most recent years, and for
selected years back to 1960. This information is summarized in Tables 1 to 3 and Figures 10 to
13. Then, throughout the remainder of the chapter, MSW is characterized in more detail.
Findings are presented in two basic ways: the first portion of the chapter presents data by
material type. Some material types of most use to planners (paper and paperboard, glass, metals,
plastic and rubber and leather) are presented in detail in Tables 4 to 8, and Figures 3 to 9, while
data on other materials also is summarized in Figures 12 and 13.
The second portion of the chapter presents data by product type. This information is
presented in Tables 9 to 23 and Figures 14 to 16. Products are classified into durable goods (e.g.
appliances, furniture, tires); nondurable goods (e.g. newspapers, office papers, trash bags,
clothing); and containers and packaging (e.g., bottles, cans, corrugated boxes). A fourth major
category includes other wastes—yard trimmings, food scraps, and miscellaneous inorganic
wastes. These wastes are not manufactured products, but to provide complete information in each
table, they are included in both the product and the material tables.
This chapter provides data on generation, recovery, and disposal of MSW. (See Chapter 1
for definitions of these terms.) Recovery, in this report, means that the materials have been
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
removed from the municipal solid waste stream. Recovery of materials in products means that
the materials are reported to have been purchased by an end user or have been exported from the
United States. For yard trimmings, recovery includes estimates of the trimmings delivered to a
composting facility (not backyard composting). Under these definitions, residues from a
materials recovery facility (MRF) or other waste processing facility are counted as generation
(and, of course, discards), since they are not purchased by an end user. Residues from an end user
facility (e.g., sludges from a paper deinking mill) are considered to be industrial process wastes
that are no longer part of the municipal solid waste stream.
Additional detail is provided for some of the materials and products in MSW that are of
the most interest to planners. These are paper and paperboard, glass, metals, plastics, and rubber
and leather (the latter category includes rubber in tires and leather in clothing and footwear).
MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE: CHARACTERIZED BY MATERIAL TYPE
Generation, recovery, and discards of materials in MSW, by weight and by percentage of
generation and discards, are summarized in Tables 1 through 3. Figures 10 and 11 (later in this
chapter) illustrate this data over time. A snapshot, by material, for 2001 is provided in Figures 12
and 13. In the following sections, each material is discussed in detail.
33
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Table 1
MATERIALS GENERATED* IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 2001
(In thousands of tons and percent of total generation)
Materials
Paper and Paperboard
Glass
Metals
Ferrous
Aluminum
Other Nonferrous
Total Metals
Plastics
Rubber and Leather
Textiles
Wood
Other **
Total Materials in Products
Other Wastes
Food Scraps
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Generated - Weight
Materials
Paper and Paperboard
Glass
Metals
Ferrous
Aluminum
Other Nonferrous
Total Metals
Plastics
Rubber and Leather
Textiles
Wood
Other **
Total Materials in Products
Other Wastes
Food Scraps
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Generated - %
Thousands of Tons
1960
29,990
6,720
10,300
340
180
10,820
390
1,840
1,760
3,030
70
54,620
12,200
20,000
1,300
33,500
88,120
1970
44,310
12,740
12,360
800
670
13,830
2,900
2,970
2,040
3,720
770
83,280
12,800
23,200
1,780
37,780
121,060
1980
55,160
15,130
12,620
1,730
1,160
15,510
6,830
4,200
2,530
7,010
2,520
108,890
13,000
27,500
2,250
42,750
151,640
1990
72,730
13,100
12,640
2,810
1,100
16,550
17,130
5,790
5,810
12,210
3,190
146,510
20,800
35,000
2,900
58,700
205,210
1995
81,670
12,830
1 1 ,640
2,960
1,260
15,860
18,900
6,030
7,400
12,780
3,650
159,120
21 ,740
29,690
3,150
54,580
213,700
1999
88,260
12,910
13,290
3,120
1,380
17,790
24,080
6,210
9,060
12,820
4,000
175,130
25,160
27,730
3,380
56,270
231 ,400
2000
86,780
12,610
1 3,460
3,170
1,390
18,020
24,710
6,360
9,380
12,940
4,030
174,830
25,900
27,730
3,500
57,130
231,960
2001
81,860
12,570
13,510
3,190
1,420
18, 120
25,380
6,500
9,750
13,180
4,150
171,510
26,200
27,980
3,540
57,720
229,230
Percent of Total Generation
1960
34.0%
7.6%
1 1 .7%
0.4%
0.2%
12.3%
0.4%
2.1%
2.0%
3.4%
0.1%
62.0%
13.8%
22.7%
1 .5%
38.0%
100.0%
1970
36.6%
10.5%
10.2%
0.7%
0.6%
11.4%
2.4%
2.5%
1 .7%
3.1%
0.6%
68.8%
10.6%
19.2%
1 .5%
31 .2%
100.0%
1980
36.4%
10.0%
8.3%
1.1%
0.8%
10.2%
4.5%
2.8%
1 .7%
4.6%
1 .7%
71 .8%
8.6%
18.1%
1 .5%
28.2%
100.0%
1990
35.4%
6.4%
6.2%
1 .4%
0.5%
8.1%
8.3%
2.8%
2.8%
6.0%
1 .6%
71 .4%
10.1%
17.1%
1 .4%
28.6%
100.0%
1995
38.2%
6.0%
5.4%
1 .4%
0.6%
7.4%
8.8%
2.8%
3.5%
6.0%
1 .7%
74.5%
10.2%
13.9%
1 .5%
25.5%
100.0%
1999
38.1%
5.6%
5.7%
1 .3%
0.6%
7.7%
1 0.4%
2.7%
3.9%
5.5%
1 .7%
75.7%
10.9%
12.0%
1 .5%
24.3%
100.0%
2000
37.4%
5.4%
5.8%
1 .4%
0.6%
7.8%
10.7%
2.7%
4.0%
5.6%
1 .7%
75.4%
1 1 .2%
12.0%
1 .5%
24.6%
100.0%
2001
35.7%
5.5%
5.9%
1 .4%
0.6%
7.9%
11.1%
2.8%
4.3%
5.7%
1 .8%
74.8%
1 1 .4%
12.2%
1 .5%
25.2%
100.0%
' Generation before materials recovery or combustion. Does not include construction & demolition debris, industrial
process wastes, or certain other wastes.
' Includes electrolytes in batteries and fluff pulp, feces, and urine in disposable diapers.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
34
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Table 2
RECOVERY* OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE, 1960 TO 2001
(In thousands of tons and percent of generation of each material)
Materials
Paper and Paperboard
Glass
Metals
Ferrous
Aluminum
Other Nonferrous
Total Metals
Plastics
Rubber and Leather
Textiles
Wood
Other **
Total Materials in Products
Other Wastes
Food Scraps
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Recovered - Weight
Materials
Paper and Paperboard
Glass
Metals
Ferrous
Aluminum
Other Nonferrous
Total Metals
Plastics
Rubber and Leather
Textiles
Wood
Other **
Total Materials in Products
Other Wastes
Food, OtherA
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Recovered - %
Thousands of Tons
1960
5,080
100
50
Neg.
Neg.
50
Neg.
330
50
Neg.
Neg.
5,610
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
5,610
1970
6,770
160
150
10
320
480
Neg.
250
60
Neg.
300
8,020
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
8,020
1980
1 1 ,740
750
370
310
540
1,220
20
130
160
Neg.
500
14,520
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
14,520
1990
20,230
2,630
2,230
1,010
730
3,970
370
370
660
130
680
29,040
Neg.
4,200
Neg.
4,200
33,240
1995
32,700
3,140
4,130
930
810
5,870
990
540
900
1,260
750
46,150
570
9,030
Neg.
9,600
55,750
1999
36,080
3,000
4,530
880
930
6,340
1,280
780
1,230
1,230
860
50,800
550
14,170
Neg.
14,720
65,520
2000
36,710
2,660
4,580
870
930
6,380
1,330
780
1,270
1,240
860
51,230
680
15,770
Neg.
16,450
67,680
2001
36,730
2,400
4,560
780
920
6,260
1,390
1,130
1,420
1,250
860
51 ,440
730
15,820
Neg.
16,550
67,990
Percent of Generation of Each Material
1960
16.9%
1 .5%
0.5%
Neg.
Neg.
0.5%
Neg.
17.9%
2.8%
Neg.
Neg.
10.3%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
6.4%
1970
15.3%
1 .3%
1 .2%
1 .3%
47.8%
3.5%
Neg.
8.4%
2.9%
Neg.
39.0%
9.6%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
6.6%
1980
21 .3%
5.0%
2.9%
17.9%
46.6%
7.9%
0.3%
3.1%
6.3%
Neg.
19.8%
13.3%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
9.6%
1990
27.8%
20.1%
17.6%
35.9%
66.4%
24.0%
2.2%
6.4%
1 1 .4%
1.1%
21 .3%
19.8%
Neg.
12.0%
Neg.
7.2%
16.2%
1995
40.0%
24.5%
35.5%
31.4%
64.3%
37.0%
5.2%
9.0%
12.2%
9.9%
20.5%
29.0%
2.6%
30.4%
Neg.
17.6%
26.1%
1999
40.9%
23.2%
34.1%
28.2%
67.4%
35.6%
5.3%
12.6%
13.6%
9.6%
21 .5%
29.0%
2.2%
51.1%
Neg.
26.2%
28.3%
2000
42.3%
21.1%
34.0%
27.4%
66.9%
35.4%
5.4%
12.3%
13.5%
9.6%
21 .3%
29.3%
2.6%
56.9%
Neg.
28.8%
29.2%
2001
44.9%
19.1%
33.8%
24.5%
64.8%
34.5%
5.5%
17.4%
14.6%
9.5%
20.7%
30.0%
2.8%
56.5%
Neg.
28.7%
29.7%
* Recovery of postconsumer wastes; does not include converting/fabrication scrap.
** Recovery of electrolytes in batteries; probably not recycled.
Neg. = Less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percent.
A Includes recovery of paper for composting.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
35
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Table 3
MATERIALS DISCARDED* IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 2001
(In thousands of tons and percent of total discards)
Materials
Paper and Paperboard
Glass
Metals
Ferrous
Aluminum
Other Nonferrous
Total Metals
Plastics
Rubber and Leather
Textiles
Wood
Other **
Total Materials in Products
Other Wastes
Food Scraps
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Discarded - Weight
Materials
Paper and Paperboard
Glass
Metals
Ferrous
Aluminum
Other Nonferrous
Total Metals
Plastics
Rubber and Leather
Textiles
Wood
Other **
Total Materials in Products
Other Wastes
Food Scraps
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Discarded - %
Thousands of Tons
1960
24,910
6,620
10,250
340
180
10, 770
390
1,510
1,710
3,030
70
49,010
12,200
20,000
1,300
33,500
82,510
1970
37,540
12,580
12,210
790
350
13,350
2,900
2,720
1,980
3,720
470
75,260
12,800
23,200
1,780
37,780
113,040
1980
43,420
14,380
12,250
1,420
620
14,290
6,810
4,070
2,370
7,010
2,020
94,370
13,000
27,500
2,250
42,750
137,120
1990
52,500
10,470
10,410
1,800
370
12,580
16,760
5,420
5,150
12,080
2,510
117,470
20,800
30,800
2,900
54,500
171,970
1995
48,970
9,690
7,510
2,030
450
9,990
17,910
5,490
6,500
1 1 ,520
2,900
112,970
21,170
20,660
3,150
44,980
157,950
1999
52,180
9,910
8,760
2,240
450
11,450
22,800
5,430
7,830
1 1 ,590
3,140
124,330
24,610
13,560
3,380
41 ,550
165,880
2000
50,070
9,950
8,880
2,300
460
11,640
23,380
5,580
8,110
1 1 ,700
3,170
123,600
25,220
1 1 ,960
3,500
40,680
164,280
2001
45,130
10,170
8,950
2,410
500
11,860
23,990
5,370
8,330
1 1 ,930
3,290
120,070
25,470
12,160
3,540
41,170
161,240
Percent of Total Discards
1960
30.2%
8.0%
12.4%
0.4%
0.2%
13.1%
0.5%
1 .8%
2.1%
3.7%
0.1%
59.4%
14.8%
24.2%
1 .6%
40.6%
100.0%
1970
33.2%
11.1%
10.8%
0.7%
0.3%
11.8%
2.6%
2.4%
1 .8%
3.3%
0.4%
66.6%
1 1 .3%
20.5%
1 .6%
33.4%
1 00.0%
1980
31 .7%
10.5%
8.9%
1 .0%
0.5%
10.4%
5.0%
3.0%
1 .7%
5.1%
1 .5%
68.8%
9.5%
20.1%
1 .6%
31 .2%
100.0%
1990
30.5%
6.1%
6.1%
1 .0%
0.2%
7.3%
9.7%
3.2%
3.0%
7.0%
1 .5%
68.3%
12.1%
17.9%
1 .7%
31 .7%
100.0%
1995
31 .0%
6.1%
4.8%
1 .3%
0.3%
6.3%
1 1 .3%
3.5%
4.1%
7.3%
1 .8%
71 .5%
13.4%
13.1%
2.0%
28.5%
100.0%
1999
31 .5%
6.0%
5.3%
1 .4%
0.3%
6.9%
13.7%
3.3%
4.7%
7.0%
1 .9%
75.0%
14.8%
8.2%
2.0%
25.0%
100.0%
2000
30.5%
6.1%
5.4%
1 .4%
0.3%
7.1%
14.2%
3.4%
4.9%
7.1%
1 .9%
75.2%
15.4%
7.3%
2.1%
24.8%
100.0%
2001
28.0%
6.3%
5.6%
1 .5%
0.3%
7.4%
14.9%
3.3%
5.2%
7.4%
2.0%
74.5%
15.8%
7.5%
2.2%
25.5%
100.0%
' Discards after materials and compost recovery. Does not include construction & demolition debris, industrial
process wastes, or certain other wastes.
' Includes electrolytes in batteries and fluff pulp, feces, and urine in disposable diapers.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
36
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Paper and Paperboard
Collectively, the many products made of paper and paperboard products comprise the
largest component of MSW. The paper and paperboard category includes materials such as paper
and cardboard, therefore products such as office papers, newspapers, corrugated boxes, milk
cartons, tissue paper, and paper plates and cups (Figure 2 and Table 4).
Figure 2. Paper and paperboard products generated in MSW, 2001
Newspapers
Commercial printing
Standard (A) mail
Tissue paper and towels
Magazines
Paper plates and cups
Directories
10
15 20
million tons
25
30
35
The term "cardboard" is often used for products made of paperboard (boxboard and containerboard), but
this inexact term is not used in the paper industry.
37
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Table 4
PAPER AND PAPERBOARD PRODUCTS IN MSW, 2001
(In thousands of tons and percent of generation)
Product Category
Nondurable Goods
Newspapers
Newsprint
Groundwood inserts
Total Newspapers
Books
Magazines
Office Papers
Telephone Directories
Standard (A) Mail*
Other Commercial Printing
Tissue Paper and Towels
Paper Plates and Cups
Other Nonpackaging Paper**
Total Paper and Paperboard
Nondurable Goods
Containers and Packaging
Corrugated Boxes
Milk Cartons
Folding Cartons
Other Paperboard Packaging
Bags and Sacks
Other Paper Packaging
Total Paper and Paperboard
Containers and Packaging
Total Paper and Paperboard
Generation
(Thousand
tons)
9,980
2,220
12,200
850
2,060
7,420
740
5,410
6,610
3,260
1,050
3,880
43,480
28,980
510
5,520
190
1,420
1,750
38,370
81,850
Recovery
(Thousand
tons)
6,050
1,300
7,350
180
660
4,100
110
1,750
1,480
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
15,630
20,310
Neg.
480
Neg.
310
Neg.
21,100
36,730
(Percent of
generation)
60.6%
58.6%
60.2%
21.2%
32.0%
55.3%
14.9%
32.3%
22.4%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
35.9%
70.1%
Neg.
8.7%
Neg.
21.8%
Neg.
55.0%
44.9%
Discards
(Thousand
tons)
3,930
920
4,850
670
1,400
3,320
630
3,660
5,130
3,260
1,050
3,880
27,850
8,670
510
5,040
190
1,110
1,750
17,270
45,120
* Formerly called Third Class Mail by the U.S. Postal Service.
** Includes tissue in disposable diapers, paper in games and novelties, cards, etc.
Neg. = Less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percent.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
38
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Total generation of paper and paperboard in MSW has grown from 30 million tons in
1960 to 81.9 million tons in 2001 (Table 1). As a percentage of total MSW generation, paper
represented 34 percent in 1960 (Table 1). The percentage has varied over time, but increased to
35.7 percent of total MSW generation in 2001. As Figure 3 illustrates, paper generation declined
in 1996, peaked at 88.3 million tons in 1999, and declined to 81.9 million tons in 2001.
Figure 3. Paper generation and recovery, 1960 to 2001
100 i
90
The sensitivity of paper products to economic conditions can be observed in Figure 3.
The tonnage of paper generated in 1975—a severe recession year—was actually less than the
tonnage in 1970, and the percentage of total generation was also less in 1975. Similar but less
pronounced declines in paper generation can be seen in other recession years.
The wide variety of products that comprise the paper and paperboard materials total is
illustrated in Table 4 and Figure 2. In this report, these products are classified as nondurable
goods or as containers and packaging, with nondurable goods being the larger category.
Generation. Estimates of paper and paperboard generation are based on statistics
published by the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA). These statistics include data
on new supply (production plus net imports) of the various paper and paperboard grades that go
into the products found in MSW. The AF&PA new supply statistics are adjusted to deduct
39
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
converting scrap, which is generated when sheets of paper or paperboard are cut to make
products such as envelopes or boxes. Converting scrap rates vary from product to product; the
rates used in this report were developed as part of a 1992 report for the Recycling Advisory
Council with a few more revisions as new data became available. Various deductions also are
made to account for products diverted out of municipal solid waste, such as gypsum wallboard
facings (classified as construction and demolition debris) or toilet tissue (which goes to
wastewater treatment plants).
Recovery. Estimates of recovery of paper and paperboard products for recycling are
based on annual reports of recovery published by AF&PA. The AF&PA reports include recovery
of paper and paperboard purchased by U.S. paper mills, plus exports of recovered paper, plus a
small amount estimated to have been used in other products such as animal bedding. Recovery as
reported by AF&PA includes both preconsumer and postconsumer paper.
To estimate recovery of postconsumer paper products for this EPA report, estimates of
recovery of converting scrap and returned overissue newspapers (newspapers that were not sold)
are deducted from the total recovery amounts reported by AF&PA. In earlier versions of this
EPA report, a simplifying assumption that all converting scrap is recovered was made. For more
recent updates, various converting scrap recovery rates ranging from 70 percent to 98 percent
were applied to the estimates for 1990 through 2001. The converting scrap recovery rates were
developed for a 1992 report for the Recycling Advisory Council. Because converting scrap and
overissue are deducted, the paper recovery rates presented in this report are always lower than the
total recovery rates published by AF&PA.
When recovered paper is repulped, and often deinked, at a recycling paper mill,
considerable amounts of sludge are generated in amounts varying from 5 percent to 35 percent of
the paper feedstock. Since these sludges are generated at an industrial site, they are considered to
be industrial process waste, not municipal solid waste; therefore they have been removed from
the municipal waste stream.
40
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Recovery of paper and paperboard for recycling is at the highest rate overall compared to
most other materials in MSW. As Table 4 shows, 70.1 percent of all corrugated boxes were
recovered for recycling in 2001; this is up from 65.1 percent in 1999. Newspapers were
recovered at a rate of 60.2 percent, and high grade office papers at 55.3 percent, with lesser
percentages of other papers being recovered also. Approximately 36.7 million tons of
postconsumer paper were recovered in 2001—44.9 percent of total paper and paperboard
generation. This is up from 41.9 percent in 1999.
Discards After Recovery. After recovery of paper and paperboard for recycling,
discards were 45.1 million tons in 2001, or 28.0 percent of total MSW discards.
Glass
Glass is found in MSW primarily in the form of containers (Table 5 and Figures 4 and 5),
but also in durable goods like furniture, appliances, and consumer electronics. In the container
category, glass is found in beer and soft drink bottles, wine and liquor bottles, and bottles and
jars for food, cosmetics, and other products. More detail on these products is included in the later
section on products in MSW.
Table 5
GLASS PRODUCTS IN MSW, 2001
(In thousands of tons and percent of generation)
Product Category
Durable Goods*
Containers and Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Bottles
Wine and Liquor Bottles
Food and Other Bottles and Jars
Total Glass Containers
Total Glass
Generation
(Thousand
tons)
1,670
5,990
1,760
3,150
10,900
12,570
Recovery
(Thousand
tons)
Neg.
1,270
360
770
2,400
2,400
(Percent of
generation)
Neg.
21.2%
20.5%
24.4%
22.0%
19.1%
Discard;
(Thousau
tons)
1,670
4,720
1,400
2,380
8,500
10,170
* Glass as a component of appliances, furniture, consumer electronics, etc.
Neg. = Less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percent.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
41
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Figure 4. Glass products generated in MSW, 2001
Beer & soft drink bottles*
Food, other bottles &jars
Wine & liquor bottles
Durable goods
[
f
* Includes car
Donated drinks and non-
carbonated water, teas,
and flavored drinks.
Figure 5. Glass generation and recovery, 1960 to 2001
1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995
2000
Generation. Glass accounted for 6.7 million tons of MSW in 1960, or 7.6 percent of
total generation. Generation of glass continued to grow over the next two decades, but then glass
containers were widely displaced by other materials, principally aluminum and plastics. Thus the
tonnage of glass in MSW declined in the 1980s, from approximately 15.1 million tons in 1980 to
13.2 million tons in 1985. Beginning about 1987, however, the decline in generation of glass
containers slowed (Figure 5), and glass generation in 2001 was 12.6 million tons, about the same
as 1995. During the 1990s glass generation varied from 12.4 to 13.6 million tons per year. Glass
was 10 percent of MSW generation in 1980, declining to 5.5 percent in 2001.
42
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Recovery. Most recovered glass containers (bottles) are used to make new glass
containers, but a portion goes to other uses such as fiberglass insulation and glasphalt for
highway construction. Until recently, the Glass Packaging Institute published estimates of glass
bottle recovery annually. Since this data source is not longer available, industry sources were
contacted for recovery data. Recovery of glass bottles was estimated at 2.4 million tons in 2001,
down from an estimated 2.7 million tons in 2000.
Discards After Recovery. Recovery for recycling lowered discards of glass to 10.2
million tons in 2001 (6.3 percent of total MSW discards).
Ferrous Metals
By weight, ferrous metals (iron and steel) are the largest category of metals in MSW
(Figure 6 and Table 6). The largest quantities of ferrous metals in MSW are found in durable
goods such as appliances, furniture, and tires. Containers and packaging are the other source of
ferrous metals in MSW. Large quantities of ferrous metals are found in construction materials
and in transportation products such as automobiles, locomotives, and ships, but these are not
counted as MW in this report.
Figure 6. Metal products generated in MSW, 2001
|DDurables HPackaging DNondurables I
Ferrous metals
Aluminum
Other nonferrous
43
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Table 6
METAL PRODUCTS IN MSW, 2001
(In thousands of tons and percent of generation)
Product Category
Durable Goods
Ferrous metals*
Aluminum**
Leadf
Other nonferrous metals}
Total Metals in Durable Goods
Generation
(Thousand
tons)
10,900
1,020
980
440
13,340
Recovery
(Thousand
tons)
(Percent of
generation)
27.8%
Neg.
93.9%
Neg.
29.6%
Discards
(Thousand
tons)
7,870
1,020
60
440
9,390
Nondurable Goods
Aluminum
230
Neg.
Neg.
230
Containers and Packaging
Steel
*
**
t
:
Food and other cans
Other steel packaging
Total Steel Packaging
Aluminum
Beer and soft drink cans
Food and other cans
Foil and closures
Total Aluminum Packaging
Total Metals in
Containers and Packaging
Total Metals
Ferrous
Aluminum
Other nonferrous
2,360
240
2,600
1,510
50
390
1,950
4,550
18,120
13,500
3,200
1,420
1,370
160
1,530
740
Neg.
40
780
2,310
6,260
4,560
780
920
Ferrous metals (iron and steel) in appliances, furniture, tires, and miscellaneous
Aluminum in appliances, furniture, and miscellaneous durables.
Lead in lead-acid batteries.
Other nonferrous metals in appliances and miscellaneous durables.
Neg. = Less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percent.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
58.1%
66.7%
58.8%
49.0%
Neg.
10.3%
40.0%
50.8%
34.5%
33.8%
24.4%
64.8%
durables.
990
80
1,070
770
50
350
1,170
2,240
11,860
8,940
2,420
500
Total generation and recovery of all metals in MSW from 1960 to 2001 are shown in
Figure 7.
44
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
20 -I
Figure 7. Metals generation and recovery, 1960 to 2001
-*~+~+.«^
»-*
1960
Generation
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
Generation. Approximately 10.3 million tons of ferrous metals were generated in 1960.
Like glass, the tonnages grew during the 1960s, but began to drop as lighter materials like
aluminum and plastics replaced steel in many applications. Since 1970, generation of ferrous
metals has varied between about 1 1 million tons in 1985 to 13.5 million tons in 2001. The
percentage of ferrous metals generation in MSW has declined from 1 1.7 percent in 1960 to 5.9
percent in 2001.
Recovery. The renewed emphasis on recovery and recycling in recent years has included
ferrous metals. Based on data from the Steel Recycling Institute, recovery of ferrous metals from
appliances ("white goods") was estimated to be 2.0 million tons in 2001. Overall recovery of
ferrous metals from durable goods (large and small appliances, furniture, and tires) was estimated
to be 27.8 percent (3.0 million tons) in 2001 (Table 6).
Steel food cans and other cans were estimated to be recovered at a rate of 58. 1 percent
(1.4 million tons) in 2001. Approximately 160,000 tons of other steel packaging, mostly steel
barrels and drums, was estimated to have been recovered for recycling in 2001.
Discards After Recovery. In 2001, discards of ferrous metals after recovery were 9.0
million tons, or 5.6 percent of total discards.
45
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Aluminum
The largest source of aluminum in MSW is aluminum cans and other packaging (Table 6
and Figure 6). Other sources of aluminum are found in durable and nondurable goods.
Generation. In 2001, nearly 2.0 million tons of aluminum were generated as containers
and packaging, while approximately 1.2 million tons were found in durable and nondurable
goods. The total-3.2 million tons-was 1.4 percent of total MSW generation in 2001. Aluminum
generation was only 340,000 tons (0.4 percent of MSW generation) in 1960.
Recovery. Aluminum beverage containers were recovered at a rate of 49.0 percent of
generation (0.7 million tons) in 2001, and 40.0 percent of all aluminum in containers and
packaging was recovered for recycling in 2001.
Discards After Recovery. In 2001, about 2.4 million tons of aluminum were discarded
in MSW after recovery, which was 1.5 percent of total MSW discards.
Other Nonferrous Metals
Other nonferrous metals (e.g., lead, copper, zinc) are found in durable products such as
appliances, consumer electronics, etc. Lead in lead-acid batteries is the most prevalent nonferrous
metal (other than aluminum) in MSW. Note that only lead-acid batteries from passenger cars,
trucks, and motorcycles are included. Lead-acid batteries used in large equipment or industrial
applications are not included.
Generation. Generation of other nonferrous metals in MSW totaled 1.4 million tons in
2001. Lead in batteries accounted for 980,000 tons of this amount. Generation of these metals
has increased slowly, up from 180,000 tons in 1960. As a percentage of total generation,
nonferrous metals have never exceeded one percent.
46
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Recovery. Recovery of the other nonferrous metals was 920,000 tons in 2001, with most
of this being lead recovered from batteries. It was estimated that 93.9 percent of battery lead was
recovered in 2001.
Discards After Recovery. In 2001, 500,000 tons of nonferrous metals were discarded in
MSW. Percentages of total discards remained less than one percent over the entire period.
Plastics
Plastics are a rapidly growing segment of MSW. While plastics are found in all major
MSW categories, the containers and packaging category has the most plastic tonnage (Figure 8
and Table 7).
Figure 8. Plastics products generated in MSW, 2001
Durable goods
Nondurable goods
Bags, sacks and wraps
Other packaging
Other containers
Soft drink, milk, and water containers
4 5
million tons
47
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Table 7
PLASTICS IN PRODUCTS IN MSW, 2001
(In thousands of tons,
Product Category
Durable Goods
PET
HOPE
PVC
LDPE/LLDPE
PP
PS
Other resins
Total Plastics in Durable Goods
Nondurable Goods
Plastic Plates and Cups
LDPE/LLDPE
PS
Subtotal Plastic Plates and Cups
Trash Bags
HOPE
LDPE/LLDPE
Subtotal Trash Bags
All other nondurables*
PET
HOPE
PVC
LDPE/LLDPE
PP
PS
Other resins
Subtotal All Other Nondurables
Total Plastics in Nondurable Goods, by resin
PET
HOPE
PVC
LDPE/LLDPE
PP
PS
Other resins
Total Plastics in Nondurable Goods
Plastic Containers & Packaging
Soft drink bottles
PET
Milk and water bottles
HOPE
and percent of generation by resin)
Generation Recovery
(Thousand (Thousand (Percent
tons) tons) of Gen.)
440
590
480
700
1,270
690
3,840
8,010 310 3.9%
20
780
800
220
610
830
210
440
600
1,640
900
610
100
4,500
210
660
600
2,270
900
1,390
100
6,130 0 0.0%
870 310 35.6%
740 210 28.4%
Discards
(Thousand
tons)
7,700
20
780
800
220
610
830
210
440
600
1,640
900
610
100
4,500
210
660
600
2,270
900
1,390
100
6,130
560
530
HDPE = High density polyethylene
LDPE = Low density polyethylene
LLDPE = Linear low density polyethylene
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
PET = Polyethylene terephthalate
PP = Polypropylene
PS = Polystyrene
PVC = Polyvmyl chloride
48
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Table? (continued)
PLASTICS IN PRODUCTS IN MSW, 2001
(In thousands of tons, and percent of generation by resin)
Product Category
Plastic Containers & Packaging, cont.
Other plastic containers
PET
HOPE
PVC
LDPE/LLDPE
PP
PS
Other resins
Subtotal Other Containers
Bags, sacks, & wraps
HOPE
PVC
LDPE/LLDPE
PP
PS
Other resins
Subtotal Bags, Sacks, & Wraps
Other Plastics Packaging**
PET
HOPE
PVC
LDPE/LLDPE
PP
PS
Other resins
Subtotal Other Packaging
Total Plastics in Containers & Packaging
PET
HOPE
PVC
LDPE/LLDPE
PP
PS
Other resins
Total Plastics in Cont. & Packaging
Total Plastics in MSW, by resin
PET
HOPE
PVC
LDPE/LLDPE
PP
PS
Other resins
Total Plastics in MSW
Generation
(Thousand
tons)
910
1,240
80
40
70
0
390
2,730
770
70
2,550
650
0
180
4,220
150
920
190
320
570
210
320
2,680
;, by resin
1,930
3,670
340
2,910
1,290
210
890
11,240
2,580
4,920
1,420
5,880
3,460
2,290
4,830
25,380
Recovery
(Thousand (Percent
tons) of Gen.)
110
170
280 10.3%
30
150
180 4.3%
50
20
10
20
100 3.7%
470
430
150
10
20
1,080 9.6%
470
430
150
10
330
1,390 5.5%
Discards
(Thousand
tons)
800
1,070
80
40
70
0
390
2,450
740
70
2,400
650
0
4,040
100
900
190
320
560
210
300
2,580
1,460
3,240
340
2,760
1,280
210
870
10,160
2,110
4,490
1,420
5,730
3,450
2,290
4,500
23,990
PET = Polyethylene terephthalate
PP = Polypropylene
HDPE = High density polyethylene
LDPE = Low density polyethylene
LLDPE = Linear low density polyethylene
All other nondurables include plastics in disposable diapers, clothing, footwear, etc.
Other plastic packaging includes coatings, closures, caps, trays, shapes, etc.
Some detail of recovery by resin omitted due to lack of data.
This table may understate the recovery of plastics due to the dispersed nature of plastics recycling activities.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
PS = Polystyrene
PVC = Polyvinyl chloride
49
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
In durable goods, plastics are found in appliances, furniture, casings of lead-acid batteries,
and other products. (Note that plastics in transportation products generally are not included in
this report.) As shown in Table 7, a wide range of resin types is found in durable goods. While
some detail is provided in Table 7 for resins in durable goods, there are hundreds of different
resin formulations used in appliances, carpets, and other durable goods; a complete listing is
beyond the scope of this report.
Plastics are found in such nondurable products as disposable diapers, trash bags, cups,
eating utensils, sporting and recreational equipment, medical devices, and household items such
as shower curtains. The plastic food service items are generally made of clear or foamed
polystyrene, while trash bags are made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or low-density
polyethylene (LDPE). A wide variety of other resins are used in other nondurable goods.
Plastic resins are also used in a variety of container and packaging products such as
polyethylene terephthalate (PET) soft drink bottles, high-density polyethylene bottles for milk
and water, and a wide variety of other resin types used in other plastic containers, bags, sacks,
wraps, and lids.
Generation. Production data on plastics resin use in products are taken from the Modern
Plastics annual statistical issue and the American Plastics Council annual plastic recovery
survey. The basic data are adjusted for product service life, fabrication losses, and net imports of
plastic products to derive generation of plastics in the various products in MSW.
Plastics made up an estimated 390,000 tons of MSW generation in 1960. The quantity has
increased relatively steadily to 25.4 million tons in 2001 (Figure 9). As a percentage of MSW
generation, plastics were less than one percent in 1960, increasing to 11.1 percent in 2001.
50
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Figure 9. Plastics generation and recovery, 1960 to 2001
Recovery for Recycling. While overall recovery of plastics for recycling is relatively
small-1.4 million tons, or 5.5 percent of plastics generation in 2001 (Table 7)-recovery of some
plastic containers is more significant. PET soft drink bottles were recovered at a rate of 35.6
percent in 2001. Recovery of high-density polyethylene milk and water bottles was estimated at
about 28.4 percent in 2001. Significant recovery of plastics from lead-acid battery casings and
from some other containers was also reported. The primary source of data on plastics recovery is
an annual survey conducted for the American Plastics Council (APC).
Discards After Recovery. Discards of plastics in MSW after recovery were 24.0 million
tons, or 14.9 percent of total MSW discards.
Other Materials
Rubber and Leather. The predominant source of rubber in MSW is rubber tires from
automobiles and trucks (Table 8). Other sources of rubber and leather include clothing and
footwear and other miscellaneous durable and nondurable products. These other sources are
quite diverse, including such items as gaskets on appliances, furniture, and hot water bottles, for
example.
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Generation. Generation of rubber and leather in MSW has shown slow growth over the
years, increasing from 1.8 million tons in 1960 to 6.5 million tons in 2001. Once reason for the
relatively slow rate of growth is that tires have been made smaller and longer-wearing than in
earlier years.
As a percentage of total MSW generation, rubber and leather has been about 3 percent for
many years.
Recovery for Recycling. The only recovery for recycling identified in this category is
rubber from tires, and that was estimated to be 1,130,000 tons, up from 780,000 tons in 2000.
This is 38.4 percent of rubber in tires in 2001, compared to 26.1 percent of rubber in tires in
2000. (Table 8). (This recovery estimate does not include tires retreaded or energy recovery from
tires.) Overall, 17.4 percent of rubber and leather in MSW was recovered in 2001, up from 12.2
percent in 2000
52
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Table 8
RUBBER AND LEATHER PRODUCTS IN MSW, 2001
(In thousands of tons and percent of generation)
Product Category
Durable Goods
Rubber in Tires*
Other Durables**
Total Rubber & Leather
Durable Goods
Nondurable Goods
Clothing and Footwear
Other Nondurables
Total Rubber & Leather
Nondurable Goods
Containers and Packaging
Total Rubber & Leather
Generation
(Thousand
tons)
2,940
2,670
5,610
580
290
870
20
6,500
Recovery
(Thousand
tons)
1,130
Neg.
1,130
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
1,130
(Percent of
generation)
38.4%
Neg.
20.1%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
17.4%
Discards
(Thousand
tons)
1,810
2,670
4,480
580
290
870
20
5,370
* Automobile and truck tires. Does not include other materials in tires.
** Includes carpets and rugs and other miscellaneous durables.
Neg. = Less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percent.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
Discards After Recovery. Discards of rubber and leather after recovery were 5.4 million
tons in 2001 (3.3 percent of total discards).
Textiles. Textiles in MSW are found mainly in discarded clothing, although other
sources were identified to be furniture, carpets, tires, footwear, and other nondurable goods such
as sheets and towels.
Generation. An estimated 9.8 million tons of textiles were generated in 2001 (4 percent
of total MSW generation).
Recovery for Recycling and Discards. Significant amounts of textiles are recovered for
reuse. However, the reused garments and wiper rags re-enter the waste stream eventually, so this
is considered a diversion rather than recovery for recycling and, therefore, not included in the
recovery for recycling estimates. Since data on elapsed time from recovery of textiles for reuse to
final discard is limited, it was assumed that reused textiles re-enter the waste stream the same
53
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
year that they are first discarded. It was estimated that 14.6 percent of textiles in clothing and
items such as sheets and pillowcases was recovered for export or reprocessing in 2001 (1.4
million tons) leaving discards of 8.3 million tons of textiles in 2001.
Wood
The sources of wood in MSW include furniture, other durable goods (e.g., cabinets for
electronic equipment), wood packaging (crates, pallets), and some other miscellaneous products.
Generation. Generation of wood in MSW was 13.2 million tons in 2001 (5.7 percent of
total MSW generation).
Recovery for Recycling and Discards. Wood pallet recovery for recycling (usually by
chipping for uses such as mulch or bedding material, but excluding wood combusted as fuel) was
estimated at 1.3 million tons in 2001, up from 1.2 million tons in 2000.
Accounting for pallet reuse and recovery for recycling, wood discards were 11.9 million
tons in 2001, or 7.4 percent of total MSW discards; this is up from 11.7 million tons in 2000 (7.1
percent of total MSW discards). These numbers are considerably different from last year's
figures largely because of updated information on pallets from the Center for Forest Products
Marketing and Management (Virginia Tech.).
Other products. Generation of "other products" waste is mainly associated with
disposable diapers, which are discussed under Products in Municipal Solid Waste. The only
other significant sources of materials in this category are the electrolytes and other materials
associated with lead-acid batteries that are not classified as plastics or nonferrous metal.
Food Wastes
Food scraps included here consist of uneaten food and food preparation wastes from
residences, commercial establishments such as grocery stores and sit-down and fast food
54
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
restaurants, institutional sources such as school cafeterias, and industrial sources such as factory
lunchrooms. Food waste generated during the preparation and packaging of food products is
considered industrial waste and therefore not included in MSW food scrap estimates.
Generation. No production data are available for food wastes. Food wastes from
residential and commercial sources were estimated using data from sampling studies in various
parts of the country in combination with demographic data on population, grocery store sales,
restaurant sales, numbers of employees, and numbers of prisoners and students in institutions.
Generation of food wastes was estimated to be nearly 26.2 million tons in 2001 (11.4 percent of
total generation).
Recovery for Composting and Discards. Beginning in 1994 for this series of reports, a
significant amount of food waste composting from commercial sources was identified. As the
data source (a survey published by BioCyde magazine) has improved, it has become apparent
that some other composted materials (e.g., paper and industrial food processing wastes) have
been included with food wastes classified as MSW in the past. For the 2001 estimate, a more
careful separation of MSW food composted resulted in an estimate of approximately 370,000
tons.
Another Bio Cycle survey yielded an estimate of approximately 359,000 tons of MSW
composted. The total-729,000 tons of food wastes and other organic materials composted-is
shown in the recovery tables on the line where only food waste recovery was shown in previous
reports.
Yard Trimmings
Yard trimmings4 include grass, leaves, and tree and brush trimmings from residential,
institutional, and commercial sources.
4 Although limited data are available on the composition of yard trimmings, it is estimated that the average
composition by weight is about 50 percent grass, 25 percent brush, and 25 percent leaves. These are "ballpark"
numbers that will vary widely according to climate and region of the country.
55
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Generation. In earlier versions of this report, generation of yard trimmings was
estimated using sampling studies and population data. While in past years, generation of yard
trimmings had been increasing steadily as population and residential housing grew (i.e., constant
generation on a per capita basis), in recent years there has been a new trend-local and state
legislation discouraging yard trimmings disposal in landfills.
Legislation affecting yard trimmings disposal in landfills was tabulated, using published
sources. In 1992, 11 states and the District of Columbia-accounting for more than 28 percent of
the nation's population-had legislation in effect that bans or discourages yard trimmings disposal
in landfills. The tabulation of existing legislation also shows that by 1999, 23 states and the
District of Columbia, representing more than 50 percent of the nation's population, had
legislation affecting disposal of yard trimmings. This has led to an increase in backyard
composting and the use of mulching mowers to allow grass trimmings to remain in place.
Using these facts, it was estimated that the effect of this legislation was no increase in
yard trimmings generation (i.e., entering the waste management system) between 1990 and 1992
(i.e., the increase in yard trimmings due to natural population increases was offset by source
reduction efforts). Furthermore, with 50 percent of the population having yard trimmings
legislation in 1997, it was also estimated that yard trimmings generation declined approximately
6 percent annually between 1992 and 1997. In the absence of significant new legislation, yard
trimmings generation has been kept constant for 1997 through 2001. An estimated 28.0 million
tons of yard trimmings were generated in MSW in 2001. (This compares to an estimated 35
million tons of yard trimmings generated in 1992.)
Recovery for Composting and Discards. Recovery for composting of yard trimmings
was estimated using a previous survey which estimated tonnages composted by facilities along
with updated information on numbers of yard waste composting facilities. Data compiled by
BioCycle magazine indicate that there were about 3,000 composting facilities for yard trimmings
in 1992, increasing to 3,800 facilities in 2000. The survey resulted in an estimate of 15.8 million
tons of yard trimmings removed for composting in 2001-a significant increase over 1995
estimates.
56
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
It should be noted that the estimated 15.8 million tons recovered for composting in 2001
does not include yard trimmings recovered for landspreading disposal. It also should be noted
that these recovery estimates do not account for backyard composting by individuals and
practices such as less bagging of grass clippings. These are source reduction activities taking
place onsite, while the yard trimmings recovery estimates are based on material sent off-site. The
information source is sampling studies, which estimate the quantities received at landfills and
transfer stations. Source reduction activities are described further in Chapter 3.
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
This relatively small category of MSW is also derived from sampling studies. It is not
well defined and often shows up in sampling reports as "fines" or "other." It includes soil, bits of
concrete, stones, and the like.
Generation, Recovery, and Discards. This category contributed an estimated 3.4
million tons of MSW in 2001. No recovery of these products was identified; discards are the
same as generation.
Summary of Materials in Municipal Solid Waste
Generation. Changing quantities and composition of municipal solid waste generation
are illustrated in Figure 10. Generation of MSW has grown relatively steadily, from 88.1 million
tons in 1960 to 232 million tons in 2000. It decreased slightly to 229.2 million tons in 2001.
Over the years paper and paperboard has been the dominant material category generated
in MSW, accounting for 35.7 percent of generation in 2001. Yard trimmings, the second largest
material component of MSW (12 percent of MSW generation) have been declining as a
percentage of MSW in recent years due to state and local legislated landfill bans and increased
emphasis on backyard composting and other source reduction measures such as the use of
mulching mowers.
57
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Figure 10. Generation of materials in MSW, 1960 to 2001
250
All other includes primarily wood, rubber and leather, and textiles.
BAN Other*
Yard
DFood
0 Plastics
D Metals
• Glass
DPaper
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
Metals account for 7.9 percent of MSW generation and have remained fairly constant as a
source of MSW. Glass increased until the 1980s, but decreased somewhat in the 1990s. Glass
generation was 12.6 million tons in 2001, 5.5 percent of generation. Food wastes have remained
fairly constant in terms of MSW tonnage (11.4 percent of generation in 2001). Plastics have
increasingly been used in a variety of products and thus have been a rapidly growing component
of MSW. In terms of tonnage contributed they ranked fourth in 2001 (behind paper, yard
trimmings, and food scraps), and account for 11.1 percent of MSW generation.
Recovery and Discards. The effect of recovery on MSW discards is illustrated in Figure
11. Recovery of materials for recycling and composting grew at a rather slow pace from 1960 to
the 1980s, increasing only from 6.4 percent of generation in 1960 to 10.9 percent in 1985.
Renewed interest in recycling (including composting) as waste management alternatives came
about in the late 1980s, and the recovery rate in 1990 was estimated to be 16.2 percent of
generation, increasing to 30.1 percent in 2001.
58
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Figure 11. Recovery and discards of MSW,* 1960 to 2001
100
50 -
Estimated recovery of materials (including composting) is shown in Figure 12. In 2001,
recovery of paper and paperboard dominated materials recovery at 54 percent of total tonnage
recovered, while yard trimmings contributed 23 percent of total recovery. Recovery of other
materials, while generally increasing, contributes much less tonnage, reflecting in part the
relatively smaller amounts of materials generated in those categories.
59
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Figure 12. Materials recovery,* 2001
All other
Plastics 8%
Glass 2
4%
Metals
9%
Paper & paperboard
54%
Yard trimmings
23%
* In percent by weight of total recovery
Figure 13 illustrates the effect of recovery of materials for recycling, including
composting, on the composition of MSW discards. For example, paper and paperboard were 38
percent of MSW generated in 2001, but after recovery, paper and paperboard were 31 percent of
discards. Materials that have little or no recovery exhibit a larger percentage of MSW discards
compared to generation.
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Figure 13. Materials generated and discarded
in municipal solid waste, 2001
(In percent of total generation and discards)
Other wastes
15%
Yard trimmings
12%
Paper& paperboard
38%
Generation
Other wastes
19%
Yard trimmings
8%
Food wastes
16%
Paper& paperboard
31%
Discards
61
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
The Chapter 2 section above gave a breakdown of municipal solid waste by material. It
described how the 229.2 million tons of MSW were generated, recycled (including composted)
and disposed of. The following section breaks out the same 229.2 million tons of MSW by
product.
PRODUCTS IN MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
The purpose of this section is to show how the products that make up municipal solid
waste are generated, recycled (including composted) and discarded. For the analysis, products are
divided into three basic categories: durable goods, nondurable goods, and containers and
packaging. These three categories generally follow the definitions of the U.S. Department of
Commerce, one of EPA's data sources. By these definitions, durable goods, (e.g., appliances) are
those that last 3 years or more, while nondurable goods (e.g., newspapers and trash bags) last less
than 3 years. For this report, containers and packaging are assumed to be discarded the same year
the products they contain are purchased.
The following 15 tables (Tables 9 through 23) show generation, recycling (including
composting) and discards of municipal solid waste in the three categories-durable goods,
nondurable goods, and containers and packaging. Within these three categories, products are
listed by type-for instance, carpets and rugs, office paper, or aluminum cans. The material the
product is made of may be stated as well (for instance glass beverage containers or steel cans), or
may be obvious (for instance, magazines are made of paper.) The materials the product is made
of may be stated as well (for instance glass beverage containers or steel cans), or the material
may be obvious (for instance, magazines are made of paper). Some products, such as tires or
appliances, are made of several different material types.
At the bottom of each of these 15 tables (Tables 9 through 23) there is a section titled
"Other Wastes." This contains information on food scraps, yard trimmings, and miscellaneous
inorganic wastes. These wastes are not products that can be estimated through the materials flow
methodology, but they are estimated by other means, as described earlier.
62
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Within Tables 9 through 23, the first three tables-Tables 9 through 11-serve as an index
to the other tables. Table 9 shows what tables to consult for detailed information on generation;
Table 10 shows what tables to consult for detailed information on recovery; and Table 11 does
the same for detailed information on discards. The tables on generation all have the same
"bottom line"-229.2 million tons in 2001-with detail provided in different categories-
durable goods, nondurable goods, or containers and packaging. For Table 10 and related tables,
the "bottom line" is MSW is recovered-68 million tons; and for Table 11 and related tables, the
"bottom line" is MSW discarded-161.2 million tons.
Durable Goods
Durable goods generally are defined as products having a lifetime of three years or more,
although there are some exceptions. In this report, durable goods include large and small
appliances, furniture and furnishings, carpets and rugs, rubber tires, lead-acid automotive
batteries, and miscellaneous durable goods (e.g., luggage, consumer electronics) (see Tables 12
through 14). These products are often called "oversize and bulky" in municipal solid waste
management practice, and they are generally handled in a somewhat different manner than other
components of MSW. That is, they are often picked up separately, and may not be mixed with
other MSW at the landfill, combustor, or other waste management facility. Durable goods are
made up of a wide variety of materials. In order of tonnage in MSW in 2001, these include:
ferrous metals, plastics, rubber and leather, wood, textiles, glass, other nonferrous metals (e.g.,
lead, copper), and aluminum.
Generation of durable goods in MSW totaled 37.6 million tons in 2001 (16.4 percent of
total MSW generation). After recovery for recycling, 31.0 million tons of durable goods
remained as discards in 2001.
63
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Table 9
CATEGORIES OF PRODUCTS GENERATED* IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 2001
(In thousands of tons and percent of total generation)
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 12)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 15)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 18)
Total Product" Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Scraps
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Generated - Weight
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 12)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 15)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 19)
Total Product" Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Scraps
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Generated - %
Thousands of Tons
1960
9,920
17,330
27,370
54,620
12,200
20,000
1,300
33,500
88,120
1970
14,660
25,060
43,560
83,280
12,800
23,200
1,780
37,780
121,060
1980
21,800
34,420
52,670
108,890
13,000
27,500
2,250
42,750
151,640
1990
29,810
52,170
64,530
146,510
20,800
35,000
2,900
58,700
205,210
1995
31,140
57,250
70,730
159,120
21 ,740
29,690
3,150
54,580
213,700
1999
35,350
62,990
76,790
175,130
25,160
27,730
3,380
56,270
231 ,400
2000
36,330
63,210
75,290
174,830
25,900
27,730
3,500
57,130
231 ,960
2001
37,630
60,420
73,460
171,510
26,200
27,980
3,540
57,720
229,230
Percent of Total Generation
1960
1 1 .3%
19.7%
31.1%
62.0%
13.8%
22.7%
1 .5%
38.0%
100.0%
1970
12.1%
20.7%
36.0%
68.8%
10.6%
19.2%
1 .5%
31 .2%
100.0%
1980
14.4%
22.7%
34.7%
71 .8%
8.6%
18.1%
1 .5%
28.2%
100.0%
1990
14.5%
25.4%
31 .4%
71 .4%
10.1%
17.1%
1 .4%
28.6%
100.0%
1995
14.6%
26.8%
33.1%
74.5%
10.2%
13.9%
1 .5%
25.5%
100.0%
1999
15.3%
27.2%
33.2%
75.7%
10.9%
12.0%
1 .5%
24.3%
100.0%
2000
15.7%
27.3%
32.5%
75.4%
1 1 .2%
12.0%
1 .5%
24.6%
100.0%
2001
16.4%
26.4%
32.0%
74.8%
1 1 .4%
12.2%
1 .5%
25.2%
100.0%
' Generation before materials recovery or combustion. Does not include construction & demolition debris, industrial
process wastes, or certain other wastes.
' Other than food products.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
64
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Table 10
RECOVERY* OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE, 1960 TO 2001
(In thousands of tons and percent of generation of each category)
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 13)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 16)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 20)
Total Product" Wastes
Other Wastes
Food, OtherA
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Recovered - Weight
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 13)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 16)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 21)
Total Product" Wastes
Other Wastes
Food, OtherA
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Recovered - %
Thousands of Tons
1960
350
2,390
2,870
5,610
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
5,610
1970
940
3,730
3,350
8,020
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
8,020
1980
1,360
4,670
8,490
14,520
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
14,520
1990
3,460
8,800
16,780
29,040
Neg.
4,200
Neg.
4,200
33,240
1995
5,010
13,610
27,530
46,150
570
9,030
Neg.
9,600
55,750
1999
5,920
16,130
28,750
50,800
550
14,170
Neg.
14,720
65,520
2000
6,010
16,690
28,530
51 ,230
680
15,770
Neg.
1 6,450
67,680
2001
6,590
16,710
28,140
51,440
730
15,820
Neg.
16,550
67,990
Percent of Generation of Each Category
1960
3.5%
13.8%
10.5%
10.3%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
6.4%
1970
6.4%
14.9%
7.7%
9.6%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
6.6%
1980
6.2%
13.6%
16.1%
13.3%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
9.6%
1990
1 1 .6%
16.9%
26.0%
19.8%
Neg.
12.0%
Neg.
7.2%
16.2%
1995
16.1%
23.8%
38.9%
29.0%
2.6%
30.4%
Neg.
17.6%
26.1%
1999
16.7%
25.6%
37.4%
29.0%
2.2%
51.1%
Neg.
26.2%
28.3%
2000
16.5%
26.4%
37.9%
29.3%
2.6%
56.9%
Neg.
28.8%
29.2%
2001
17.5%
27.7%
38.3%
30.0%
2.8%
56.5%
Neg.
28.7%
29.7%
* Recovery of postconsumer wastes; does not include converting/fabrication scrap.
** Other than food products.
A Includes recovery of paper for composting.
Neg. = Less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percent.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
65
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Table 11
CATEGORIES OF PRODUCTS DISCARDED* IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 2001
(In thousands of tons and percent of total discards)
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 14)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 17)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 22)
Total Product" Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Wastes
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Discarded - Weight
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 14)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 17)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 23)
Total Product" Wastes
Other Wastes
Food Scraps
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Discarded - %
Thousands of Tons
1960
9,570
14,940
24,500
49,010
12,200
20,000
1,300
33,500
82,510
1970
13,720
21,330
40,210
75,260
12,800
23,200
1,780
37,780
113,040
1980
20,440
29,750
44,180
94,370
13,000
27,500
2,250
42,750
137,120
1990
26,350
43,370
47,750
117,470
20,800
30,800
2,900
54,500
171,970
1995
26,130
43,640
43,200
112,970
21,170
20,660
3,150
44,980
157,950
1999
29,430
46,860
48,040
124,330
24,610
13,560
3,380
41 ,550
165,880
2000
30,320
46,520
46,760
123,600
25,220
1 1 ,960
3,500
40,680
164,280
2001
31,040
43,710
45,320
120,070
25,470
12,160
3,540
41,170
161,240
Percent of Total Discards
1960
1 1 .6%
18.1%
29.7%
59.4%
14.8%
24.2%
1 .6%
40.6%
100.0%
1970
12.1%
18.9%
35.6%
66.6%
1 1 .3%
20.5%
1 .6%
33.4%
100.0%
1980
14.9%
21 .7%
32.2%
68.8%
9.5%
20.1%
1 .6%
31 .2%
100.0%
1990
15.3%
25.2%
27.8%
68.3%
12.1%
17.9%
1 .7%
31 .7%
100.0%
1995
16.5%
27.6%
27.4%
71 .5%
1 3.4%
13.1%
2.0%
28.5%
100.0%
1999
17.7%
28.2%
29.0%
75.0%
14.8%
8.2%
2.0%
25.0%
100.0%
2000
18.5%
28.3%
28.5%
75.2%
1 5.4%
7.3%
2.1%
24.8%
100.0%
2001
19.3%
27.1%
28.1%
74.5%
15.8%
7.5%
2.2%
25.5%
100.0%
' Discards after materials and compost recovery. Does not include construction & demolition debris,
industrial process wastes, or certain other wastes.
' Other than food products.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
Major Appliances. Major appliances in MSW include refrigerators, washing machines,
water heaters, etc. They are often called "white goods" in the trade. Data on unit production of
appliances are taken from Appliance Manufacturer Market Profile. The unit data are converted to
weight using various conversion factors developed over the years, plus data on the materials
composition of the appliances. Adjustments are also made for the estimated lifetimes of the
appliances, which range up to 20 years.
66
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Generation of major appliances has increased very slowly over the years, and in fact was
about constant for the past 4 years. In 2001, generation was 3.6 million tons, or 1.6 percent of
total MSW generation. In general, appliances have increased in quantity but not in average
weight over the years. Ferrous metals (steel and iron) are the predominant materials in major
appliances, but other metals, plastics, glass, and other materials are also present.
Data on recovery of ferrous metals from major appliances are taken from a survey
conducted by the Steel Recycling Institute. Recovery of ferrous metals from shredded appliances
was estimated to be 2.0 million tons in 2000, leaving 1.6 million tons of appliances to be
discarded. We estimated that this number remained steady in 2001.
Small Appliances. This category includes items such as toasters, hair dryers, electric
coffeepots, and the like. Information on shipments of small appliances was obtained from
Department of Commerce data. Information on weights and materials composition of discarded
small appliances was obtained through interviews. It was estimated that 1.1 million tons of small
appliances were generated in 2001. A small amount of ferrous metals in small appliances is
recovered through magnetic separation.
Furniture and Furnishings. Data on sales of furniture and furnishings are provided by
the Department of Commerce in dollars. These data are converted to tons using factors developed
for this study over the years. Adjustments are made for imports and exports, and adjustments are
made for the lifetimes of the furniture.
67
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Table 12
PRODUCTS GENERATED* IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 2001
(WITH DETAIL ON DURABLE GOODS)
(In thousands of tons and percent of total generation)
Products
Thousands of Tons
1960
1970
1980
1990
1995
1999
2000
2001
Durable Goods
Major Appliances
Small Appliances**
Furniture and Furnishings
Carpets and Rugs**
Rubber Tires
Batteries, lead acid
Miscellaneous Durables
Selected Consumer Electronics***
Other Miscellaneous Durables
Total Miscellaneous Durables
Total Durable Goods
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 15)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 18)
Total Product Wastes}
Other Wastes
Food Scraps
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Generated - Weight
Products
1,630
2,150
1,120
Neg.
5,020
9,920
17,330
27,370
54,620
12,200
20,000
1,300
33,500
88,120
2,170
2,830
1,890
820
6,950
14,660
25,060
43,560
83,280
12,800
23,200
1,780
37,780
121,060
2,950
4,760
2,720
1,490
9,880
21 ,800
34,420
52,670
108,890
13,000
27,500
2,250
42,750
151,640
3,310
460
6,790
1,660
3,610
1,510
12,470
29,810
52,170
64,530
146,510
20,800
35,000
2,900
58,700
205,210
3,420
710
7,170
2,230
3,770
1,810
12,030
31,140
57,250
70,730
159,120
21,740
29,690
3,150
54,580
213,700
3,680
940
7,710
2,470
4,630
1,940
1,760
12,220
13,980
35,350
62,990
76,790
175,130
25,160
27,730
3,380
56,270
231 ,400
3,640
1,000
7,840
2,570
4,670
1,940
2,120
12,550
14,670
36,330
63,210
75,290
1 74,830
25,900
27,730
3,500
57,130
231 ,960
3,600
1,090
8,100
2,670
4,590
1,990
2,260
13,330
15,590
37,630
60,420
73,460
171,510
26,200
27,980
3,540
57,720
229,230
Percent of Total Generation
1960
1970
1980
1990
Durable Goods
Major Appliances
Small Appliances**
Furniture and Furnishings
Carpets and Rugs**
Rubber Tires
Batteries, Lead-Acid
Miscellaneous Durables
Selected Consumer Electronics***
Other Miscellaneous Durables
Total Miscellaneous Durables
Total Durable Goods
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 15)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 19)
Total Product Wastes}
Other Wastes
Food Scraps
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Generated - %
1 .8%
2.4%
1 .3%
Neg.
5.7%
1 1 .3%
19.7%
31.1%
62.0%
13.8%
22.7%
1 .5%
38.0%
100.0%
1 .8%
2.3%
1 .6%
0.7%
5.7%
12.1%
20.7%
36.0%
68.8%
10.6%
19.2%
1 .5%
31 .2%
100.0%
1.9%
3.1%
1.8%
1 .0%
6.5%
14.4%
22.7%
34.7%
71.8%
8.6%
18.1%
1.5%
28.2%
100.0%
1 .6%
0.2%
3.3%
0.8%
1 .8%
0.7%
6.1%
14.5%
25.4%
31 .4%
71 .4%
10.1%
17.1%
1 .4%
28.6%
100.0%
1995
1999
2000
2001
1 .6%
0.3%
3.4%
1 .0%
1 .8%
0.8%
5.6%
14.6%
26.8%
33.1%
74.5%
10.2%
1 3.9%
1 .5%
25.5%
100.0%
1.6%
0.4%
3.3%
1.1%
2.0%
0.8%
0.8%
5.3%
6.0%
15.3%
27.2%
33.2%
75.7%
10.9%
12.0%
1.5%
24.3%
100.0%
1 .6%
0.4%
3.4%
1.1%
2.0%
0.8%
0.9%
5.4%
6.3%
15.7%
27.3%
32.5%
75.4%
11.2%
12.0%
1 .5%
24.6%
100.0%
1 .6%
0.5%
3.5%
1 .2%
2.0%
0.9%
1 .0%
5.8%
6.8%
16.4%
26.4%
32.0%
74.8%
11.4%
12.2%
1.5%
25.2%
100.0%
* Generation before materials recovery or combustion. Does not include construction & demolition debris, industrial process
wastes, or certain other wastes. Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
'* Not estimated separately prior to 1990. *** Not estimated separately prior to 1999.
t Other than food products.
Neg. = Less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percent.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd..
68
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Table 13
RECOVERY* OF PRODUCTS IN MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE, 1960 TO 2001
(WITH DETAIL ON DURABLE GOODS)
(In thousands of tons and percent of generation of each product)
Products
Thousands of Tons
1960
1970
1980
1990
1995
1999
2000
2001
Durable Goods
Major Appliances
Small Appliances**
Furniture and Furnishings
Carpets and Rugs**
Rubber Tires
Batteries, lead acid
Miscellaneous Durables
Selected Consumer Electronics***
Other Miscellaneous Durables
Total Miscellaneous Durables
Total Durable Goods
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 16)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 20)
Total Product Wastes}
Other Wastes
Food Scraps
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Recovered - Weight
Products
10
Neg.
330
Neg.
10
350
2,390
2,870
5,610
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
5,610
50
Neg.
250
620
20
940
3,730
3,350
8,020
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
8,020
130
Neg.
150
1,040
40
1,360
4,670
8,490
14,520
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
14,520
1,070
10
Neg.
Neg.
440
1,470
470
3,460
8,800
16,780
29,040
Neg.
4,200
Neg.
4,200
33,240
2,070
10
Neg.
20
670
1,620
620
5,010
13,610
27,530
46,150
570
9,030
Neg.
9,600
55,750
1,920
20
Neg.
20
1,280
1,870
160
650
810
5,920
16,130
28,750
50,800
550
14,170
Neg.
14,720
65,520
2,000
20
Neg.
30
1,210
1,870
190
690
880
6,010
16,690
28,530
51 ,230
680
15,770
Neg.
16,450
67,680
1,990
20
Neg.
30
1,770
1,860
210
710
920
6,590
16,710
28,140
51 ,440
730
15,820
Neg.
16,550
67,990
Percent of Generation of Each Product
1960
1970
1980
1990
1995
1999
2000
2001
Durable Goods
Major Appliances
Small Appliances**
Furniture and Furnishings
Carpets and Rugs**
Rubber Tires
Batteries, Lead-Acid
Miscellaneous Durables
Selected Consumer Electronics***
Other Miscellaneous Durables
Total Miscellaneous Durables
Total Durable Goods
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 16)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 21)
Total Product Wastes}
Other Wastes
Food Scraps
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Recovered - %
0.6%
Neg.
29.5%
Neg.
0.2%
3.5%
13.8%
10.5%
10.3%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
6.4%
2.3%
Neg.
13.2%
75.6%
0.3%
6.4%
14.9%
7.7%
9.6%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
6.6%
4.4%
Neg.
5.5%
69.8%
0.4%
6.2%
13.6%
16.1%
13.3%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
9.6%
32.3%
2.2%
Neg.
Neg.
12.2%
97.4%
3.8%
1 1 .6%
16.9%
26.0%
19.8%
Neg.
12.0%
Neg.
7.2%
16.2%
60.5%
1 .4%
Neg.
0.9%
17.8%
89.5%
5.2%
16.1%
23.8%
38.9%
29.0%
2.6%
30.4%
Neg.
17.6%
26.1%
52.2%
2.1%
Neg.
0.8%
27.6%
96.4%
9.1%
5.3%
5.8%
16.7%
25.6%
37.4%
29.0%
2.2%
51.1%
Neg.
26.2%
28.3%
54.9%
2.0%
Neg.
1 .2%
25.9%
96.4%
9.0%
5.5%
6.0%
16.5%
26.4%
37.9%
29.3%
2.6%
56.9%
Neg.
28.8%
29.2%
55.3%
1 .8%
Neg.
1.1%
38.6%
93.5%
9.3%
5.3%
5.9%
17.5%
27.7%
38.3%
30.0%
2.8%
56.5%
Neg.
28.7%
29.7%
* Recovery of postconsumer wastes; does not include converting/fabrication scrap.
* Not estimated separately prior to 1990. *** Not estimated separately prior to 1999.
t Other than food products.
Neg. = Less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percent.
Source: Franklin Associates. Ltd.
69
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Table 14
PRODUCTS DISCARDED* IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 2001
(WITH DETAIL ON DURABLE GOODS)
(In thousands of tons and percent of total discards)
Products
Thousands of Tons
1960
1970
1980
1990
1995
1999
2000
2001
Durable Goods
Major Appliances
Small Appliances**
Furniture and Furnishings
Carpets and Rugs**
Rubber Tires
Batteries, lead acid
Miscellaneous Durables
Selected Consumer Electronics***
Other Miscellaneous Durables
Total Miscellaneous Durables
Total Durable Goods
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 17)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 22)
Total Product Wastesf
Other Wastes
Food Scraps
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Discarded - Weight
Products
1,620
2,150
790
Neg.
5,010
9,570
14,940
24,500
49,010
12,200
20,000
1,300
33,500
82,510
2,120
2,830
1,640
200
6,930
13,720
21,330
40,210
75,260
12,800
23,200
1,780
37,780
113,040
2,820
4,760
2,570
450
9,840
20,440
29,750
44,180
94,370
13,000
27,500
2,250
42,750
137,120
2,240
450
6,790
1,660
3,170
40
12,000
26,350
43,370
47,750
117,470
20,800
30,800
2,900
54,500
171,970
1,350
700
7,170
2,210
3,100
190
11,410
26,130
43,640
43,200
112,970
21,170
20,660
3,150
44,980
157,950
1,760
920
7,710
2,450
3,350
70
1,600
1 1 ,570
13,170
29,430
46,860
48,040
124,330
24,610
13,560
3,380
41 ,550
165,880
1,640
980
7,840
2,540
3,460
70
1,930
11,860
13,790
30,320
46,520
46,760
123,600
25,220
11,960
3,500
40,680
164,280
1,610
1,070
8,100
2,640
2,820
130
2,050
12,620
14,670
31 ,040
43,710
45,320
120,070
25,470
12,160
3,540
41,170
161,240
Percent of Total Discards
1960
1970
1980
1990
1995
1999
2000
2001
Durable Goods
Major Appliances
Small Appliances**
Furniture and Furnishings
Carpets and Rugs**
Rubber Tires
Batteries, Lead-Acid
Miscellaneous Durables
Selected Consumer Electronics***
Other Miscellaneous Durables
Total Miscellaneous Durables
Total Durable Goods
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 17)
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 23)
Total Product Wastesf
Other Wastes
Food Scraps
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Discarded - %
2.0%
2.6%
1 .0%
Neg.
6.1%
1 1 .6%
18.1%
29.7%
59.4%
14.8%
24.2%
1 .6%
40.6%
100.0%
1 .9%
2.5%
1 .5%
0.2%
6.1%
12.1%
18.9%
35.6%
66.6%
1 1 .3%
20.5%
1 .6%
33.4%
100.0%
2.1%
3.5%
1 .9%
0.3%
7.2%
14.9%
21.7%
32.2%
68.8%
9.5%
20.1%
1 .6%
31.2%
100.0%
1 .3%
0.3%
3.9%
1 .0%
1 .8%
0.0%
7.0%
15.3%
25.2%
27.8%
68.3%
12.1%
17.9%
1 .7%
31.7%
100.0%
0.9%
0.4%
4.5%
1 .4%
2.0%
0.1%
7.2%
16.5%
27.6%
27.4%
71 .5%
13.4%
13.1%
2.0%
28.5%
100.0%
1.1%
0.6%
4.6%
1 .5%
2.0%
0.0%
1 .0%
6.9%
7.9%
17.7%
28.2%
29.0%
75.0%
14.8%
8.2%
2.0%
25.0%
100.0%
1 .0%
0.6%
4.8%
1 .5%
2.1%
0.0%
1 .2%
7.1%
8.4%
18.5%
28.3%
28.5%
75.2%
15.4%
7.3%
2.1%
24.8%
100.0%
1 .0%
0.7%
5.0%
1 .6%
1 .7%
0.1%
1 .3%
7.7%
9.1%
19.3%
27.1%
28.1%
74.5%
15.8%
7.5%
2.2%
25.5%
100.0%
* Discards after materials and compost recovery. Does not include construction & demolition debris, industrial process wastes,
or certain other wastes. Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
** Not estimated separately priorto 1990. *** Not estimated separately priorto 1999.
t Other than food products.
Neg. = Less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percent.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
70
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Generation of waste furniture and furnishings in MSW has increased from 2.2 million
tons in 1960 to 8.1 million tons in 2001 (3.5 percent of total MSW). No significant recovery of
materials from furniture was identified. Wood is the largest material category in furniture, with
ferrous metals second. Plastics, glass, and other materials are also found in furniture.
Carpets and Rugs. An industry publication, Carpet and Rug Industrial Review,
publishes data on carpet sales in square yards. These data are converted to tons using various
factors developed for this report. An estimated 2.7 million tons of carpets and rugs were
generated in MSW in 2001, which was 1.2 percent of total generation.
A small amount of recycling of carpet fiber was identified-estimated to be about 1.1
percent of generation in 2001.
Vehicle Tires. The methodology for estimating generation of rubber tires for
automobiles and trucks is based on data on replacement tires purchased and vehicles deregistered
as reported by the U. S. Department of Commerce. It is assumed that for each replacement tire
purchased, a used tire enters the waste management system, and that tires on deregistered
vehicles also enter the waste management system. Retreaded tires are treated as a diversion out of
the waste stream; they are assumed to re-enter the waste stream after two years of use.
The quantities of tires in units are converted to weight and materials composition using
factors developed for this series of reports. In addition to rubber, tires include relatively small
amounts of textiles and ferrous metals. Generation of rubber tires increased from 1.1 million tons
in 1960 to 4.6 million tons in 2001 (2.0 percent of total MSW).
Data on recovery of tires in recent years are based on data from the Scrap Tire
Management Council. Rubber recovery from tires has been increasing in recent years. In 2001,
an estimated 38.6 percent of the weight of tires generated was recovered for recycling, up from
25.9 percent in the year 2000, leaving 2.8 million tons to be discarded. (Tires going to
combustion facilities as fuel are included in the combustion estimates in Chapter 3.)
71
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Lead-Acid Batteries. The methodology for estimating generation of lead-acid batteries
is similar to the methodology for rubber tires as described above. An estimated 2.0 million tons
of lead-acid batteries from automobiles, trucks, and motorcycles were generated in MSW in 2001
(less than one percent of total generation).
The Battery Council International provided data on recovery of batteries. Recovery of
batteries for recycling has fluctuated between 60 percent and 98 percent or higher; recovery has
increased since 1980 as a growing number of communities have restricted batteries from disposal
at landfills or combustion facilities. In 2001, 93.9 percent of the lead in these batteries was
estimated to be recovered for recycling as well as substantial quantities of the polypropylene
battery casings. Discards after recycling of these batteries were 130,000 tons in 2001. (Some
electrolytes and other materials in batteries are removed from the municipal solid waste stream
along with recovered lead and polypropylene; these materials are counted as "recovered" along
with the recyclable materials.)
Miscellaneous Durable Goods. Miscellaneous durable goods include consumer
electronics such as television sets, video cassette recorders, and personal computers; luggage;
sporting equipment; and the like. An estimated 15.6 million tons of these goods were generated
in 2001, amounting to 6.8 percent of MSW generated. Additional information on consumer
electronics, a subset of miscellaneous durable goods, can be found in Appendix C.
As in recent previous updates of this report, generation of selected consumer electronic
products were estimated as a subset of miscellaneous durable goods. In 2001, an estimated 2.3
million tons of these goods were generated. Of this, approximately 210,000 tons of selected
consumer electronics were recovered for recycling. Additional information on consumer
electronics can be found in Appendix C.
The miscellaneous durable goods category, as a whole, includes ferrous metals as well as
plastics, glass, rubber, wood, and other metals. An estimated 720,000 tons in 2001 of ferrous
metals were estimated to have been recovered from this category through pre-combustion and
post-combustion magnetic separation at MSW combustion facilities in 2001, bringing total
72
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
recovery from this category to 920,000 tons. Discards of miscellaneous durable goods were 14.7
million tons in 2000.
Nondurable Goods
The Department of Commerce defines nondurable goods as those having a lifetime of less
than three years, and this definition was followed for this report to the extent possible.
Products made of paper and paperboard comprise the largest portion of nondurable goods.
Other nondurable products include paper and plastic plates, cups, and other disposable food
service products; disposable diapers; clothing and footwear; linens; and other miscellaneous
products. (See Tables 15 through 17.)
Generation of nondurable goods in MSW was 60.4 million tons in 2001 (26.4 percent of
total generation). Recovery of paper products in this category is quite significant, resulting in
16.7 million tons of nondurable goods recovered in 2001 (27.7 percent of nondurables
generation). This means that 43.7 million tons of nondurable goods were discarded in 2001 (27.1
percent of total MSW discards).
Paper and Paperboard Products. Generation, recovery, and discards of paper and
paperboard products in nondurable goods are summarized in Tables 15 through 17. A summary
for 2001 was shown earlier in Table 4. Generation of paper and paperboard nondurable products
increased each year from 1997 to 1999, but showed only a slight increase from 1999 to 2001.
Each of the paper and paperboard product categories in nondurable goods is discussed briefly
below.
Newspapers are by far the largest single component of the nondurable goods
category, at 12.2 million tons generated in 2001 (5.3 percent of total MSW). In
2001, an estimated 60.2 percent of newspapers generated were recovered for
recycling, leaving 4.9 million tons discarded (3.0 percent of total MSW
discarded). Estimates of newspaper generation are broken down into newsprint
73
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
(the majority of the weight of the newspapers) and the groundwood5 inserts
(primarily advertising) that are a significant portion of the total weight of
newspapers. This breakdown is shown in Table 4.
• Books amounted to approximately 0.9 million tons, or 0.4 percent of total MSW
generation, in 2001. Recovery of books is not well documented, but it was
estimated that approximately 180,000 tons of books were recovered in 2001.
Books are made of both groundwood and chemical pulp.
• Magazines accounted for an estimated 2.1 million tons, or 0.9 percent of total
MSW generation, in 2001. Like books, recovery of magazines is not well
documented. It was estimated that 660,000 tons of magazines were recovered in
2001. Magazines are predominately made of coated groundwood, but some
uncoated groundwood and chemical pulps are also used.
• Many different kinds of papers are generated in offices. For this report, office-type
paper estimates include the high grade papers such as copier paper, computer
printout, stationery, etc. Generation of these office papers was 7.4 million tons, or
3.2 percent of total MSW generation in 2001. These papers are almost entirely
made of uncoated chemical pulp, although some amounts of groundwood are also
used. It should be noted that some of these office-type papers are generated at
locations other than offices, including homes and institutions such as schools.
Also, other kinds of papers (e.g., newspapers, magazines, and packaging) are
generated in offices, but are accounted for in other categories. An estimated 4.1
million tons of office-type papers were recovered in 2001.
• Directories were estimated to generate 740,000 tons (0.3 percent of total MSW) in
2001. These directories are made of groundwood. It was estimated that 110,000
tons of directories were recovered in 2001. The Yellow Pages Publishers
Association (YPPA) publishes data on paper use in directories.
5 Groundwood papers, like newsprint, are made primarily from pulp prepared by a mechanical process. The
nature of the pulp (groundwood vs. chemical) affects the potential uses for the recovered paper.
74
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Table 15
PRODUCTS GENERATED* IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 2001
(WITH DETAIL ON NONDURABLE GOODS)
(In thousands of tons and percent of total generation)
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 12)
Thousands of Tons
1960
9,920
1970
14,660
1980
21,800
1990
29,810
1995
31,140
1999
35,350
2000
36,330
2001
37,630
Nondurable Goods
Newspapers
Books and Magazines
Books"
Magazines**
Office Papers
Directories**
Standard (A) Mail***
Other Commercial Printing
Tissue Paper and Towels
Paper Plates and Cups
Plastic Plates and Cupst
Trash Bags**
Disposable Diapers
Other Nonpackaging Paper
Clothing and Footwear
Towels, Sheets and Pillowcases**
Other Miscellaneous Nondurables
Total Nondurable Goods
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 18)
Total Product Wastes]:
Other Wastes
Total MSW Generated - Weight
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 12)
7,110
1,920
1,520
1,260
1,090
270
Neg.
2,700
1,360
100
17,330
27,370
54,620
33,500
88,120
9,510
2,470
2,650
2,130
2,080
420
350
3,630
1,620
200
25,060
43,560
83,280
37,780
121,060
1 1 ,050
3,390
4,000
3,120
2,300
630
190
1,930
4,230
2,170
1,410
34,420
52,670
108,890
42,750
151,640
13,430
970
2,830
6,410
610
3,820
4,460
2,960
650
650
780
2,700
3,840
4,010
710
3,340
52,170
64,530
146,510
58,700
205,210
13,140
1,150
2,530
6,640
490
4,620
6,770
2,970
970
780
780
3,010
4,270
5,070
740
3,320
57,250
70,730
159,120
54,580
213,700
14,870
1,130
2,210
7,710
740
5,320
6,270
3,240
950
910
950
3,310
4,620
6,250
780
3,730
62,990
76,790
175,130
56,270
231 ,400
13,800
1,240
2,220
7,420
680
5,570
7,550
3,220
1,000
870
850
3,340
4,140
6,460
820
4,030
63,210
75,290
174,830
57,130
231 ,960
12,200
850
2,060
7,420
740
5,410
6,610
3,260
1,050
800
830
3,430
3,830
6,740
870
4,320
60,420
73,460
171,510
57,720
229,230
Percent of Total Generation
1960
1 1 .3%
1970
12.1%
1980
14.4%
1990
14.5%
1995
14.6%
1999
15.3%
2000
15.7%
2001
16.4%
Nondurable Goods
Newspapers
Books and Magazines
Books**
Magazines**
Office Papers
Directories**
Standard (A) Mail***
Other Commercial Printing
Tissue Paper and Towels
Paper Plates and Cups
Plastic Plates and Cupst
Trash Bags**
Disposable Diapers
Other Nonpackaging Paper
Clothing and Footwear
Towels, Sheets and Pillowcases**
Other Miscellaneous Nondurables
Total Nondurables
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 19)
Total Product Wastes]:
Other Wastes
Total MSW Generated - %
8.1%
2.2%
1 .7%
1 .4%
1 .2%
0.3%
Neg.
3.1%
1 .5%
0.1%
19.7%
31.1%
62.0%
38.0%
100.0%
7.9%
2.0%
2.2%
1 .8%
1 .7%
0.3%
0.3%
3.0%
1 .3%
0.2%
20.7%
36.0%
68.8%
31 .2%
100.0%
7.3%
2.2%
2.6%
2.1%
1 .5%
0.4%
0.1%
1 .3%
2.8%
1 .4%
0.9%
22.7%
34.7%
71 .8%
28.2%
100.0%
6.5%
0.5%
1 .4%
3.1%
0.3%
1 .9%
2.2%
1 .4%
0.3%
0.3%
0.4%
1 .3%
1 .9%
2.0%
0.3%
1 .6%
25.4%
31.4%
71.4%
28.6%
100.0%
6.1%
0.5%
1 .2%
3.1%
0.2%
2.2%
3.2%
1 .4%
0.5%
0.4%
0.4%
1 .4%
2.0%
2.4%
0.3%
1 .6%
26.8%
33.1%
74.5%
25.5%
100.0%
6.4%
0.5%
1 .0%
3.3%
0.3%
2.3%
2.7%
1 .4%
0.4%
0.4%
0.4%
1 .4%
2.0%
2.7%
0.3%
1 .6%
27.2%
33.2%
75.7%
24.3%
100.0%
5.9%
0.5%
1 .0%
3.2%
0.3%
2.4%
3.3%
1 .4%
0.4%
0.4%
0.4%
1 .4%
1 .8%
2.8%
0.4%
1 .7%
27.3%
32.5%
75.4%
24.6%
100.0%
5.3%
0.4%
0.9%
3.2%
0.3%
2.4%
2.9%
1 .4%
0.5%
0.3%
0.4%
1 .5%
1 .7%
2.9%
0.4%
1 .9%
26.4%
32.0%
74.8%
25.2%
100.0%
* Generation before materials recovery or combustion. Does not include construction & demolition debris, industrial process
wastes, or certain other wastes. Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
** Not estimated separately prior to 1990.
*** Not estimated separately prior to 1990. Formerly called Third Class Mail by the U.S. Postal Service.
f Not estimated separately prior to 1980.
i Other than food products.
Neg. = Less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percent.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
75
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Table 16
RECOVERY* OF PRODUCTS IN MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE, 1960 TO 2001
(WITH DETAIL ON NONDURABLE GOODS)
(In thousands of tons and percent of generation of each product)
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 13)
Thousands of Tons
1960
350
1970
940
1980
1,360
1990
3,460
1995
5,010
1999
5,920
2000
6,010
2001
6,590
Nondurable Goods
Newspapers
Books and Magazines
Books**
Magazines**
Office Papers
Directories**
Standard (A) Mail***
Other Commercial Printing
Tissue Paper and Towels
Paper Plates and Cups
Plastic Plates and Cupst
Trash Bags**
Disposable Diapers
Other Nonpackaging Paper
Clothing and Footwear
Towels, Sheets and Pillowcases**
Other Miscellaneous Nondurables
Total Nondurable Goods
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 20)
Total Product Wastes}
Other Wastes
Total MSW Recovered - Weight
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 13)
1,820
100
250
130
Neg.
Neg.
40
50
Neg.
2,390
2,870
5,610
Neg.
5,610
2,250
260
710
340
Neg.
Neg.
110
60
Neg.
3,730
3,350
8,020
Neg.
8,020
3,020
280
870
350
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
150
Neg.
4,670
8,490
14,520
Neg.
14,520
5,110
100
300
1,700
40
200
700
Neg.
Neg.
10
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
520
120
Neg.
8,800
16,780
29,040
4,200
33,240
7,010
220
650
3,040
60
710
1,120
Neg.
Neg.
10
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
660
130
Neg.
13,610
27,530
46,150
9,600
55,750
8,040
190
550
3,630
130
1,360
1,230
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
860
140
Neg.
16,130
28,750
50,800
14,720
65,520
7,740
240
710
4,090
120
1,830
920
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
900
140
Neg.
16,690
28,530
51,230
16,450
67,680
7,350
180
660
4,100
110
1,750
1,480
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
930
150
Neg.
16,710
28,140
51 ,440
16,550
67,990
Percent of Generation of Each Product
1960
3.5%
1970
6.4%
1980
6.2%
1990
1 1 .6%
1995
16.1%
1999
16.7%
2000
16.5%
2001
17.5%
Nondurable Goods
Newspapers
Books and Magazines
Books**
Magazines**
Office Papers
Directories**
Standard (A) Mail***
Other Commercial Printing
Tissue Paper and Towels
Paper Plates and Cups
Plastic Plates and Cupst
Trash Bags**
Disposable Diapers
Other Nonpackaging Paper
Clothing and Footwear
Towels, Sheets and Pillowcases**
Other Miscellaneous Nondurables
Total Nondurables
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 21)
Total Product Wastes}
Other Wastes
Total MSW Recovered - %
25.6%
5.2%
16.4%
10.3%
Neg.
Neg.
1 .5%
Neg.
Neg.
13.8%
10.5%
10.3%
Neg.
6.4%
23.7%
10.5%
26.8%
16.0%
Neg.
Neg.
3.0%
Neg.
Neg.
14.9%
7.7%
9.6%
Neg.
6.6%
27.3%
8.3%
21 .8%
1 1 .2%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
13.6%
16.1%
13.3%
Neg.
9.6%
38.0%
10.3%
10.6%
26.5%
6.6%
5.2%
15.7%
Neg.
Neg.
1 .5%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
13.0%
16.9%
Neg.
16.9%
26.0%
19.8%
7.2%
16.2%
53.3%
19.1%
25.7%
45.8%
12.2%
15.4%
16.5%
Neg.
Neg.
1 .3%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
13.0%
17.6%
Neg.
23.8%
38.9%
29.0%
17.6%
26.1%
54.1%
16.8%
24.9%
47.1%
17.6%
25.6%
19.6%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
13.8%
17.9%
Neg.
25.6%
37.4%
29.0%
26.2%
28.3%
56.1%
19.4%
32.0%
55.1%
17.6%
32.9%
12.2%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
13.9%
17.1%
Neg.
26.4%
37.9%
29.3%
28.8%
29.2%
60.2%
21 .2%
32.0%
55.3%
14.9%
32.3%
22.4%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
13.8%
17.2%
Neg.
27.7%
38.3%
30.0%
28.7%
29.7%
* Recovery of postconsumer wastes; does not include converting/fabrication scrap.
** Not estimated separately prior to 1990.
*** Not estimated separately prior to 1990. Formerly called Third Class Mail by the U.S. Postal Service.
f Not estimated separately prior to 1980.
t Other than food products.
Neg. = Less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percent.
Source: Franklin Associates. Ltd.
76
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Table 17
PRODUCTS DISCARDED* IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 2001
(WITH DETAIL ON NONDURABLE GOODS)
(In thousands of tons and percent of total discards)
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 14}
Nondurable Goods
Newspapers
Books and Magazines
Books**
Magazines**
Office Papers
Directories**
Standard (A) Mail***
Other Commercial Printing
Tissue Paper and Towels
Paper Plates and Cups
Plastic Plates and Cupst
Trash Bags**
Disposable Diapers
Other Nonpackaging Paper
Clothing and Footwear
Towels, Sheets and Pillowcases**
Other Miscellaneous Nondurables
Total Nondurable Goods
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 22)
Total Product I/Vastest
Other Wastes
Total MSW Discarded - Weight
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 14}
Nondurable Goods
Newspapers
Books and Magazines
Books**
Magazines**
Office Papers
Directories**
Standard (A) Mail***
Other Commercial Printing
Tissue Paper and Towels
Paper Plates and Cups
Plastic Plates and Cupst
Trash Bags**
Disposable Diapers
Other Nonpackaging Paper
Clothing and Footwear
Towels, Sheets and Pillowcases**
Other Miscellaneous Nondurables
Total Nondurables
Containers and Packaging
(Detail in Table 23)
Total Product I/Vastest
Other Wastes
Total MSW Discarded - %
Thousands of Tons
1960
9,570
1970
13,720
1980
20,440
1990
26,350
1995
26,130
1999
29,430
2000
30,320
2001
31,040
5,290
1,820
1,270
1,130
1,090
270
Neg.
2,660
1,310
100
14,940
24,500
49,010
33,500
82,510
7,260
2,210
1,940
1,790
2,080
420
350
3,520
1,560
200
21,330
40,210
75,260
37,780
113,040
8,030
3,110
3,130
2,770
2,300
630
190
1,930
4,230
2,020
1,410
29,750
44,180
94,370
42,750
137,120
8,320
870
2,530
4,710
570
3,620
3,760
2,960
650
640
780
2,700
3,840
3,490
590
3,340
43,370
47,750
117,470
54,500
171,970
6,130
930
1,880
3,600
430
3,910
5,650
2,970
970
770
780
3,010
4,270
4,410
610
3,320
43,640
43,200
112,970
44,980
157,950
6,830
940
1,660
4,080
610
3,960
5,040
3,240
950
910
950
3,310
4,620
5,390
640
3,730
46,860
48,040
124,330
41,550
165,880
6,060
1,000
1,510
3,330
560
3,740
6,630
3,220
1,000
870
850
3,340
4,140
5,560
680
4,030
46,520
46,760
123,600
40,680
164,280
4,850
670
1,400
3,320
630
3,660
5,130
3,260
1,050
800
830
3,430
3,830
5,810
720
4,320
43,710
45,320
120,070
41,170
161,240
Percent of Total Discards
1960
1 1 .6%
1970
12.1%
1980
14.9%
1990
15.3%
1995
16.5%
1999
17.7%
2000
18.5%
2001
19.3%
6.4%
2.2%
1 .5%
1 .4%
1 .3%
0.3%
Neg.
3.2%
1 .6%
0.1%
18.1%
29.7%
59.4%
40.6%
100.0%
6.4%
2.0%
1 .7%
1 .6%
1 .8%
0.4%
0.3%
3.1%
1 .4%
0.2%
18.9%
35.6%
66.6%
33.4%
100.0%
5.9%
2.3%
2.3%
2.0%
1 .7%
0.5%
0.1%
1 .4%
3.1%
1 .5%
1 .7%
21 .7%
32.2%
68.8%
31 .2%
100.0%
4.8%
0.5%
1 .5%
2.7%
0.3%
2.1%
2.2%
1 .7%
0.4%
0.4%
0.5%
1 .6%
2.2%
2.0%
0.3%
1 .9%
25.2%
27.8%
68.3%
31 .7%
100.0%
3.9%
0.6%
1 .2%
2.3%
0.3%
2.5%
3.6%
1 .9%
0.6%
0.5%
0.5%
1 .9%
2.7%
2.8%
0.4%
2.1%
27.6%
27.4%
71 .5%
28.5%
100.0%
4.1%
0.6%
1 .0%
2.5%
0.4%
2.4%
3.0%
2.0%
0.6%
0.5%
0.6%
2.0%
2.8%
3.2%
0.4%
2.2%
28.2%
29.0%
75.0%
25.0%
100.0%
3.7%
0.6%
0.9%
2.0%
0.3%
2.3%
4.0%
2.0%
0.6%
0.5%
0.5%
2.0%
2.5%
3.4%
0.4%
2.5%
28.3%
28.5%
75.2%
24.8%
100.0%
3.0%
0.4%
0.9%
2.1%
0.4%
2.3%
3.2%
2.0%
0.7%
0.5%
0.5%
2.1%
2.4%
3.6%
0.4%
2.7%
27.1%
28.1%
74.5%
25.5%
100.0%
* Discards after materials and compost recovery. Does not include construction & demolition debris, industrial process
wastes, or certain other wastes. Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
** Not estimated separately prior to 1990.
*** Not estimated separately prior to 1990. Formerly called Third Class Mail by the U.S. Postal Service.
f Not estimated separately prior to 1980.
t Other than food products.
Neg. = Less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percent.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
77
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
• Standard (A) mail6 includes catalogs and other direct bulk mailings; these
amounted to an estimated 5.4 million tons, or 2.4 percent of MSW generation, in
2001. Both groundwood and chemical pulps are used in these mailings. It was
estimated that 1.8 million tons were recovered in 2001. The U.S. Postal Service
has implemented a program to increase recovery of bulk mail, and many curbside
collection programs also include mail.
• Other commercial printing includes a wide range of paper items, including
brochures, reports, menus, and invitations. Both groundwood and chemical pulps
are used in these varied items. Generation was estimated at 6.6 million tons, or 3
percent of MSW generation, in 2001, with recovery estimated at 1.5 million tons.
• Tissue paper and towels generation includes facial and sanitary tissues and
napkins, but not bathroom tissue, which is nearly all diverted from MSW into the
wastewater treatment system. Tissue paper and towels (not including bathroom
tissue) amounted to 3.3 million tons (1.4 percent of total MSW generation) in
2001. No significant recovery of tissue products for recycling was identified,
although there is some composting of these items.
• Paper plates and cups include paper plates, cups, bowls, and other food service
products used in homes, in commercial establishments like restaurants, and in
institutional settings such as schools. Generation of these products was estimated
at 0.8 million tons (0.5 percent of total MSW generation) in 2001. No significant
recovery for recycling of these products was identified.
• Other nonpackaging papers-including posters, photographic papers, cards, and
games-accounted for 3.9 million tons (1.7 percent of total MSW generation) in
2001. No significant recovery for recycling of these papers was identified.
Overall, generation of paper and paperboard products in nondurable goods was 43.5
million tons in 2001 (Table 4). While newspapers were recovered at the highest rate, other paper
products, such as books, magazines, and office papers, also were recovered for recycling, and the
6 Standard (A) mail was formerly called Third Class mail by the U.S. Postal Service.
78
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
overall recovery rate for paper in nondurables was 35.9 percent in 2001. Thus 27.9 million tons
of paper in nondurables were discarded in 2001.
Plastic Plates and Cups. This category includes plastic plates, cups, glasses, dishes and
bowls, hinged containers, and other containers used in food service at home, in restaurants and
other commercial establishments, and in institutional settings such as schools. These items are
made primarily of polystyrene resin. An estimated 800,000 tons of these products were generated
in 2001, or 0.3 percent of total MSW (see Table 15). No significant recovery for recycling was
identified in 2001.
Trash Bags. This category includes plastic trash bags made of high-density polyethylene
and low-density polyethylene for both indoor and outdoor use. Generation of plastic trash bags
amounted to 830,000 tons in 2001 (0.4 percent of MSW generation). No significant recovery for
recycling was identified.
Disposable Diapers. This category includes estimates of both infant diapers and adult
incontinence products. Generation was estimated using data on sales of the products along with
information on average weights and composition. An estimated 3.4 million tons of disposable
diapers were generated in 2001, or 1.5 percent of total MSW generation. (This tonnage includes
an adjustment for the urine and feces contained within the discarded diapers.) The materials
portion of the diapers includes wood pulp, plastics (including the super-absorbent materials now
present in most diapers), and tissue paper.
No significant recycling or composting of disposable diapers was identified in 2001.
Clothing and Footwear. Generation of clothing and footwear was estimated to be 6.7
million tons in 2001 (2.9 percent of total MSW). Textiles, rubber, and leather are major materials
components of this category, with some plastics present as well. Generation estimates for these
products are based on sales data from the Department of Commerce along with data on average
weights for each type of products included. Adjustments are made for net imports of these
products based on Department of Commerce data.
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
The Council for Textile Recycling has reported on recovery of textiles for exports,
reprocessing, and reuse. Based on their data, it was estimated that 930,000 tons of textiles in
clothing were recovered for export or recycling in 2001. (Reuse is not counted as recycling and is
included in the estimates in Chapter 3.)
Towels, Sheets, and Pillowcases. An estimated 870,000 tons of towels, sheets, and
pillowcases were generated in 2001. Generation was estimated using a methodology similar to
that for clothing. An estimated 150,000 tons of these textiles were recovered for export or
recycling in 2001.
Other Miscellaneous Nondurables. Generation of other miscellaneous nondurables was
estimated to be 4.3 million tons in 2001 (1.9 percent of MSW). The primary material component
of miscellaneous nondurables is plastics, although some aluminum, rubber, and textiles also are
present. Typical products in miscellaneous nondurables include shower curtains and other
household items, disposable medical supplies, novelty items, and the like.
Generation of plastic products in miscellaneous nondurables is taken from resin sales data
published annually in Modern Plastics. Generation of other materials in these nondurable
products is estimated based on information in past reports in this series.
Containers and Packaging
Containers and packaging make up a major portion of MSW, amounting to 73.5 million
tons of generation in 2001 (32.0 percent of total generation). Generation in this category has
declined since 1999, primarily because paper and paperboard packaging declined by 1.0 million
tons. There were small declines in generation of glass bottles, and steel packaging, while
aluminum packaging held steady. Plastics packaging generation showed a small increase, and
wood packaging (pallets) also increased. Generation, recovery, and discards of containers and
packaging are shown in detail in Tables 18 through 23.
80
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
There is substantial recovery of many container and packaging products, especially
corrugated containers. In 2001, 38.4 percent of containers and packaging generated was
recovered for recycling. Because of this recovery, containers and packaging comprised 28.1
percent of total MSW discards in 2001.
Containers and packaging in MSW are made of several materials: paper and paperboard,
glass, steel, aluminum, plastics, wood, and small amounts of other materials. Material categories
are discussed separately below.
Glass Containers. Glass containers include beer and soft drink bottles (which include
carbonated drinks and non-carbonated waters, teas, and flavored drinks containing not more than
10 percent fruit juice), wine and liquor bottles, and bottles and jars for food, cosmetics, and other
products. Generation of glass containers is estimated using Department of Commerce data.
Adjustments are made for imports and exports of both empty glass containers and containers
holding products, e.g., imported beer.
Generation of glass containers was 10.9 million tons in 2001, or 4.8 percent of MSW
generation (Tables 18 and 19). This is less tonnage than was generated in 1999.
Industry estimates that 2.4 million tons of glass containers were recovered for recycling,
or 22 percent of generation, in 2001. Glass container discards were 8.5 million tons in 2001, or
5.3 percent of total MSW discards.
Steel Containers and Packaging. Steel food and other cans, and other steel packaging
(e.g., strapping and steel barrels and drums), totaled 2.6 million tons in 2001 (1.1 percent of total
MSW generation), with most of that amount being cans for food products (Tables 18 and 19).
Generation estimates are based on data supplied by the Steel Recycling Institute (SRI), the
Reusable Industrial Packaging Association, and the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI).
Estimates include adjustments for net imports.
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Table 18
PRODUCTS GENERATED* IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 2001
(WITH DETAIL ON CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING)
(In thousands of tons)
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 12)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 15)
Thousands of Tons
1960
9,920
17,330
1970
14,660
25,060
1980
21 ,800
34,420
1990
29,810
52,170
1995
31,140
57,250
1999
35,350
62,990
2000
36,330
63,210
2001
37,630
60,420
Containers and Packaging
Glass Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Bottles
Wine and Liquor Bottles
Food and Other Bottles & Jars
Total Glass Packaging
Steel Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Food and Other Cans
Other Steel Packaging
Total Steel Packaging
Aluminum Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Other Cans
Foil and Closures
Total Aluminum Packaging
Paper & Paperboard Pkg
Corrugated Boxes
Milk Cartons**
Folding Cartons**
Other Paperboard Packaging
Bags and Sacks**
Wrapping Papers**
Other Paper Packaging
Total Paper & Board Pkg
Plastics Packaging
Soft Drink Bottles**
Milk Bottles**
Other Containers
Bags and Sacks**
Wraps**
Other Plastics Packaging
Total Plastics Packaging
Wood Packaging
Other Misc. Packaging
Total Containers & Pkg
Total Product Wastesf
Other Wastes
Food Scraps
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Generated - Weight
1,400
1,080
3,710
6,190
640
3,760
260
4,660
Neg.
Neg.
170
170
7,330
3,840
2,940
14,110
60
60
120
2,000
120
27,370
54,620
12,200
20,000
1,300
33,500
88,120
5,580
1,900
4,440
11,920
1,570
3,540
270
5,380
100
60
410
570
12,760
4,830
3,810
21,400
910
1,180
2,090
2,070
130
43,560
83,280
12,800
23,200
1,780
37,780
121,060
6,740
2,450
4,780
13,970
520
2,850
240
3,610
850
40
380
1,270
17,080
790
3,820
230
3,380
200
850
26,350
260
230
890
390
840
790
3,400
3,940
130
52,670
108,890
13,000
27,500
2,250
42,750
151,640
5,640
2,030
4,160
1 1 ,830
150
2,540
200
2,890
1,550
20
330
1,900
24,010
510
4,300
290
2,440
110
1,020
32,680
430
530
1,430
940
1,530
2,040
6,900
8,180
150
64,530
146,510
20,800
35,000
2,900
58,700
205,210
5,120
1,790
4,620
11,530
Neg.
2,690
210
2,900
1,590
40
350
1,980
28,800
510
5,310
260
1,980
70
1,150
38,080
650
620
1,180
1,200
1,710
2,220
7,580
8,510
150
70,730
159,120
21,740
29,690
3,150
54,580
213,700
5,620
2,010
3,770
11,400
Neg.
2,660
240
2,900
1,530
50
380
1,960
31,360
490
5,610
240
1,680
1,750
41,130
810
690
2,640
1,690
2,550
2,680
11,060
8,110
230
76,790
175,130
25,160
27,730
3,380
56,270
231,400
5,710
1,910
3,410
1 1 ,030
Neg.
2,640
240
2,880
1,520
50
380
1,950
30,210
550
5,760
200
1,490
1,670
39,880
830
690
2,630
1,650
2,550
2,840
11,190
8,120
240
75,290
174,830
25,900
27,730
3,500
57,130
231 ,960
5,990
1,760
3,150
10,900
Neg.
2,360
240
2,600
1,510
50
390
1,950
28,980
510
5,520
190
1,420
1,750
38,370
870
740
2,730
1,640
2,580
2,680
11,240
8,170
230
73,460
171,510
26,200
27,980
3,540
57,720
229,230
* Generation before materials recovery or combustion.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
** Not estimated separately prior to 1980. Paper wraps not reported separately after 1996.
f Other than food products.
Neg. = Less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percent.
Source: Franklin Associates. Ltd.
82
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Table 19
PRODUCTS GENERATED* IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 2001
(WITH DETAIL ON CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING)
(In percent of total generation)
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 12)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 15)
Percent of Total Generation
1960
1 1 .3%
19.7%
1970
12.1%
20.7%
1980
14.4%
22.7%
1990
14.5%
25.4%
1995 1999
14.6%
26.8%
15.3%
27.2%
2000
15.7%
27.3%
2001
16.4%
26.4%
Containers and Packaging
Glass Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Bottles
Wine and Liquor Bottles
Food and Other Bottles & Jars
Total Glass Packaging
Steel Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Food and Other Cans
Other Steel Packaging
Total Steel Packaging
Aluminum Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Other Cans
Foil and Closures
Total Aluminum Packaging
Paper & Paperboard Pkg
Corrugated Boxes
Milk Cartons**
Folding Cartons**
Other Paperboard Packaging
Bags and Sacks**
Wrapping Papers**
Other Paper Packaging
Total Paper & Board Pkg
Plastics Packaging
Soft Drink Bottles**
Milk Bottles**
Other Containers
Bags and Sacks**
Wraps**
Other Plastics Packaging
Total Plastics Packaging
Wood Packaging
Other Misc. Packaging
Total Containers & Pkg
Total Product Wastesf
Other Wastes
Food Scraps
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Generated - %
1 .6%
1 .2%
4.2%
7.0%
0.7%
4.3%
0.3%
5.3%
Neg.
Neg.
0.2%
0.2%
8.3%
4.4%
3.3%
16.0%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
2.3%
0.1%
31.1%
62.0%
13.8%
22.7%
1 .5%
38.0%
100.0%
4.6%
1 .6%
3.7%
9.8%
1 .3%
2.9%
0.2%
4.4%
0.1%
Neg.
0.3%
0.5%
10.5%
4.0%
3.1%
17.7%
0.8%
1 .0%
1 .7%
1 .7%
0.1%
36.0%
68.8%
10.6%
19.2%
1 .5%
31 .2%
100.0%
4.4%
1 .6%
3.2%
9.2%
0.3%
1 .9%
0.2%
2.4%
0.6%
Neg.
0.3%
0.8%
1 1 .3%
0.5%
2.5%
0.2%
2.2%
0.1%
0.6%
17.4%
0.2%
0.2%
0.6%
0.3%
0.6%
0.5%
2.2%
2.6%
0.1%
34.7%
71 .8%
8.6%
18.1%
1 .5%
28.2%
100.0%
2.7%
1 .0%
2.0%
5.8%
0.1%
1 .2%
0.1%
1 .4%
0.8%
Neg.
0.2%
0.9%
1 1 .7%
0.2%
2.1%
0.1%
1 .2%
0.1%
0.5%
15.9%
0.2%
0.3%
0.7%
0.5%
0.7%
1 .0%
3.4%
4.0%
0.1%
31 .4%
71 .4%
10.1%
17.1%
1 .4%
28.6%
100.0%
2.4%
0.8%
2.2%
5.4%
Neg.
1 .3%
0.1%
1 .4%
0.7%
Neg.
0.2%
0.9%
13.5%
0.2%
2.5%
0.1%
0.9%
0.0%
0.5%
17.8%
0.3%
0.3%
0.6%
0.6%
0.8%
1 .0%
3.5%
4.0%
0.1%
33.1%
74.5%
10.2%
13.9%
1 .5%
25.5%
100.0%
2.4%
0.9%
1 .6%
4.9%
Neg.
1.1%
0.1%
1 .3%
0.7%
Neg.
0.2%
0.8%
13.6%
0.2%
2.4%
0.1%
0.7%
0.8%
17.8%
0.4%
0.3%
1.1%
0.7%
1.1%
1 .2%
4.8%
3.5%
0.1%
33.2%
75.7%
10.9%
12.0%
1 .5%
24.3%
100.0%
2.5%
0.8%
1 .5%
4.8%
Neg.
1.1%
0.1%
1 .2%
0.7%
Neg.
0.2%
0.8%
13.0%
0.2%
2.5%
0.1%
0.6%
0.7%
17.2%
0.4%
0.3%
1.1%
0.7%
1.1%
1 .2%
4.8%
3.5%
0.1%
32.5%
75.4%
1 1 .2%
12.0%
1 .5%
24.6%
100.0%
2.6%
0.8%
1 .4%
4.8%
Neg.
1 .0%
0.1%
1.1%
0.7%
Neg.
0.2%
0.9%
12.6%
0.2%
2.4%
0.1%
0.6%
0.8%
16.7%
0.4%
0.3%
1 .2%
0.7%
1.1%
1 .2%
4.9%
3.6%
0.1%
32.0%
74.8%
1 1 .4%
12.2%
1 .5%
25.2%
100.0%
* Generation before materials recovery or combustion.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
** Not estimated separately prior to 1980. Paper wraps not reported separately after 1996.
t Other than food products.
Neg. = Less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percent.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
83
-------
Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Table 20
RECOVERY* OF PRODUCTS IN MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE, 1960 TO 2001
(WITH DETAIL ON CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING)
(In thousands of tons)
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 13)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 16)
Thousands of Tons
1960
350
2,390
1970
940
3,730
1980
1,360
4,670
1990
3,460
8,800
1995
5,010
13,610
1999
5,920
16,130
2000
6,010
16,690
2001
6,590
16,710
Containers and Packaging
Glass Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Bottles
Wine and Liquor Bottles
Food and Other Bottles & Jars
Total Glass Packaging
Steel Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Food and Other Cans
Other Steel Packaging
Total Steel Packaging
Aluminum Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Other Cans
Foil and Closures
Total Aluminum Pkg
Paper & Paperboard Pkg
Corrugated Boxes
Milk Cartons**
Folding Cartons**
Other Paperboard Packaging
Bags and Sacks**
Wrapping Papers**
Other Paper Packaging
Total Paper & Board Pkg
Plastics Packaging
Soft Drink Bottles**
Milk Bottles**
Other Containers
Bags and Sacks**
Wraps**
Other Plastics Packaging
Total Plastics Packaging
Wood Packaging
Other Misc. Packaging
Total Containers & Pkg
Total Product Wastesf
Other Wastes
Food Scraps
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Recovered - Weight
90
10
Neg.
100
10
20
Neg.
30
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
2,520
220
2,740
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neq.
2,870
5,610
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
5,610
140
10
Neg.
150
20
60
Neg.
80
10
Neg.
Neg.
10
2,760
350
3,110
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neq.
3,350
8,020
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
8,020
730
20
Neg.
750
50
150
Neg.
200
310
Neg.
Neg.
320
6,390
Neg.
520
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
300
7,210
10
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
10
Neg.
Neq.
8,490
14,520
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
14,520
1,890
210
520
2,620
40
590
60
690
990
Neg.
20
1,010
1 1 ,530
Neg.
340
Neg.
200
Neg.
Neg.
12,070
140
20
20
30
30
20
260
130
Neq.
16,780
29,040
Neg.
4,200
Neg.
4,200
33,240
1,670
470
1,000
3,140
Neg.
1,510
50
1,560
900
Neg.
30
930
18,480
Neg.
1,080
Neg.
340
Neg.
Neg.
19,900
300
190
150
40
40
20
740
1,260
Neq.
27,530
46,150
570
9,030
Neg.
9,600
55,750
1,590
450
960
3,000
Neg.
1,510
170
1,680
850
Neg.
30
880
20,330
Neg.
400
Neg.
220
Neg.
20,950
290
220
290
10
130
70
1,010
1,230
Neq.
28,750
50,800
550
14,170
Neg.
14,720
65,520
1,410
400
850
2,660
Neg.
1,510
160
1,670
830
Neg.
40
870
20,330
Neg.
430
Neg.
300
Neg.
21 ,060
290
210
260
10
170
90
1,030
1,240
Neq.
28,530
51,230
680
15,770
Neg.
16,450
67,680
1,270
360
770
2,400
Neg.
1,370
160
1,530
740
Neg.
40
780
20,310
Neg.
480
Neg.
310
Neg.
21,100
310
210
280
10
170
100
1,080
1,250
Neq.
28,140
51,440
730
15,820
Neg.
16,550
67,990
* Recovery of postconsumer wastes; does not include converting/fabrication scrap.
** Not estimated separately prior to 1980. Paper wraps not reported separately after 1996.
f Other than food products.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Neg. = Less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percent.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
84
-------
Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Table 21
RECOVERY* OF PRODUCTS IN MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE, 1960 TO 2001
(WITH DETAIL ON CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING)
(In percent of generation of each product)
Percent of Generation of Each Product
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 13)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 16}
1960
3.5%
13.8%
1970
6.4%
14.9%
1980
6.2%
13.6%
1990
1 1 .6%
16.9%
1995
16.1%
23.8%
1999
16.7%
25.6%
2000
16.5%
26.4%
2001
17.5%
27.7%
Containers and Packaging
Glass Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Bottles
Wine and Liquor Bottles
Food and Other Bottles & Jars
Total Glass Packaging
Steel Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Food and Other Cans
Other Steel Packaging
Total Steel Packaging
Aluminum Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Other Cans
Foil and Closures
Total Aluminum Pkg
Paper & Paperboard Pkg
Corrugated Boxes
Milk Cartons**
Folding Cartons**
Other Paperboard Packaging
Bags and Sacks**
Wrapping Papers**
Other Paper Packaging
Total Paper & Board Pkg
Plastics Packaging
Soft Drink Bottles**
Milk Bottles**
Other Containers
Bags and Sacks**
Wraps**
Other Plastics Packaging
Total Plastics Packaging
Wood Packaging
Other Misc. Packaging
Total Containers & Pkg
Total Product Wastesf
Other Wastes
Food Scraps
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Recovered - %
6.4%
Neg.
Neg.
1 .6%
1 .6%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
34.4%
7.5%
19.4%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
10.5%
10.3%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
6.4%
2.5%
Neg.
Neg.
1 .3%
1 .3%
1 .7%
Neg.
1 .5%
10.0%
Neg.
Neg.
1 .8%
21.6%
9.2%
14.5%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
7.7%
9.6%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
6.6%
10.8%
Neg.
Neg.
5.4%
9.6%
5.3%
Neg.
5.5%
36.5%
Neg.
Neg.
25.2%
37.4%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
35.3%
27.4%
3.8%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
16.1%
13.3%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
9.6%
33.5%
10.3%
12.5%
22.1%
26.7%
23.2%
30.0%
23.9%
63.9%
Neg.
6.1%
53.2%
48.0%
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
Neg.
36.9%
32.6%
3.8%
1 .4%
3.2%
2.0%
1 .0%
3.8%
1 .6%
Neg.
26.0%
19.8%
Neg.
12.0%
Neg.
7.2%
16.2%
32.6%
26.3%
21 .6%
27.2%
Neg.
56.1%
23.8%
53.8%
56.6%
Neg.
8.6%
47.0%
64.2%
Neg.
20.3%
Neg.
17.2%
Neg.
Neg.
52.3%
46.2%
30.6%
12.7%
3.3%
2.3%
0.9%
9.8%
14.8%
Neg.
38.9%
29.0%
2.6%
30.4%
Neg.
17.6%
26.1%
28.3%
22.4%
25.5%
26.3%
Neg.
56.8%
70.8%
57.9%
55.6%
Neg.
7.9%
44.9%
64.8%
Neg.
7.1%
Neg.
13.1%
Neg.
50.9%
35.8%
31 .9%
1 1 .0%
0.6%
5.1%
2.6%
9.1%
15.2%
Neg.
37.4%
29.0%
2.2%
51.1%
Neg.
26.2%
28.3%
24.7%
20.9%
24.9%
24.1%
Neg.
57.2%
66.7%
58.0%
54.6%
Neg.
10.5%
44.6%
67.3%
Neg.
7.5%
Neg.
20.1%
Neg.
52.8%
34.9%
30.4%
9.9%
0.6%
6.7%
3.2%
9.2%
15.3%
Neg.
37.9%
29.3%
2.6%
56.9%
Neg.
28.8%
29.2%
21 .2%
20.5%
24.4%
22.0%
Neg.
58.1%
66.7%
58.8%
49.0%
Neg.
10.3%
40.0%
70.1%
Neg.
8.7%
Neg.
21 .8%
Neg.
55.0%
35.6%
28.4%
10.3%
0.6%
6.6%
3.7%
9.6%
15.3%
Neg.
38.3%
30.0%
2.8%
56.5%
Neg.
28.7%
29.7%
* Recovery of postconsumer wastes; does not include converting/fabrication scrap.
** Not estimated separately prior to 1980. Paper wraps not reported separately after 1996.
f Other than food products.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Neg. = Less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percent.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
85
-------
Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Table 22
PRODUCTS DISCARDED* IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 2001
(WITH DETAIL ON CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING)
(In thousands of tons)
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 14)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 17)
Thousands of Tons
1960
9,570
14,940
1970
13,720
21,330
1980
20,440
29,750
1990
26,350
43,370
1995
26,130
43,640
1999
29,430
46,860
2000
30,320
46,520
2001
31 ,040
43,710
Containers and Packaging
Glass Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Bottles
Wine and Liquor Bottles
Food and Other Bottles & Jars
Total Glass Packaging
Steel Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Food and Other Cans
Other Steel Packaging
Total Steel Packaging
Aluminum Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Other Cans
Foil and Closures
Total Aluminum Pkg
Paper & Paperboard Pkg
Corrugated Boxes
Milk Cartons**
Folding Cartons**
Other Paperboard Packaging
Bags and Sacks**
Wrapping Papers**
Other Paper Packaging
Total Paper & Board Pkg
Plastics Packaging
Soft Drink Bottles**
Milk Bottles**
Other Containers
Bags and Sacks**
Wraps**
Other Plastics Packaging
Total Plastics Packaging
Wood Packaging
Other Misc. Packaging
Total Containers & Pkg
Total Product Wastes}
Other Wastes
Food Scraps
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Discarded - Weight
1,310
1,070
3,710
6,090
630
3,740
260
4,630
Neg.
Neg.
170
170
4,810
3,840
2,720
11,370
60
60
120
2,000
120
24,500
49,010
12,200
20,000
1,300
33,500
82,510
5,440
1,890
4,440
1 1 ,770
1,550
3,480
270
5,300
90
60
410
560
10,000
4,830
3,460
18,290
910
1,180
2,090
2,070
130
40,210
75,260
12,800
23,200
1,780
37,780
113,040
6,010
2,430
4,780
13,220
470
2,700
240
3,410
540
40
380
950
10,690
790
3,300
230
3,380
200
550
19,140
250
230
890
390
840
790
3,390
3,940
130
44,180
94,370
13,000
27,500
2,250
42,750
137,120
3,750
1,820
3,640
9,210
110
1,950
140
2,200
560
20
310
890
1 2,480
510
3,960
290
2,240
110
1,020
20,610
290
510
1,410
910
1,500
2,020
6,640
8,050
150
47,750
1 1 7,470
20,800
30,800
2,900
54,500
171,970
3,450
1,320
3,620
8,390
Neg.
1,180
160
1,340
690
40
320
1,050
10,320
510
4,230
260
1,640
70
1,150
18,180
350
430
1,030
1,160
1,670
2,200
6,840
7,250
150
43,200
112,970
21,170
20,660
3,150
44,980
157,950
4,030
1,560
2,810
8,400
Neg.
1,150
70
1,220
680
50
350
1,080
11,030
490
5,210
240
1,460
1,750
20,180
520
470
2,350
1,680
2,420
2,610
10,050
6,880
230
48,040
124,330
24,610
13,560
3,380
41,550
165,880
4,300
1,510
2,560
8,370
Neg.
1,130
80
1,210
690
50
340
1,080
9,880
550
5,330
200
1,190
1,670
18,820
540
480
2,370
1,640
2,380
2,750
10,160
6,880
240
46,760
123,600
25,220
11,960
3,500
40,680
164,280
4,720
1,400
2,380
8,500
Neg.
990
80
1,070
770
50
350
1,170
8,670
510
5,040
190
1,110
1,750
17,270
560
530
2,450
1,630
2,410
2,580
10,160
6,920
230
45,320
120,070
25,470
12,160
3,540
41,170
161,240
* Discards after materials and compost recovery. Does not include construction & demolition debris, industrial process
wastes, or certain other wastes. Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
** Not estimated separately prior to 1980. Paper wraps not reported separately after 1996.
t Other than food products.
Neg. = Less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percent.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
86
-------
Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Table 23
PRODUCTS DISCARDED* IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM, 1960 TO 2001
(WITH DETAIL ON CONTAINERS AND PACKAGING)
(In percent of total discards)
Products
Durable Goods
(Detail in Table 14)
Nondurable Goods
(Detail in Table 17)
Percent of Total Discards
1960
1 1 .6%
18.1%
1970
12.1%
18.9%
1980
14.9%
21 .7%
1990
15.3%
25.2%
1995
16.5%
27.6%
1999
17.7%
28.2%
2000
18.5%
28.3%
2001
19.3%
27.1%
Containers and Packaging
Glass Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Bottles
Wine and Liquor Bottles
Food and Other Bottles & Jars
Total Glass Packaging
Steel Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Food and Other Cans
Other Steel Packaging
Total Steel Packaging
Aluminum Packaging
Beer and Soft Drink Cans
Other Cans
Foil and Closures
Total Aluminum Pkg
Paper & Paperboard Pkg
Corrugated Boxes
Milk Cartons**
Folding Cartons**
Other Paperboard Packaging
Bags and Sacks**
Wrapping Papers**
Other Paper Packaging
Total Paper & Board Pkg
Plastics Packaging
Soft Drink Bottles**
Milk Bottles**
Other Containers
Bags and Sacks**
Wraps**
Other Plastics Packaging
Total Plastics Packaging
Wood Packaging
Other Misc. Packaging
Total Containers & Pkg
Total Product Wastesf
Other Wastes
Food Scraps
Yard Trimmings
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
Total Other Wastes
Total MSW Discarded - %
1 .6%
1 .3%
4.5%
7.4%
0.8%
4.5%
0.3%
5.6%
Neg.
Neg.
0.2%
0.2%
5.8%
4.7%
3.3%
13.8%
0.1%
0.1%
0.1%
2.4%
0.1%
29.7%
59.4%
14.8%
24.2%
1 .6%
40.6%
100.0%
4.8%
1 .7%
3.9%
10.4%
1 .4%
3.1%
0.2%
4.7%
0.1%
Neg.
0.4%
0.5%
8.8%
4.3%
3.1%
16.2%
0.8%
1 .0%
1 .8%
1 .8%
0.1%
35.6%
66.6%
1 1 .3%
20.5%
1 .6%
33.4%
100.0%
4.4%
1 .8%
3.5%
9.6%
0.3%
2.0%
0.2%
2.5%
0.4%
Neg.
0.3%
0.7%
7.8%
0.6%
2.4%
0.2%
2.5%
0.1%
0.4%
14.0%
0.2%
0.2%
0.6%
0.3%
0.6%
0.6%
2.5%
2.9%
0.1%
32.2%
68.8%
9.5%
20.1%
1 .6%
31 .2%
100.0%
2.2%
1.1%
2.1%
5.4%
0.1%
1.1%
0.1%
1 .3%
0.3%
Neg.
0.2%
0.5%
7.3%
0.3%
2.3%
0.2%
1 .3%
0.1%
0.6%
12.0%
0.2%
0.3%
0.8%
0.5%
0.9%
1 .2%
3.9%
4.7%
0.1%
27.8%
68.3%
12.1%
17.9%
1 .7%
31 .7%
100.0%
2.2%
0.8%
2.3%
5.3%
Neg.
0.7%
0.1%
0.8%
0.4%
Neg.
0.2%
0.7%
6.5%
0.3%
2.7%
0.2%
1 .0%
0.0%
0.7%
1 1 .5%
0.2%
0.3%
0.7%
0.7%
1.1%
1 .4%
4.3%
4.6%
0.1%
27.4%
71 .5%
13.4%
13.1%
2.0%
28.5%
100.0%
2.4%
0.9%
1 .7%
5.1%
Neg.
0.7%
0.0%
0.7%
0.4%
Neg.
0.2%
0.7%
6.6%
0.3%
3.1%
0.1%
0.9%
1.1%
12.2%
0.3%
0.3%
1 .4%
1 .0%
1 .5%
1 .6%
6.1%
4.1%
0.1%
29.0%
75.0%
14.8%
8.2%
2.0%
25.0%
100.0%
2.6%
0.9%
1 .6%
5.1%
Neg.
0.7%
0.0%
0.7%
0.4%
Neg.
0.2%
0.7%
6.0%
0.3%
3.2%
0.1%
0.7%
1 .0%
1 1 .5%
0.3%
0.3%
1 .4%
1 .0%
1 .4%
1 .7%
6.2%
4.2%
0.1%
28.5%
75.2%
15.4%
7.3%
2.1%
24.8%
100.0%
2.9%
0.9%
1 .5%
5.3%
Neg.
0.6%
0.0%
0.7%
0.5%
Neg.
0.2%
0.7%
5.4%
0.3%
3.1%
0.1%
0.7%
1.1%
10.7%
0.3%
0.3%
1 .5%
1 .0%
1 .5%
1 .6%
6.3%
4.3%
0.1%
28.1%
74.5%
15.8%
7.5%
2.2%
25.5%
100.0%
* Discards after materials and compost recovery. Does not include construction & demolition debris, industrial process
wastes, or certain other wastes. Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
** Not estimated separately prior to 1980. Paper wraps not reported separately after 1996.
t Other than food products.
Neg. = Less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percent.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
The Steel Recycling Institute (SRI) provided recovery data for steel containers and
packaging. An estimated 1.5 million tons of steel packaging were recovered in 2001, or 59
percent of generation. The SRI estimates include recovery from residential sources; pre-
combustion and post-combustion magnetic separation of steel cans and other ferrous products at
MSW combustion facilities; and recycling of drums and barrels not suitable for reconditioning.
Aluminum Containers and Packaging. Aluminum containers and packaging include
beer and soft drink cans (including all carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks, tea, tonic,
waters, and juice beverages), other cans, and foil and closures. Aluminum can generation has
been estimated based on can shipments data from the Can Manufacturers Institute and can weight
data from the Aluminum Association, while data on other aluminum packaging is based on
Department of Commerce data.
In 1996, the Can Manufacturers Institute began publishing data on consumption of
beverages in cans. The consumption data are adjusted for imports and exports of beverages in
cans, and therefore are more accurate for generation calculations than shipments alone. Total
aluminum container and packaging generation in 2001 was 2.0 million tons, or 0.9 percent of
total MSW generation.
Formerly, aluminum can recovery data has been obtained from the Aluminum
Association. For this report, the aluminum can recovery methodology has been revised to account
for imports of used beverage cans (UBC); these imports have been increasing in recent years.
The imported UBC is now subtracted from the tonnage of UBC reported by the Aluminum
Association to have been melted by U.S. end-users and recovered for export.7 The effect of this
change is to lower the aluminum beverage can recovery rate.
Recovery of aluminum beverage cans in 2001 was 0.8 million tons, or 49.0 percent of
generation. Recovery of all aluminum packaging was estimated to be 40 percent of total
7 Note, however, that the imported UBC do contribute to recycled aluminum content in can sheet and other
aluminum products.
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
generation in 2001. After recovery for recycling, 1.2 million tons of aluminum packaging were
discarded in 2001.
Paper and Paperboard Containers and Packaging. Corrugated boxes are the largest
single product category of MSW at 29.0 million tons generated, or 13 percent of total generation,
in 2001. Corrugated boxes also represent the largest single category of product recovery, at 20.3
million tons of recovery in 2001 (70.1 percent of boxes generated were recovered). After
recovery, 8.7 million tons of corrugated boxes were discarded, or 5.4 percent of MSW discards in
2001.)
Other paper and paperboard packaging in MSW includes milk cartons, folding boxes
(e.g., cereal boxes, frozen food boxes, some department store boxes), bags and sacks, wrapping
papers, and other paper and paperboard packaging. Overall, paper and paperboard containers and
packaging totaled 38.4 million tons of MSW generation in 2001, or 17 percent of total
generation.
While recovery of corrugated boxes is by far the largest component of paper packaging
recovery, smaller amounts of other paper packaging products are recovered (estimated at 790,000
tons in 2001). The overall recovery rate for paper and paperboard packaging in 2001 was 55.0
percent. Other paper packaging such as folding boxes and sacks is mostly recovered as mixed
papers.
Plastic Containers and Packaging. Many different plastic resins are used to make a
variety of packaging products. Some of these include polyethylene terephthalate soft drink
bottles, high-density polyethylene milk and water jugs, film products (including bags and sacks)
made of low-density polyethylene, and other containers and other packaging (including coatings,
closures, etc.) made of polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polypropylene, and other resins.
Estimates of generation of plastic containers and packaging are based on data on resin sales by
end use published annually by Modern Plastics, a trade publication, and the American Plastics
Council's annual plastics recovery survey.
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Plastic containers and packaging have exhibited rapid growth in MSW, with generation
increasing from 120,000 tons in 1960 (0.1 percent of generation) to 11.2 million tons in 2001
(4.9 percent of MSW generation). (Note: plastic packaging as a category in this report does not
include single-service plates and cups and trash bags, which are classified as nondurable goods.)
Estimates of recovery of plastic products are based on data published annually by the
American Plastics Council. Plastic soft drink bottles were estimated to have been recovered at a
37 percent rate in 2001 (310,000 tons). Recovery of plastic milk and water bottles was estimated
to have been 210,000 tons, or 28.4 percent of generation. Overall, recovery of plastic containers
and packaging was estimated to be 1.1 million tons, or 9.6 percent in 2001. Discards of plastic
packaging thus were 10.2 million tons in 2001, or 6.3 percent of total MSW generation.
Wood Packaging. Wood packaging includes wood crates and pallets (mostly pallets).
Data on production of wood packaging is from the National Wood Pallet and Container
Association, and more recently, the USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station and
Virginia Polytechnic Institute. In 2001, 8.2 million tons of wood pallets and other wood
packaging were estimated to have been generated, or 3.6 percent of total MSW generation.
Wood pallet recovery for recycling (usually by chipping for uses such as mulch or
bedding material, but excluding wood combusted as fuel) was estimated at 1,250,000 tons in
2001.
Accounting for pallet reuse and recovery for recycling, wood packaging discards were 6.9
million tons in 2001, or 4.3 percent of total MSW discards.
Other Packaging. Estimates are included for some other miscellaneous packaging such
as bags made of textiles, small amounts of leather, and the like. These latter quantities are not
well documented; it was estimated that 230,000 tons were generated in 2001.
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Summary of Products in Municipal Solid Waste
The materials composition of municipal solid waste generation by product category is
illustrated in Figure 14. This figure shows graphically that generation of durable goods has
increased very gradually over the years. Nondurable goods and containers and packaging have
accounted for the large increases in MSW generation.
Figure 14. Generation of products in MSW, 1960 to 2001
The materials composition of nondurable goods in 2001 is shown in Figure 15. Paper and
paperboard made up 72 percent of nondurables in MSW generation, with plastics contributing 10
percent, and textiles 10 percent. Other materials contributed lesser percentages. After recovery
for recycling, paper and paperboard were 64 percent of nondurable discards, with plastics being
14 percent, and textiles 12 percent.
The materials composition of containers and packaging in MSW in 2001 is shown in
Figure 16. By weight, paper and paperboard products made up 52 percent of containers and
packaging generation, with glass and plastic each accounting for 15 percent. Wood was 11
percent, and metals were 6 percent.
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Figure 15. Nondurable goods generated and discarded
in municipal solid waste, 2001
(In percent of total generation and discards)
Rubbers leath
er & paperboard
73%
Rubber & leather
2%
PaperS paperboard
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Figure 16. Containers and packaging generated and discarded
in municipal solid waste, 2001
(In percent of total generation and discards)
Meta
6%
The percentage of materials discards from containers and packaging is affected by
recovery for recycling. After recovery for recycling, paper and paperboard dropped to 38 percent
of discards. Glass containers accounted for 19 percent of discards of containers and packaging,
plastics were 22 percent, wood was 15 percent, and metals were 5 percent.
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
SUMMARY
The data presented in this chapter can be summarized by the following observations:
MSW Generation
• Total generation of municipal solid waste in 2001 was 229.2 million tons, which
was 2.7 million tons less than in 2000, when 231.9 million tons were generated.
This compares to 1990, when total generation of MSW was 205.2 million tons.
• Paper and paperboard products made up the largest percentage of all the materials
in MSW, at 35.7 percent of total generation. Generation of paper and paperboard
products declined from 86.8 million tons in 2000 to 81.9 million tons in 2001.
This decline was almost certainly due to economic conditions. Paper and
paperboard products have ranged between 37 and 38 percent of generation for the
past four years.
• Yard trimmings comprised the second largest material category, estimated at 28.0
million tons, or 12.2 percent of total generation, in 2001. This compares to 35.0
million tons (17.1 percent of total generation) in 1990. This decline 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 yard.
• Plastic products generation in 2001 was 25.4 million tons, or 11.1 percent of
generation. This was a growth of 670,000 tons (2.7 percent) from 2000 to 2001.
Most of this increase in plastics generation came from the durable goods category.
Plastics generation has grown from 8 percent in the 1990s to 11.1 percent in 2001.
MSW Recovery
• Recovery of materials in MSW increased from 67.7 million tons in 2000 (29.2
percent of total generation) to 68.0 million tons in 2001 (29.7 percent of
generation).
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
• Recovery of products and other wastes in MSW increased slightly from 2000 to
2001. Recovery of paper and paperboard products, the largest component of
recovery, also increased slightly. Recovery of paper and paperboard increased
from 42.3 percent in 2000 to 44.9 percent in 2001.
• The increase in recovery of paper and paperboard products over the longer term
has been due to increases in recovery, over time, from all categories: newspapers,
books, magazines, directories, standard (A) mail (advertisements, circulars, etc.),
and other commercial printing. In the last year, the key categories showing
increases in recovery were other commercial printing, which increased by an
estimated 560,000 tons from 2000 to 2001 (from 12.2 percent of generation to
22.4 percent of generation).
• By weight, the recovery of books, magazines, directories, and standard (A) mail
decreased slightly. The categories of books, magazines, and office papers
showed increases from 2000 to 2001 in percent recovered.
• Although the tons recovered for newspapers declined from 2000 to 2001 from 7.7
million tons to 7.4 million tons, this was likely due to generation of newspapers
declining from 13.8 to 12.2 million tons per year. The percent of newspapers
recovered rose from 56.1 percent of generation to 60.2 percent of generation.
• Containers and packaging recovery decreased from 28.5 million tons in 2000 to
28.1 million tons in 2001. Generation, too, decreased from 75.3 to 73.5 million
tons. The percent of containers and packaging recovered increased from 37.9
percent to 38.3 percent from 2000 to 2001. Nondurable goods had the second
highest tonnage recovery in 2001—16.7 million tons, or 27.7 percent of
generation.
• Measured by tonnage, the most recovered products and materials in 2001 were
corrugated boxes (20.3 million tons), yard trimmings (15.8 million tons),
newspapers (7.4 million tons), high grade office papers (4.1 million tons), glass
containers (2.4 million tons), steel from large appliances (2.0 million tons), rubber
tires (1.8 million tons), standard (A) mail (1.8 million tons), other commercial
printing (1.5 million tons), and wood packaging (1.3 million tons). Collectively,
these products accounted for about 83 percent of total MSW recovery in 2001.
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
• Measured by percentage of generation, products with the highest recovery rates in
2001 were lead-acid batteries (93.5 percent), corrugated boxes (70.1 percent),
newspapers (60.2 percent), steel packaging (58.8 percent), yard trimmings (56.6
percent), aluminum beverage cans (49 percent), steel in major appliances (55.3
percent), office papers (55.3 percent), rubber tires (38.6 percent), standard (A)
mail (32.3 percent), and magazines (32 percent).
Long Term Trends
• Generation of MSW has increased (except in recession years), from 88.1 million
tons in 1960 to 231.9 million tons in 2000. It decreased somewhat, to 229.2
million tons in 2001, due most probably to economic factors.
• Generation of paper and paperboard, the largest material component of MSW, has
increased in almost every year, again, with the exception of years in which we
have experienced slowed economic growth. Yard trimmings, the second largest
component, has remained stable during recent years. State legislation affecting
yard trimmings disposal in landfills and source reduction measures at residences,
has helped contain the generation of yard trimmings. Generation of other materials
is generally on an upward trend, but will also follow economic indicators.
• In percentage of total MSW generation, recovery for recycling (including
composting) did not exceed 15 percent until 1990. Growth in the recovery rate to
current levels (30 percent) reflects a rapid increase in the infrastructure for
recovery over the last decade, and more.
• Recovery (as a percentage of generation) of most materials in MSW has increased
dramatically over the last 30 years. Some examples:
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Chapter 2
Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Paper and paperboard
Glass
Metals
Plastics
Yard trimmings
Rubber tires
Batteries
1970
15%
1.3%
4%
Neg.
Neg.
13%
76%
1980
21%
5%
8%
<1%
—
5.5%
70%
1990
28%
20%
24%
2%
12%
12%
97%
2001
45%
20%
35%
5.5%
57%
39%
94%
97
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
CHAPTER 2
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
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106
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
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108
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
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Smith, F.L. A Solid Waste Estimation Procedure: Material Flows Approach. U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency. EPA/530-SW-147. May 1974.
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Current Industrial Reports. "Closures for
Containers." MQ34H. Various years.
TEXTILES AND FOOTWEAR
Council for Textile Recycling. Textile Recycling Fact Sheet.
J.C. Penney's Catalog. 1990.
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
National Association of Hosiery Manufacturers. Fact Sheet. Various years.
Riggle, David. "Tapping Textile Recycling." BioCyde. February 1992.
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Current Industrial Reports. "Apparel."
MA23A, MA23E, MA23G. Various years.
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Current Industrial Reports. "Sheets,
Towels and Pillowcases." MQ23X. Various years.
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Current Industrial Reports. MA31A,
MQ31A, MA23E, MA23G, and MA23A. Various years.
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Statistical Abstract of the United States.
Various years.
Spiegel Catalog. Fall/winter 1997.
WOOD PACKAGING
Araman, Phillip, and Robert Bush. "An Update on the Pallet Industry." Brooks Forest Products
Center, Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Release pending.
Araman, Phillip, and Robert Bush. "Use of New Wood Pallets, Containers is Stagnant to
Declining." Pallet Enterprise. September 1997.
Eshbach, Ovid, Ed. Handbook of Engineering Fundamentals. Second Edition. John Wiley &
Sons, Inc.
Hardwood Market Report. February 28, 1998.
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Personal communication with representative of the National Wooden Pallet and Container
Association. September 1996.
Personal communication with representative of the U.S. Forestry Service Laboratory, Princeton,
WV. December 1991.
Personal communication with representative of U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service,
Forest Products Laboratory. December 1991.
Personal communication with representative of Virginia Polytechnic Institute. December 1991
and October 2002.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory. Wood Used in U.S.
Manufacturing Industries, 1977. December 1983.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Southern Research Center and Brooks Forest
Products Center, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, www.srs4702.forprod.vt.edu/pallets/new.asp.
U.S. Department of Commerce. U.S. Industrial Outlook. "Wood Products." Various years.
YARD TRIMMINGS
Composting Council Research and Education Foundation. "1995 Compost Capacity Survey."
James Butler and Associates. October 1996.
Franklin Associates, Ltd. The Role of Recycling in Integrated Solid Waste Management to the
Year 2000. Appendix J and Appendix K. Keep America Beautiful, Inc. September 1994.
Franklin Associates, Ltd. Survey of Selected State Officials. September 1997.
Franklin Associates, Ltd. Survey of Selected State Officials. July 2001 and July 2002.
Ill
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Chapter 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste by Weight
Glenn, Jim. "The State of Garbage in America Part I." BioCycle. April 1998.
Goldstein, Nora. "The State of Garbage in America." BioCycle. December 2002.
Goldstein, Nora. "The State of Garbage in America Part U." BioCycle. November 2000.
Goldstein, Nora and Jim Glenn. "The State of Garbage in America Part I." BioCycle. April 1997.
Goldstein, Nora and Jim Glenn. "The State of Garbage in America Part JJ." BioCycle. May 1997.
Raymond Communications. "State Recycling Laws Update." Various years.
Savage, George M. "The History and Utility of Waste Characterization Studies." MSW
Management. May/June 1994.
Steuteville, Robert. "The State of Garbage in America, Part I." BioCycle. April 1995.
Steuteville, Robert. "The State of Garbage in America, Part H." BioCycle. May 1995.
Steuteville, Robert. "The State of Garbage in America, Part H." BioCycle. May 1996.
"Yard Waste Legislation: Disposal Bans and Similar Bills as of July, 1993." Composting
Council. Fact Sheet. July 1993.
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CHAPTER 3
MANAGEMENT OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
INTRODUCTION
EPA's tiered integrated waste management strategy includes the following components:
1. Source reduction (including reuse of products and backyard composting of yard
trimmings).
2. Recycling of materials (including composting).
3. Disposal, including waste combustion (preferably with energy recovery) and
landfilling.
The three components are put into context in Figure 17.
This chapter addresses the major activities within an integrated waste management
system: source reduction, recycling (including composting), and disposal. Source reduction
activities have the effect of reducing MSW generation, while other management alternatives deal
with MSW once it is generated. National estimates of source reduction can be found later in this
chapter.
Estimates of the historical recovery of materials for recycling, including yard trimmings
for composting, are presented in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 discusses the current MSW management
infrastructure. Current solid waste collection, processing, and disposal programs and facilities
are highlighted with tables and figures. This chapter presents estimates of MSW combustion. It
also presents estimates for quantities of waste landfilled, which are obtained by subtracting the
amounts recovered for recycling (including composting) and the amounts combusted from total
MSW generation.
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Figure 17. Diagram of solid waste management
Changes in Changes in
package purchasing
design habits
t t
1 1
Generation
of waste for
management
Changes in
industrial
practices
1 ,
Backyard Increased Other
composting, reuse
grasscycling
1
changes in
use patterns
Recovery for
recycling (including
composting)
t ,
r
Combustion
disposal
|
SOURCE REDUCTION
1
1
Landfill
disposal
WASTE REDUCTION
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
SOURCE REDUCTION
During the past 40 years, the amount of waste each person creates has almost doubled
from 2.7 to 4.41 pounds per day. The most effective way to stop this trend is by preventing
waste from being generated in the first place.
Source reduction is gaining more attention as an important solid waste management
option. Source reduction, often called "waste prevention," is defined by EPA as "any change in
the design, manufacturing, purchase, or use of materials or products (including packaging) to
reduce their amount or toxicity before they become municipal solid waste. Prevention also refers
to the reuse of products or materials." Thus, source reduction activities affect the waste stream
before the point of generation. In this report, MSW is considered to have been generated if it is
placed at curbside or in a receptacle such as a dumpster for pickup, or if it is taken by the
generator to another site for recycling (including composting) or disposal.
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Source reduction encompasses a very broad range of activities by private citizens,
communities, commercial establishments, institutional agencies, and manufacturers and
distributors. Examples of source reduction actions are shown in Table 24 and include:
• Redesigning products or packages so as to reduce the quantity of materials or the
toxicity of the materials used, by substituting lighter materials for heavier ones
and lengthening the life of products to postpone disposal.
• Using packaging that reduces the amount of damage or spoilage to the product.
• Reducing amounts of products or packages used through modification of current
practices by processors and consumers.
• Reusing products or packages already manufactured.
• Managing non-product organic wastes (food scraps, yard trimmings) through
backyard composting or other on-site alternatives to disposal.
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Table 24
SELECTED EXAMPLES OF SOURCE REDUCTION PRACTICES
Source Reduction Practice
MSW Product Categories
Durable
Goods
Nondurable
Goods
Containers &
Packaging
Organics
Redesign
Materials reduction
Materials substitution
Lengthen life
• Downgauge metals in
appliances
• Use of composites
in appliances and
electronic circuitry
• High mileage tires
• Electronic components
reduce moving parts
• Paperless purchase
orders
• Regular servicing
• Look at warranties
• Extend warranties
• Concentrates
• Cereal in bags
• Coffee brick
• Multi-use products
• Design for secondary
uses
• Xeriscaping
Consumer Practices
• Purchase long lived
products
• Repair
• Duplexing
• Sharing
• Reduce unwanted
mail
• Purchasing:
products in bulk,
concentrates
Reuse
By design
Secondary
• Modular design
• Borrow or rent for
temporary use
• Give to charity
• Buy or sell at
garage sales
• Envelopes
• Clothing
• Waste paper
scratch pads
• Pallets
• Returnable secondary
packaging
• Loosefill
• Grocery sacks
• Dairy containers
• Glass and plastic jars
Reduce/Eliminate Toxins
• Eliminate PCBs
• Soy ink, waterbased
• Waterbased solvents
• Reduce mercury
• Replace lead foil on
wine bottles
Reduce Organics
Food wastes
Yard trimmings
• Backyard composting
• Vermi-composting
• Backyard composting
• Grasscycling
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
Source Reduction Through Redesign
Since source reduction of products and packages can save money by reducing materials
and energy costs, manufacturers and packaging designers have been pursuing these activities for
many years. Combined with other source reduction measures, redesign can have a significant
effect on material use and eventual discards. Design for source reduction can take several
approaches.
Materials substitution can make a product or package lighter. For example, there has
been a continuous trend of substitution of lighter materials such as plastics and aluminum for
materials such as glass and steel. The substitution also may involve a flexible package instead of
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a rigid package. A product or package can be redesigned to reduce weight or volume. Toxic
materials in products or packaging can be replaced with non-toxic substitutes. Considerable
efforts have been made in this area in the past few years.
Lengthening product life delays the time when the product enters the municipal waste
stream. The responsibility for lengthening product life lies partly with manufacturers and partly
with consumers. Manufacturers can design products to last longer and be easier to repair. Since
some of these design modifications may make products more expensive, at least initially,
manufacturers must be willing to invest in new product development, and consumers must
demand the products and be willing to pay for them to make the goal work. Consumers and
manufacturers also must be willing to care for and repair products.
Modifying Practices to Reduce Materials Use
Businesses and individuals often can modify their current practices to reduce the amounts
of waste generated. In a business office, electronic mail can replace printed memoranda and
data. Reports can be copied on both sides of the paper (duplexed). Modifying practices can be
combined with other source reduction measures to reduce generation and limit material use.
Individuals and businesses can request removal from mailing lists to reduce the amount
of mail received and discarded. When practical, products can be purchased in large sizes or in
bulk to minimize the amount of packaging per unit of product. Concentrated products also can
reduce packaging requirements; some of these products, such as fabric softeners and powdered
detergent, are designed for use with refillable containers.
Reuse of Products and Packages
Similar to lengthening product life, reuse of products and packages delays the time when
the items must finally be discarded as waste. When a product is reused, presumably purchase
and use of a new product is delayed, although this may not always be true.
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Many of the products characterized for this report are reused in sizable quantities (e.g.,
furniture, wood pallets, and clothing). The recovery of products and materials for recycling
(including composting) as characterized in Chapter 2 does not include reuse of products, but
reuse is discussed in this section.
Durable Goods. There is a long tradition of reuse of durable goods such as large and
small appliances, furniture, and carpets. Often this is done informally as individuals pass on used
goods to family members and friends. Other durable goods are donated to charitable
organizations for resale or use by needy families. Some communities and other organizations
have facilitated exchange programs for citizens, and there are for-profit retail stores that deal in
used furniture, appliances, and carpets. Individuals resell other goods at garage sales, flea
markets, and the like. Borrowing and sharing items like tools can also reduce the number of
products ultimately discarded. There is generally a lack of data on the volume of durable goods
reused in the United States, and what the ultimate effect on MSW generation might be.
Nondurable Goods. While nondurable goods by their very nature are designed for short-
term use and disposal, there is considerable reuse of some items classified as nondurable. In
particular, footwear, clothing, and other textile goods often are reused. Much of the reuse is
accomplished through the same types of channels as those described above for durable goods.
That is, private individuals, charitable organizations, and retail outlets (consignment shops) all
facilitate reuse of discarded clothing and footwear. In addition, considerable amounts of textiles
are reused as wiping cloths before being discarded.
Another often-cited waste prevention measure is the use of washable plates, cups,
napkins, towels, diapers, and other such products, instead of the disposable variety. (This will
reduce solid waste but will have other environmental effects, such as increased water and energy
use.) Other reusable items are available, for example: reusable air filters, reusable coffee filters,
and reconditioned printer cartridges.
Containers and Packaging. Containers and packaging can be reused in two ways: they
can be used again for their original purpose, or they can be used in other ways.
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Glass bottles are a prime example of reuse of a container for its original purpose.
Refillable glass beer and soft drink bottles can be collected, washed, and refilled for use again.
Some years ago large numbers of refillable glass soft drink bottles were used, but single-use
glass bottles, plastic bottles, and aluminum cans have largely replaced these. Considerable
numbers of beer bottles are collected for refilling, often by restaurants and taverns, where the
bottles can easily be collected and returned by the distributor. The Glass Packaging Institute
estimates that refillable glass bottles achieve a rate of eight trips (refillings) per bottle.
Another example in this category is the use of refurbished wood pallets for shipping
palletized goods. Based on USD A Forest Service data, more than 8 million tons of wood pallets
were refurbished and returned to service in 2001. It is also common practice to recondition steel
drums and barrels for reuse.
Many other containers and packages can be recycled, but are not often reused. Some
refillable containers (e.g., plastic laundry softener bottles) have been introduced: the original
container can be refilled using concentrate purchased in small packages. This practice can
achieve a notable source reduction in packaging. As another example, some grocery stores will
allow customers to reuse grocery sacks, perhaps allowing a refund for each sack brought back for
reuse. Also, many parcel shippers will take back plastic packaging "peanuts" for reuse.
Many ingenious reuses for containers and packaging are possible in the home. People
reuse boxes, bags, jars, jugs, and cans for many purposes around the house. There are no reliable
estimates as to how these specific activities affect the waste stream.
Management of Organic Materials
Food wastes and yard trimmings combined made up about 24 percent of MSW generation
in 2001, so source reduction measures aimed at these products can have an important effect on
waste generation. Composting is the usual method for recovering these organic materials. As
defined in this report, composting of organic materials after they are taken to a central
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composting facility is a recycling activity. Estimates for these off-site composting activities are
included in this chapter.
There are several types of source reduction that take place at the point of generation (e.g.,
the yard of a home or business). Estimates for these practices are provided later in this chapter.
The backyard composting of yard trimmings and certain food discards is a growing source
reduction practice. There also is a trend toward leaving grass clippings on lawns, often through
the use of mulching mowers. Other actions contributing to reduced organics disposal are:
establishment of variable fees for collection of wastes (also known as unit-based pricing or Pay-
As-You-Throw), which encourage residents to reduce the amount of wastes set out; improved
technology (mulching mowers); xeriscaping (landscaping with plants that use minimal water and
generate minimal waste); and certain legislation such as bans on disposal of yard trimmings in
landfills.
Part of the impetus for source reduction and recycling of yard trimmings is the large
number of state regulations discouraging landfilling or other disposal of yard trimmings. The
Composting Council and other sources reported that in 1992, 12 states (amounting to over 28
percent of the nations' population) had in effect legislation affecting management of yard
trimmings. In 1998, 23 states plus the District of Columbia (amounting to about 50 percent of
the nation's population) had legislation discouraging the disposal of yard trimmings.
Measuring Source Reduction
Although source reduction has been an increasingly important aspect of municipal solid
waste programs since the late 1980s, the goal of actually measuring how much source reduction
has taken place—how much waste prevention there has been—has proved elusive. Early
attempts by localities and states often consisted of measuring a single waste stream in a single
community. In time, additional research enabled proxy, or estimated values, to be developed for
specific waste streams, to use on a state-wide or national level. EPA's Source Reduction
Program Potential Manual and planning packet, published in 1997 (EPA530-E-97-001) provides
an example of this approach. Unlike recycling, where there are actual materials to weigh all
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through the process, measuring source reduction means trying to measure something that no
longer exists.
To measure the absence of waste at the national level, a factor had to be found—
something in the population or economy that has most closely followed the pattern of waste
generation and disposal. The statistic with the best relationship with waste generation has been
found to be Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE), or "consumer spending." This makes
sense since consumer spending reflects the goods and products, including food, and their
packaging, which are purchased, used, and ultimately discarded as municipal solid waste.
Over the last several decades, there has been almost continual increase in waste
generation in the United States. If that same rate of generation remained constant through 2000,
than about 287 million tons of waste would have been generated. But in 2000, only 232 million
tons of waste were actually generated. That is, 55 million tons of waste never made it to the
waste stream (Table 24-A). Source reduction is measured as the difference between the amount
of MSW that was projected to be generated in 2000 and the actual amount of MSW that was
generated in 2000.
Containers and packaging represent approximately 28 percent of the materials source
reduced in 2000, in addition to nondurable goods (e.g., newspapers, clothing) at 17 percent,
durable goods (e.g., appliances, furniture, tires) at 10 percent, and other MSW (e.g., yard
trimmings, food scraps) at 45 percent.
Some commodities and products show significant decreases (source reduction) and other
show increases in waste generation (source expansion) in 2000. A complete listing of source
reduction and source expansion for individual MSW components can be found in Appendix B.
The November 1999 National Source Reduction Characterization Report for Municipal
Solid Waste in the United States (EPA 530-R-99-034) explains the methodology that was used to
generate the source reduction estimates presented in this report. Further detail, including an
explanation of the significance of PCE as a predictor of waste, is provided in that report.
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Table 24-A
SOURCE REDUCTION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE, 1992-2000
(In millions of tons)
Year
1992
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
Million Tons
Source Reduced
0.6
8.0
21.4
31.0
31.8
37.3
42.8
55.1
Table 24-B
SOURCE REDUCTION BY MAJOR MATERIAL CATEGORIES, 2000
(In millions on tons)
Waste Stream
Durable Goods (e.g., appliances, furniture)
Nondurable Goods (e.g., newspapers, clothing)
Containers & Packaging (e.g., bottles, boxes)
Other MSW (e.g., yard trimmings, food scraps)
Total Source Reduction (1990 baseline)
Million Tons
Source Reduced
5.4
9.3
15.5
25.0
55.1
RECOVERY FOR RECYCLING (INCLUDING COMPOSTING)
Recyclables Collection
Before recyclable materials can be processed and recycled into new products, they must
be collected. Most residential recycling involves curbside recyclables collection, drop-off
programs, buy-back operations, and/or container deposit systems. Collection of recyclables from
commercial establishments is usually separate from residential recyclables collection programs.
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Curbside Recyclables Collection. In 2001, more than 9,700 curbside recyclables
collection programs were reported in the United States. As shown in Table 25 and Figure 18, the
extent of residential curbside recycling programs varies tremendously by geographic region, with
the most extensive curbside collection occurring in the Northeast.
Table 25
NUMBER AND POPULATION SERVED BY
CURBSIDE RECYCLABLES COLLECTION PROGRAMS, 2001
Region
NORTHEAST
SOUTH
MIDWEST
WEST
Total
Percent of Total U.S. Population
Number of
Programs
3,421
1,677
3,572
1,034
9,704
Population
(in thousands)
53,805
101,833
64,687
62,612
233,931
Population
(in thousands)
43,981
26,496
25,851
43,038
139,366
Served
Percent*
82%
26%
40%
69%
60%
49%
* Percent of population served by curbside programs was calculated using
population of states reporting data.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2002, BioCycle December 2001.
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Chapter 3
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100 -,
90 -
80 -
70 -
Q.
O
o- 50 -
O
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Chapter 3 Management of Municipal Solid Waste
with sparse population, drop-off centers may be the only option for collection of recyclable
materials. In other areas, they supplement other collection methods.
Buy-Back Centers. A buy-back center is typically a commercial operation that pays
individuals for recovered materials. This could include scrap metal dealers, aluminum can
centers, waste haulers, or paper dealers. Materials are collected by individuals, small businesses,
and charitable organizations.
Deposit Systems. Nine states have container deposit systems: Connecticut, Delaware,
Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Oregon, and Vermont (Figure 19). In these
programs, the consumer pays a deposit on beverage containers at the point of purchase, which is
redeemed on return of the empty containers. In addition, California has a similar system where
containers can be redeemed, but the consumer pays no deposit. Further, in 2002 Hawaii adopted
beverage container deposit legislation, which becomes effective in 2005.
Deposit systems generally target beverage containers (primarily beer and soft drink),
which account for less than 6 percent of total MSW generation. It is estimated that about 35
percent of all recovery of beverage containers comes from the nine traditional deposit states
mentioned above, and an additional 20 percent of recovered beverage containers comes from
California. (Note: These recovery estimates reflect not only containers redeemed by consumers
for deposit, but also containers recovered through existing curbside and drop-off recycling
programs. Containers recovered through these programs eventually are credited to the distributor
and counted towards the redemption rate.)
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Figure 19. States With Bottle Deposit Rules
Source: The Container Recycling Institute, 2002
Commercial Recyclables Collection. The largest quantity of recovered materials comes
from the commercial sector. Old corrugated containers (OCC) and office papers are widely
collected from commercial establishments. Grocery stores and other retail outlets that require
corrugated packaging are part of an infrastructure that brings in the most recovered material.
OCC is often baled at the retail outlet and picked up by a paper dealer.
Office paper (e.g., white, mixed color, computer paper, etc.) is part of another
commercial recyclables collection infrastructure. Depending on the quantities generated,
businesses (e.g., banks, institutions, schools, printing operations, etc.) can sort materials and have
them picked up by a paper dealer, or self deliver the materials to the recycler. It should be noted
that commercial operations also make recycling available for materials other than paper.
Multi-family residence recycling could be classified as either residential or commercial
recyclables collection. Multi-family refuse is usually handled as a commercial account by waste
haulers. These commercial waste haulers may handle recycling at multi-family dwellings
(typically five or more units) as well.
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Chapter 3 Management of Municipal Solid Waste
Recyclables Processing
Processing recyclable materials is performed at materials recovery facilities (MRFs),
mixed waste processing facilities, and mixed waste composting facilities. Some materials are
sorted at the curb and require less attention. Other materials are sorted into categories at the
curb, such as a paper category and a container category, with additional sorting at a facility
(MRF). Mixed waste can also be processed to pull out recyclable and compostable materials.
Materials Recovery Facilities. Materials recovery facilities vary widely across the
United States, depending on the incoming materials and the technology and labor used to sort the
materials. In 2001, 480 MRFs were operating in the United States, with an estimated total daily
throughput of 62,000 tons per day (Table 26). The most extensive recyclables processing
throughput occurs in the West and the South (Figure 20).
Table 26
MATERIALS RECOVERY FACILITIES, 2001
Estimated
Throughput
Region
NORTHEAST
SOUTH
MIDWEST
WEST
U.S. Total
Number
107
149
117
107
480
(tpd)
15,055
17,161
12,188
17,567
61,971
Source: Governmental Advisory Associates, Inc.
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300
Figure 20. Estimated MRF Throughput, 2001
(tons per day per million persons)
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Chapter 3
Management of Municipal Solid Waste
Nationally, mixed waste composting facilities handled about 1,600 tons per day in 2001,
and a throughput of about 1,400 tons per day in 2001. Nine of these mixed waste composting
facilities were located in the Midwest. In 2001, the highest processing capacity per million
persons was found in the South and Midwest, as shown in Figure 22.
Figure 21. Mixed Waste Processing Estimated Capacity, 2001
(tons per day per million persons)
450
400
350
o 300
S 250
= 200
150
100
50
Northeast South Midwest
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Governmental Advisory Associates, Inc.
West
Figure 22. MSW Composting Capacity, 2001
(Capacity in tons per day per million persons)
o 3
Northeast South
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, BioCycle December 2001.
Midwest
West
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Yard Trimmings Composting. Yard trimmings composting is much more prevalent
than mixed waste composting. On-site management of yard trimmings (back yard composting) is
discussed later in this chapter, and is classified as source reduction, not recycling. In 2000, 3,846
yard trimmings composting programs were reported. In 2001, about 75 percent of these
programs were in the Northeast and Midwest regions, as shown in Figure 23. Based on 15.8
million tons of yard trimmings recovered for composting in the United States (Table 2, Chapter
2), yard trimmings composting facilities handled approximately 43,200 tons per day in 2001.
Figure 23. Yard Trimmings Composting Programs, 2001
(In number of programs)
1 fiOO -
E 1 400 •
ro '
o> -| 200 •
0 -
Northeast
South
Midwest
West
Source: BioCycle December 2001.
COMBUSTION
Most of the municipal solid waste combustion currently practiced in this country
incorporates recovery of an energy product (generally steam or electricity). The resulting energy
reduces the amount needed from other sources, and the sale of the energy helps to offset the cost
of operating the facility. In past years, it was common to burn municipal solid waste in
incinerators solely as a volume reduction practice; energy recovery became more prevalent in the
1980s.
Total U.S. MSW combustion with energy recovery, referred to as waste-to-energy (WTE)
combustion, had a 2001 design capacity of 95,077 tons per day. There were 97 WTE facilities in
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Chapter 3 Management of Municipal Solid Waste
2001 (Table 27), down from 102 in 2000. In tons of capacity per million persons, the Southern
region had the most MSW combustion capacity in 2001 (Figure 24).
In addition to facilities combusting mixed MSW (processed or unprocessed), there is a
small but growing amount of combustion of source-separated MSW. In particular, rubber tires
have been used as fuel in cement kilns, utility boilers, pulp and paper mills, industrial boilers,
and dedicated scrap tire-to-energy facilities. In addition, there is combustion of wood wastes
and some paper and plastic wastes, usually in boilers that already burn some other type of solid
fuel. For this report, it was estimated that about 2.4 million tons of MSW were combusted in this
manner in 2001, with tires contributing a majority of the total.
Table 27
MUNICIPAL WASTE-TO-ENERGY PROJECTS, 2001
Region
NORTHEAST
SOUTH
MIDWEST
WEST
U.S. Total*
Number
Operational
40
30
19
8
97
Design
Capacity
(tpd)
44,985
32,904
12,380
4,808
95,077
* Projects on hold or inactive were not included.
Facilities in Hawaii and Alaska not included.
WTE includes mass burn, modular, and refuse-derived
fuel facilities.
Source: "The IWSA Directory of Waste-To-Energy Plants."
Integrated Waste Services Association, 2002.
In most cases the facilities have a stated daily capacity, but they normally operate at less
than capacity over the course of a year. It was assumed for this report that throughput over a year
of operation is 90 percent of rated capacity. In 2001 the total throughput of MSW through all
combustion facilities was estimated at 33.6 million tons, or 14.7 percent of MSW generation.
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120
o 100
| 80
1
40
Figure 24. Municipal Waste-to-Energy Capacity, 2001
(Capacity in tons per million persons)
Northeast South Midwest
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Integrated Waste Services Association 2002
West
RESIDUES FROM WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES
Whenever municipal wastes are processed, residues will remain. For the purposes of this
report, it is assumed that most of these residues are landfilled. Materials processing facilities
(MRFs) and compost facilities generate some residues when processing various recovered
materials. These residues include materials that are unacceptable to end users (e.g., broken glass,
wet newspapers), other contaminants (e.g.,products made of plastic resins that are not wanted by
the end user), or dirt. While residue generation varies widely, 5 to 10 percent is probably typical
for a MRF. Residues from a MRF or compost facility are generally landfilled. Since the
recovery estimates in this report are based on recovered materials purchased by end users rather
than materials entering a processing facility, the residues are counted with other disposed
materials.
When municipal solid waste is combusted, a residue (usually called ash) is left behind.
Years ago this ash was commonly disposed of along with municipal solid waste, but combustor
o
ash is not counted as MSW in this report because it generally is managed separately . (There are
Note that many combustion facilities do magnetic separation of residues to recover ferrous metals, e.g.,
steel cans and steel in other miscellaneous durable goods. This recovered steel is included in the total recovery of
ferrous metals in MSW reported in Chapter 2.
132
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Chapter 3 Management of Municipal Solid Waste
a number of efforts underway to reuse ash.) As a general "rule of thumb," MSW combustor ash
amounts to about 25 percent (by weight) of unprocessed MSW input. This percentage will vary
from facility to facility depending upon the types of waste input and the efficiency and
configuration of the facility.
LANDFILLS
Although the number of landfills is decreasing, the capacity has remained relatively
constant, because newer landfills are much larger than those built many years ago. In 2001, there
were 1,858 municipal solid waste landfills were reported in the contiguous United States.
Table 28 and Figure 25 show the number of landfills in each region. The Southeast and
West had the largest number of landfills. Twenty-nine states had more than 10 years of capacity
left, down from 1997, in which 42 states had more than 10 years of capacity left. Six states had 5
to 10 years of capacity remaining. Only three states reported having less than 5 years of capacity
remaining. Ten states, however, do not have capacity data available.
Table 28
LANDFILL FACILITIES, 2001
Region
NORTHEAST
SOUTHEAST
MIDWEST
WEST
U.S. Total *
Number of
Landfills *
143
738
441
536
1,858
Number of States with
Years Capacity Remaining
>10yr
4
11
8
6
29
5 to 10 yr
3
1
2
0
6
<5yr
2
0
1
0
3
* Excludes landfills reported in Alaska (275) and Hawaii (9).
Capacity data not available for 10 states.
Source: BioCycle December 2001.
133
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Chapter 3
Management of Municipal Solid Waste
Figure 25: Number of Landfills in the U.S., 2001
oUU
w OUU n
i^
E
_co
"5
i_ /inn -
CD 4UU
_Q
E
^
onn -
iiUU
n -
i
i
i
i
Northeast
South
Midwest
West
Source: BioCycle December 2001.
SUMMARY OF HISTORICAL AND CURRENT MSW MANAGEMENT
This summary provides some perspective on historical and current municipal solid waste
management practices in the United States. The results are summarized in Table 29 and Figure
26.
134
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Chapter 3
Management of Municipal Solid Waste
Table 29
GENERATION, MATERIALS RECOVERY, COMPOSTING, COMBUSTION,
AND DISCARDS OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE, 1960 TO 2001
(In thousands of tons and percent of total generation)
Thousands of Tons
Generation
Recovery for recycling
Recovery for composting*
Total Materials Recovery
Discards after recovery
Combustion**
Discards to landfill,
other disposalf
1960
88,120
5,610
Neg.
5,610
82,510
27,000
55,510
1970
121,060
8,020
Neg.
8,020
113,040
25,100
87,940
1980
151,640
14,520
Neg.
14,520
137,120
13,700
123,420
1990
205,210
29,040
4,200
33,240
171,970
31,900
140,070
Pounds per Person per
Generation
Recovery for recycling
Recovery for composting*
Total Materials Recovery
Discards after recovery
Combustion**
Discards to landfill,
other disposalf
Population (thousands)
1960
2.68
0.17
Neg.
0.17
2.51
0.82
1.69
179,979
1970
3.25
0.22
Neg.
0.22
3.04
0.67
2.36
203,984
1980
3.66
0.35
Neg.
0.35
3.31
0.33
2.98
227,255
1990
4.50
0.64
0.09
0.73
3.77
0.70
3.07
249,907
1995
213,700
46,150
9,600
55,750
157,950
35,540
122,410
Day
1995
4.45
0.96
0.20
1.16
3.29
0.74
2.55
263,168
1999
231,400
50,800
14,720
65,520
165,880
34,040
131,840
1999
4.65
1.02
0.30
1.33
3.32
0.68
2.65
272,691
2000
231,960
51,230
16,450
67,680
164,280
33,730
130,550
2000
4.52
1.00
0.32
1.32
3.20
0.66
2.54
281,422
2001
229,230
51,440
16,550
67,990
161,240
33,600
127,640
2001
4.41
0.99
0.32
1.31
3.10
0.65
2.46
284,797
Percent of Total Generation
Generation
Recovery for recycling
Recovery for composting*
Total Materials Recovery
Discards after recovery
Combustion**
Discards to landfill,
other disposalf
1960
100.0%
6.4%
Neg.
6.4%
93.6%
30.6%
63.0%
1970
100.0%
6.6%
Neg.
6.6%
93.4%
20.7%
72.6%
1980
100.0%
9.6%
Neg.
9.6%
90.4%
9.0%
81.4%
1990
100.0%
14.2%
2.0%
16.2%
83.8%
15.5%
68.3%
1995
100.0%
21.6%
4.5%
26.1%
73.9%
16.6%
57.3%
1999
100.0%
22.0%
6.4%
28.3%
71.7%
14.7%
57.0%
2000
100.0%
22.1%
7.1%
29.2%
70.8%
14.5%
56.3%
2001
100.0%
22.4%
7.2%
29.7%
70.3%
14.7%
55.7%
* Composting of yard trimmings, food scraps and other MSW organic material. Does not include backyard composting.
** Includes combustion of MSW in mass bum or refuse-derived fuel form, and combustion with energy recovery of source separated
materials in MSW (e.g., wood pallets and tire-derived fuel).
| Discards after recovery minus combustion.
Details may not add to totals due to rounding.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
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Chapter 3
Management of Municipal Solid Waste
Figure 26: Municipal Solid Waste Management, 1960 to 2001
Recovery of the composting
component of recycling N.
Historically, municipal solid waste generation has grown steadily (from 88 million tons in
1960 to over 225 million tons at present). In the 1960s and early 1970s a large percentage of
MSW was burned, with little recovery for recycling. Landfill disposal typically consisted of
open dumping, often accompanied with open burning of the waste for volume reduction.
Through the mid-1980s, incineration declined considerably and landfills became difficult to site,
and waste generation continued to increase. Materials recovery rates increased very slowly in
this time period, and the burden on the nation's landfills grew dramatically. As Figure 26 shows,
discards of MSW to landfill or other disposal apparently peaked in the 1986-1987 period, then
began to decline as materials recovery and combustion increased.
More recently, tons landfilled have been growing again, to accommodate increased
generation, while since 1997 combustion declined slightly and recycling rose slightly. Although
there are now fewer municipal solid waste landfills, their average size has increased, and capacity
at the national level does not appear to be a problem. It should be noted that there are fewer years
of landfill capacity available than there were 2 years ago. Compared to 2 years ago, more states
have less than a decade of capacity left. In addition, regional dislocations sometimes occur.
Recovery has increased steadily. Combustion has held steady-14.7 percent of generation
in 2001. MSW discards to landfills rose to about 132 million tons in 1999, then declined to 128
million tons in 2001, close to 1998 levels. As a percentage of total MSW generation, landfilling
has consistently decreased-from 83 percent of generation in 1986 to 55.7 percent in 2001.
136
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Chapter 3 Management of Municipal Solid Waste
CHAPTER 3
REFERENCES
GENERAL
Franklin Associates, Ltd. Solid Waste Management at the Crossroads. December 1997.
U.S. Bureau of the Census. Statistical Abstract of the United States. Various years.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Municipal Solid Waste Task Force, Office of Solid
Waste. The Solid Waste Dilemma: An Agenda for Action. February 1989.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United
States: 1990 Update. EPA/530-SW-90-042. June 1991.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United
States: 1992 Update. EPA/53O-R-92-019. July 1992.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United
States: 1994 Update. EPA/530-R-94-042. November 1994.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United
States: 1995 Update. EPA/530-R-945-001. March 1996.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United
States: 1996 Update. EPA/530-R-97-015. June 1997.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United
States: 1997 Update. EPA/530-R-98-007. May 1998.
137
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Chapter 3 Management of Municipal Solid Waste
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 1999 Facts
and Figures. EPA/530-R-01-014. July 2001.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 2000 Facts
and Figures. EPA/530-R-02-001. June 2002.
SOURCE REDUCTION
Congress of the United States, Office of Technology Assessment. Green Products by Design:
Choices for a Cleaner Environment. OTA-E-541. October 1992.
Council on Packaging in the Environment. "COPE Backgrounder: Source Reduction." March
1995.
Franklin Associates, Ltd. Materials Technology: Packaging Design and the Environment.
Congress of the United States, Office of Technology Assessment. April 1991.
Franklin Associates, Ltd. The Role of Recycling in Integrated Solid Waste Management to the
Year 2000. Keep America Beautiful, Inc. 1994.
Rattray, Tom. "Source Reduction—An Endangered Species?" Resource Recycling. November
1990.
Raymond Communications Inc. State Recycling Laws Update Year-End Edition 1998.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The Consumer's Handbook for Reducing Solid Waste.
EPA/530-K-92-003. August 1992.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Waste Wise: Second Year Progress Report. EPA/530-R-
96-016. September 1996.
138
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Chapter 3 Management of Municipal Solid Waste
RECOVERY FOR RECYCLING AND COMPOSTING
Block, Dave, and Nora Goldstein. "Solid Waste Composting Trends in the U.S." BioCycle.
November 2000.
Glenn, Jim. "The State of Garbage in America." BioCycle. April 1998.
Glenn, Jim. "MSW Composting in the United States." BioCycle. November 1997.
Glenn, Jim. "The State of Garbage in America." BioCycle. April 1998.
Goldstein, Nora, and Celeste Madtes. "The State of Garbage in America." BioCycle. November
2000.
Goldstein, Nora. "The State of Garbage in America." BioCycle. December 2001.
Governmental Advisory Associates. The Materials Recycling and Processing Industry in the
United States: 1995-96 Yearbook, Atlas, and Directory. 1995.
Governmental Advisory Associates. 7997 Update to the Materials Recycling and Processing
Industry in the United States. 1991.
Governmental Advisory Associates. Communications with Franklin Associates. 1998, 2002.
Governmental Advisory Associates. Unpublished data.
Kreith, Frank. Handbook of Solid Waste Management. McGraw-Hill, Inc. 1994.
The Composting Council. "MSW Composting Facilities." Fall 1995.
139
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Chapter 3 Management of Municipal Solid Waste
U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. Statistical Abstract of the United States.
1997.
COMBUSTION
"1991-1992 Energy-From-Waste Report." Solid Waste & Power. HCI Publications. October
1991, December 1990.
Integrated Waste Services Association. "High Court Rules Ash Not Exempt from Subtitle C
Regulation." Update. Summer 1994.
Integrated Waste Services Association. The IWSA Directory ofWaste-to-Energy Plants. 2000.
Integrated Waste Services Association. The IWSA Directory ofWaste-to-Energy Plants. 2001,
2002
Kiser, Jonathan V.L. "A Comprehensive Report on the Status of Municipal Waste Combustion."
Waste Age. November 1990.
Kiser, Jonathan V.L. "Municipal Waste Combustion in North America: 1992 Update." Waste
Age. November 1992.
Kiser, Jonathan V.L. "The 1992 Municipal Waste Combustion Guide." National Solid Wastes
Management Association. February 1992.
Kiser, Jonathan V.L. "The IWSA Municipal Waste Combustion Directory: 1993." Integrated
Waste Services Association. February 1994.
Kiser, Jonathan V.L., and John Menapace. "The 1995 IWSA Municipal Waste Combustion
Directory of United States Facilities." Integrated Waste Services Association. March 1995.
140
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Chapter 3 Management of Municipal Solid Waste
Kiser, Jonathan V.L., and John Menapace. "The 1996 IWSA Municipal Waste Combustion
Directory of United States Facilities." Integrated Waste Services Association. March 1996.
Rigo, Greg and Maria Zannes. "The 1997-1998 IWSA Waste-to-Energy Director of United
States Facilities." Integrated Waste Services Association. November 1997.
Levy, Steven J. Municipal Waste Combustion Inventory. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Office of Solid Waste, Municipal & Industrial Solid Waste Division. November 22, 1991.
National Solid Wastes Management Association. "The 1992 Municipal Waste Combustion
Guide." Waste Age. November 1992.
"The 1991 Municipal Waste Combustion Guide." Waste Age. November 1991.
141
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Appendix A Materials Flow Methodology
APPENDIX A
MATERIALS FLOW METHODOLOGY
The materials flow methodology is illustrated in Figures A-l and A-2. The crucial first
step is making estimates of the generation of the materials and products in MSW (Figure A-l).
DOMESTIC PRODUCTION
Data on domestic production of materials and products were compiled using published
data series. U.S. Department of Commerce sources were used where available, but in several
instances more detailed information on production of goods by end use is available from trade
associations. The goal is to obtain a consistent historical data series for each product and/or
material.
CONVERTING SCRAP
The domestic production numbers were then adjusted for converting or fabrication scrap
generated in the production processes. Examples of these kinds of scrap would be clippings from
plants that make boxes from paperboard, glass scrap (cullet) generated in a glass bottle plant, or
plastic scrap from a fabricator of plastic consumer products. This scrap typically has a high value
because it is clean and readily identifiable, and it is almost always recovered and recycled within
the industry that generated it. Thus, converting/fabrication scrap is not counted as part of the
postconsumer recovery of waste.
ADJUSTMENTS FOR IMPORTS/EXPORTS
In some instances imports and exports of products are a significant part of MSW, and
adjustments were made to account for this.
142
-------
Appendix A Materials Flow Methodology
DIVERSION
Various adjustments were made to account for diversions from MSW. Some consumer
products are permanently diverted from the municipal waste stream because of the way they are
used. For example, some paperboard is used in building materials, which are not counted as
MSW. Another example of diversion is toilet tissue, which is disposed in sewer systems rather
than becoming MSW.
In other instances, products are temporarily diverted from the municipal waste stream.
For example, textiles reused as rags are assumed to enter the waste stream the same year the
textiles are initially discarded.
ADJUSTMENTS FOR PRODUCT LIFETIME
Some products (e.g., newspapers and packaging) normally have a very short lifetime;
these products are assumed to be discarded in the same year they are produced. In other instances
(e.g., furniture and appliances), products have relatively long lifetimes. Data on average product
lifetimes are used to adjust the data series to account for this.
RECOVERY
Data on recovery of materials and products for recycling are compiled using industry data
adjusted, when appropriate, with U.S. Department of Commerce import/export data. Recovery
estimates of yard trimmings for composting are developed from data provided by state officials.
DISCARDS
Mathematically, discards equal that portion of generation remaining after recovery for
recycling and composting.
143
-------
Appendix A Materials Flow Methodology
MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE GENERATION, RECOVERY, AND DISCARDS
The result of these estimates and calculations is a material-by-material and product-by-
product estimate of MSW generation, recovery, and discards.
144
-------
Appendix A
Materials Flow Methodology
Domestic Production
of
Materials/Products
Conversion/
fabricating
Scrap
Imports
of
Materials/Products
Exports
of
Materials/Products
Diversion
of
Materials/Products
Permanent
Diversion
Municipal
Solid Waste
Generation
Temporary
Diversion
Figure A-1. Material flows methodology for estimating
generation of products and materials in municipal solid waste.
145
-------
Appendix A
Materials Flow Methodology
MSW
Generation
Recovery
for
Recycling
Recovery
for
Composting
T
Discards
after
Recycling
and
Composting
Recovery for
Combustion
with
Energy
Recovery
Recovery for
Combustion
without
Energy Recovery
Discards
to Landfill
and
Other
Disposal
Figure A-2. Material flows methodology for estimating
discards of products and materials in municipal solid waste.
146
-------
Appendix B
Source Reduction/Expansion for Individual Components ofMSW
APPENDIX B
Table B-l. Source Reduction/Expansion for Individual Components of MSW - 2000
(Thousands of Tons)
Waste Stream by Commodity
Durable Goods
Miscellaneous Durables
Furniture/Furni shings
Major Appliances
Tires
Batteries, Lead Acid
Carpets/Rugs
Small Appliances
SR Subtotal
SE Subtotal
Net Value
Nondurable Goods
Newspapers
Magazines
Other Nonpackaging Paper
Office Paper
Tissue Paper/Towels
Miscellaneous Nondurables
Source Reduction /
Expansion
2,770
1,656
989
379
172
(248)
(357)
5,966
(605)
5,361
3,752
1,828
1,510
1,435
930
641
(continued on next page)
147
-------
Appendix B
Source Reduction/Expansion for Individual Components ofMSW
Waste Stream by Commodity
Source Reduction /
Expansion
Disposable Diapers
Trash Bags
Books
Towels, Sheets, Pillowcases
Telephone Directories
Plastic Plates/Cups
Standard (A) Mail
Third Class Mail
Other Commercial Printing
Cl othing/F ootwear
SR Subtotal
SE Subtotal
Net Value
436
241
217
173
113
39
(131)
(228)
(802)
(852)
11,315
(2,013)
9,302
Packaging
Wood Packaging
Corrugated Boxes
Glass Food/Other Bottles & Jars
Glass Beer/Soft Drink Bottles
Paper Bags/Sacks
Steel Food/Other Cans
3,560
3,369
2,458
2,028
1,862
912
(continued on next page)
148
-------
Appendix B
Source Reduction/Expansion for Individual Components ofMSW
Waste Stream by Commodity
Source Reduction /
Expansion
Glass Wine/Liquor Bottles
Aluminum Beer/Soft Drink Cans
Folding Cartons
Milk Cartons
Steel Beer/Soft Drink Cans
Other Paperboard Packaging
Wrapping Papers
Aluminum-Foils/Closure
Other Paper Packaging
Plastic Milk Bottles
Steel-Other Packaging
Plastics-Other Packaging
Aluminum-Other Cans
Other Misc. Packaging
Plastic Soft Drink Bottles
Plastic Bags/Sacks
Plastic Wraps
Plastic-Other Containers
SR Subtotal
SE Subtotal
Net Value
869
648
434
223
210
206
154
82
57
51
40
13
(22)
(30)
(229)
(335)
(410)
(630)
17,175
(1,657)
15,518
(continued on next page)
149
-------
Appendix B
Source Reduction/Expansion for Individual Components ofMSW
Source Reduction /
Waste Stream by Commodity Expansion
Other Wastes
Yard Trimmings
Food Scraps
Miscellaneous Inorganic Wastes
SR Subtotal
SE Subtotal
Net Value
SR Total
SE Total
Grand Total
21,219
3,190
556
24,965
0
24,965
59,420
(4,274)
55,146
150
-------
Appendix C Consumer Electronics in Municipal Solid Waste
APPENDIX C
CONSUMER ELECTRONICS IN MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE
INTRODUCTION
Consumer electronic products (electronics) are a fast growing segment of the MSW
stream, creating increasing opportunities for recycling. Generation of these products from both
residences and commercial establishments is increasing. In the past three years, EPA has studied
consumer electronics to estimate generation, recovery, and disposal of these products.
The tables and figures in this appendix represent the results of the characterization of
consumer electronics in MSW. In previous editions of the EPA report, Characterization of
Municipal Solid Waste in the United States, EPA has included electronics under the category
"Miscellaneous Durables," along with other products such as toys, toasters, dishes, and luggage.
EPA now has defined consumer electronic products as a subcategory under the Miscellaneous
Durables category. Due to data limitations, this appendix addresses many but not all categories
of electronic products. (Electronics that are not covered specifically in this appendix are
included in the main body of this report in Chapter 2 as part of Other Miscellaneous Durables).
The 2001 generation estimates are based on sales data provided by the Consumer Electronics
Association (CEA), and the Appliance Statistical Review (Dana Chase Publications, Inc., May
2002) along with data from the United States Census Bureau.
Consumer electronic products include electronic products used in residences and
commercial establishments such as businesses and institutions. Consumer electronics include
video and audio equipment and information age products. Video products include standard
televisions (TV), projection TV, high definition TV, liquid crystal display TV, VCR decks,
camcorders, laserdisc players, digital versatile disc players, and TV/personal computers (PC).
151
-------
Appendix C
Consumer Electronics in Municipal Solid Waste
'5
3
1
1
a.
3.
S
Figure C-l:
SELECTED CONSUMER ELECTRONICS:
Total Units Shipped 1984 - 2001
(1,000 units)
150,000 -
A
^~*r
/r
^St
.^*^
^*—~*~~~~*
jy — J
^_^*"^
^^-* •
« +^
1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Year
^ Total Units Shipped
Audio products include rack audio systems, compact audio systems, portable compact
discs (CD), portable headset audio, total CD players, and home radios. Information products
include cordless/corded telephones, wireless telephones, telephone answering machines,
facsimile (fax) machines, word processors, personal computers, computer printers, computer
monitors, modems, and fax modems. Certain other electronic products such as separate audio
components are excluded because of data limitations.
This appendix presents findings for consumer electronics by material composition (e.g.,
metals, glass, and plastic), as well as total generation, recovery, and discards for 2001.
Additionally, this appendix categorizes consumer electronics as video products, audio products,
or information products. The growth of selected consumer electronic product sales since 1984 is
depicted in Figure C-l. In 1984, less than 150 million units were shipped. The number of units
shipped increased to more than 520 million by 2001.
The rapid growth in consumer electronic sales has caused an increase in the quantity of
electronic products in the MSW stream. Management of these wastes is a concern to
governmental officials responsible for the safe handling of solid waste. Below, we list the
specific electronic products included in this appendix, followed by a discussion of the
methodology and data limitations.
152
-------
Appendix C Consumer Electronics in Municipal Solid Waste
PRODUCTS IN CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
The consumer electronics category includes video, audio, and information products. The
specific products included in the consumer electronics category were limited by available sales
and trade data. For example, pagers and radar detectors were not included because historical data
were not available. Some additional items excluded due to inadequate data were: separate studio
components, home theater-in-a-box, digital cameras, electronic accessories, and electronic
games. It should be noted that consumer electronics not estimated separately will continue to be
included in the "Miscellaneous Durables" category in the annual characterization studies in the
subcategory "Other Miscellaneous Durables" (Tables 12 to 14 in Chapter 2 of the main report).
Table C-l lists the selected consumer electronic products.
METHODOLOGY
Research was conducted to develop a reproducible methodology for estimating
generation, recovery for recycling, and discards of consumer electronics on an annual basis. The
methodology relies on published data on shipments of consumer electronics (adjusted for imports
and exports) for the years 1984 to 2000. The methodology combines data from three sources: (1)
The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), and (2) the Appliance Statistical Review, and (3)
the U.S. Department of Commerce trade data. CEA and the Appliance Statistical Review data
reflect shipments of consumer electronics to retail outlets. The U.S. Census Bureau's Current
Industrial Reports include trade data (shipments, imports, and exports) from the U.S. Department
of Commerce. In order to estimate generation, the number of units shipped is combined with the
average life span and weight of each product. Average weights for consumer electronics were
estimated after collecting information from catalogs and consumer electronic magazines and
weighing available items. The information was then compared to information from retail shops,
repair shops, demanufacturers, recyclers, other organizations, and government agencies to arrive
at the estimates for composition of waste after retail sales, recovery for recycling, and discards.
153
-------
Appendix C
Consumer Electronics in Municipal Solid Waste
Table C-l
SELECTED CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
Video Products
Televisions
Projection TV
HDTV*
LCD TV
TV/VCR Combinations*
Videocassette Players
VCR Decks
Camcorders
Laserdiscs players
Digital Versatile Disc Players*
TV/PC Combinations*
Audio Products
Rack Audio Systems
Compact Audio Systems
Portable CD
Portable Headset Audio
Total CD Players
Home Radios
Information Products
Cordless/Corded Telephones
Wireless Telephones
Telephone Answering Machines
Fax Machines
Personal Word Processors
Personal Computers
Computer Printers
Computer Monitors
Modems/Fax Modems
*Items not expected to enter the municipal waste stream until after 2001.
DEFINITION OF TERMS
Generation: This analysis defines generation as the weight of products that enter the
waste management system from residential and commercial sources, before materials recovery
takes place. Primary life and secondary life (reuse) occur before generation. In other words,
waste is generated only after the first and any subsequent users of the product are through using it
for its original purpose.
154
-------
Appendix C Consumer Electronics in Municipal Solid Waste
Recovery for recycling: This analysis defines recovery for recycling as the products
removed from the waste stream for the purpose of recycling. Product recovery for overseas
markets is considered recovery for recycling.
Discards: This analysis defines discards as the consumer electronics remaining after
recovery for recycling. Discards are presumably combusted or landfilled in MSW or hazardous
waste facilities, although some electronic products are placed in storage.
Data Collection and Research
In addition to sales and trade data, information was collected regarding the weight,
expected life span, and composition for each type of consumer electronic product analyzed.
Numerous research and case studies were reviewed. Additional information sources include
manufacturers, retailers, repair shops, demanufacturers, recyclers, industry organizations, and
governmental agencies. Table C-2 lists the types of information received from each of these
entities.
Generation
Consumer electronic generation was estimated by calculating the annual apparent
consumption for each electronic product and estimating how many years a particular product is
used before it is disposed. Apparent consumption equals U.S. manufacturer shipments plus U.S.
imports minus U.S. exports. The year in which a particular electronic item enters the municipal
solid waste stream was determined from the estimated life span of the item. The average weight
of each item also was estimated.
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Appendix C Consumer Electronics in Municipal Solid Waste
Table C-2
Consumer Electronics Data Collection
Information Requested
Manufacturers
Retail Shops
Repair Shops
Demanufacturers
Recyclers
Organizations
Government
Product weights, composition, and life span
Product weights
Product composition and life span
Product composition and life span
Product composition and life span
Information on units shipped
Units shipped, product weights, composition,
and life span
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
Factory sales through retail outlets for the years 1984 though 2000 were obtained from
the Consumer Electronics Association and the Appliance Statistical Review. These data estimate
the number of units shipped, adjusted for imports and exports, to U.S. retailers. To supplement
the CEA data, Current Industrial Reports, published by the U.S. Census Bureau, was used to
obtain shipment, import, and export data.
All consumer electronics included in this study have an estimated lifespan. The estimated
lifespan includes primary and, when applicable, secondary use (reuse) of a product. Reuse of
consumer electronic products thus is taken into account in the methodology. Consumer
electronics repair shops provided estimates on life span of all audio and video products.
Telephone repair shops provided estimates for life spans of cordless/corded telephones and
wireless telephones.
Estimated computer and computer monitor life spans found in the Electronic Product
Recovery and Recycling Baseline Report for the National Safety Council were used. Estimated
life spans for all other computer peripherals, such as personal word processors, printers, fax
machines, and fax modems, were based on data gathered from trade associations and businesses.
Life span ranges for the selected consumer electronics are shown in Table C-3.
Televisions have a lifespan of 13 to 15 years—the longest lifespan of all consumer electronics
studied. Wireless telephones have the shortest lifespan—2 to 4 years—of all consumer
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Appendix C Consumer Electronics in Municipal Solid Waste
electronics studied. The methodology of this analysis used the life span, weight, and number of
shipments to determine the generation for a particular year.
As an example of the methodology, consider VCR generation. VCRs have an estimated
lifespan of 7 to 10 years, which corresponds to shipments made from 1991 to 1994. The average
total weight of VCR shipments from 1991 to 1994 is computed. This average weight of VCRs
manufactured between 1991 and 1994 is then multiplied by the number of VCRs shipped
between the same years. This yields the generation of VCRs by weight, for 2000. The
generation of other consumer electronics was estimated similarly based on the expected life of
the individual products. Generation of consumer electronics in the waste stream is the
summation of the individual product estimates.
The ranges shown in Table C-3 represent both the primary and secondary life of the
products. As stated above, the secondary life (or reuse) of a product takes place before a product
enters the municipal waste stream.
The average weights for the selected consumer electronics were estimated for the years
1984 through 2000. Since consumer electronics sold in 2001 do not represent the consumer
electronics currently entering the waste stream, a time series was developed based on expected
life spans. Average weights for these years were estimated after collecting information from
catalogs and consumer electronic magazines, and weighing available items. If weights for a
specific product and year were not found, average weights were extrapolated from existing
estimates. For example, camcorder weights were found for the years 1985, 1990, 1995, 1998,
and 2000. Camcorder weights for the other years were estimated from these weights. Current
average weights were based on information from retail outlets and retail and manufacturers' Web
sites.
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Appendix C
Consumer Electronics in Municipal Solid Waste
Table C-3
ESTIMATED LIFE OF SELECTED CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
(in years)
Video Products
Direct View Color TV
Projection TV
LCD Color TV
Videocassette Players
VCR Decks
Camcorders
Laserdisc Players
Audio Products
Rack Audio System
Compact Audio System
Portable CD
Portable Headset Audio
Total CD Players
Home Radios
Information Products
Cordless/Corded Telephones
Wireless Telephones
Telephone Answering Machines
Fax Machines
Personal Word Processors
Personal Computers
Computer Printers
Computer Monitors
Modem/Fax Modems
Range of Primary and Secondary
Use (Reuse) Life Expectancy
13to 15
1 3 to 1 5
13to 15
7 to 10
7 to 10
7 to 10
7 to 10
3to15
3to15
3 to 15
3to15
3 to 15
3to15
3 to 6
2 to 4
3 to 6
3 to 6
3 to 6
3 to 6
3 to 5
6 to 7
3 to 6
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
Retail sources also provided national market data on the number of televisions sold. Due
to the wide range of sizes for televisions, televisions have a wide range of weights. To account
for the varying weights of televisions, a weighted average was developed by comparing retail and
market share data.
All other average weights were estimated after collecting as many weights as possible
from the sources listed above for each size and style of product. Market share data were not
available for other products.
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Appendix C Consumer Electronics in Municipal Solid Waste
Data received from the various information sources were combined to estimate the
material composition of the selected consumer electronic products. The primary sources used to
estimate composition data include:
• The Recycling and Demanufacturing of Computers and Electronic Equipment in
Pasco County, Florida.
• End-of-Life Electronic Equipment Pilot Program Summary Report, Alachua
County, Florida.
• Recycling Used Electronics, Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance.
• Analysis of Five Community Consumer/Residential Collections End-Of-Life
Electronic and Electrical Equipment.
• Information provided by the National Recycling Coalition.
• Discussions with repair shop personnel, recyclers, and demanufacturers.
• •
Information on composition for the selected consumer electronics includes products from
several different years. Since the composition estimates were developed from recovery data, it
was assumed that the data represent a mix of products from various years. Therefore, the
composition for each specific consumer electronic product was assumed to be the same for the
entire data series.
RECOVERED FOR RECYCLING
After primary and secondary use of consumer electronics, recovered products are taken to
a demanufacturer (see Figure C-2). Recovery may occur through a local collection program,
such as a one-day collection event, or through ongoing collection at a permanent site. Some
generators may have the option of taking consumer electronics directly to a demanufacturer or a
private recycler. Other consumer electronic products are left at repair shops or traded for new
products through retailers or manufacturers. Some retailers and manufacturers have initiated
pilot take-back programs. Repair shops typically will remove any usable parts before recycling
or discarding. Demanufacturers recycle the products into raw materials and salvage parts for
repair. Parts that cannot be recycled are to be disposed of by the demanufacturer in accordance
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Appendix C
Consumer Electronics in Municipal Solid Waste
with federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. Demanufacturing is
complicated by the variety of consumer products available for recovery. For example, although
all consumer electronics contain plastic, the plastic resins vary from product to product.
According to the American Plastics Council (APC), there are few large, homogenous streams of
material that can be targeted for recovery through recycling9. A number of public and private
organizations, including APC, are studying the problems and possible solutions for increased
consumer electronic product recovery.
Figure C-2: Life Cycle for Consumer Electronics
Primary use of
Consumer
Electronics
^-
^-
Secondary use
(reuse) of
Consumer
Electronics
V
i
i
X
Demanufac-
turing
1
r
Disposal
Raw Materials
Whole Parts
for Repair
Although there has been a small increase in collection programs throughout the country to
divert old and outdated consumer electronics from disposal, central collection of recovery data
does not exist. The recovery figures estimated in this analysis rely upon the information in the
National Safety Council's Electronic Product Recovery and Recycling Baseline Report and
Recycling of Selected Electronic Products in the United States for TVs, computers, and monitors.
For these products, as well as for word processors and printers, data from written reports were
Plastics from Residential Electronics Recyling. A summary report from the Electrical and Electronics
Group of the American Plastics Council. April 2000.
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Appendix C
Consumer Electronics in Municipal Solid Waste
supplemented by personal communications with recyclers, demanufacturers, state government
experts, representatives of trade associations, and representatives of businesses. All other
consumer electronic product recovery was assumed to be negligible.
Discards After Recovery
Since recycling of consumer electronics is in its infancy, the majority of the consumer
electronic waste generated is discarded. A factor that could affect the final discard amount is the
number of products placed into storage. Storage of consumer electronics exists, but is difficult to
quantify. This methodology assumes that consumer electronics are leaving storage at the same
rate they are entering. Discards in this analysis equal generation minus recovery for recycling.
RESULTS
The composition by material of the selected consumer electronic products generated is
summarized in Table C-4. The material composition of each consumer electronic category is
discussed below.
Table C-4
TOTAL GENERATION OF CONSUMER ELECTRONICS BY MATERIAL
IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM
(In percent of total generation)
Type of Consumer
Electronics
Video Products
Audio Products
Information Products
Total
Steel
22%
21%
28%
24%
Copper
& Brass
3%
0%
6%
4%
Alumi-
num
0%
0%
4%
2%
Lead
7%
0%
3%
4%
Other
Metals
10%
30%
5%
11%
Glass
27%
0%
10%
14%
Wood
20%
3%
0%
8%
Plastic
11%
47%
43%
32%
Other
0%
0%
2%
1%
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
Video Products: Video products are composed of 22 percent steel, 27 percent glass, and
11 percent plastic. Televisions are a large portion of this category. Cathode ray tubes (CRTs) are
a major source of glass and steel. Plastic is the major component in the frame housings of video
products. Lead, which accounts for 7 percent of the material generated from video products,
comes from CRTs. The source of the remaining material is circuit boards, wiring, and other
small, miscellaneous items.
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Appendix C
Consumer Electronics in Municipal Solid Waste
Audio Products: Audio products contain 21 percent steel and other metals, 47 percent
plastic, and 3 percent wood. Usually, audio products are cased in plastic frames that contain steel
and other metals.
Information Products: Information products contain 28 percent steel. Copper and brass,
aluminum, lead, and other metals comprise 18 percent of information products. Plastic accounts
for approximately 43 percent of the weight of information products; however, in many cases, the
percentage of plastic is much higher. For example, corded/cordless telephones, wireless phones,
and answering machines are reported to be composed mostly of plastic.
Total selected consumer electronic products: As shown in Table C-4, the average
composition of all three types of consumer electronics is 24 percent steel, 4 percent copper and
brass, 2 percent aluminum, 4 percent lead, 11 percent other metals, 14 percent glass, 8 percent
wood, 32 percent plastic, and 1 percent other materials.
Table C-5 summarizes generation, recovery for recycling, and discards for the three types
of consumer electronics. Generation, recovery, and discards of each consumer electronic
category are discussed below.
Table C-5
GENERATION, RECOVERY, AND DISCARDS OF CONSUMER
ELECTRONICS IN THE MUNICIPAL WASTE STREAM 2001
(in tons)
Type of Consumer Electronics
Video Products
Audio Products
Information Products
Total
Total
Generation
806,200
377,900
1,076,300
2,260,400
Total
Recovery
1,100
0
204,500
205,600
%
Recovered
0.1%
Neg.
19%
9%
Total
Discards
805,100
377,900
871,800
2,054,800
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
Generation: In 2001, a total of 2,260,400 tons of consumer electronics were generated.
This includes 806,200 tons of video products, 377,900 tons of audio products, and 1,076,300
tons of information products.
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Appendix C Consumer Electronics in Municipal Solid Waste
Recovery: As shown in Table C-5, an estimated 205,600 tons of consumer electronics
were recovered in 2001. This includes 1,100 tons of video products and 204,500 tons of
information products. Recovery of audio products is considered to be negligible.
Discards: Final discards of the three types of consumer electronics were 2,054,800 tons,
or 91 percent of generation.
Generation of selected consumer electronics as a percentage of miscellaneous durables
and total MSW is shown in Table C-6. The EPA report Characterization of Municipal Solid
Waste in the United States: 1998 Update and earlier editions included consumer electronics as
part of the larger category "Miscellaneous Durables." Table C-6 separates the selected consumer
electronic products category from the miscellaneous durables category. Table C-6 shows that
generation of the selected consumer electronic products category is estimated at 14 percent of
total miscellaneous durables generation, 23 percent of the recovery for recycling, and 14 percent
of the discards.
Generation of selected consumer electronic products was estimated at about 1 percent of
total MSW generation and less than one-half of 1 percent of recovery. Selected consumer
electronics were estimated to be about one percent of total MSW discards.
Although the weight of the selected consumer electronics that enter the waste stream is
estimated at only 1 percent of total MSW discards, some of these products do potentially present
a problem if mismanaged. Television and computer CRTs, which contain lead, are for the most
part discarded into U.S. landfills. Besides lead, other hazardous materials that may be found in
consumer electronics include cadmium, hexavalent chromium, mercury and brominated flame-
retardant materials.
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Appendix C
Consumer Electronics in Municipal Solid Waste
Table C-6
SELECTED CONSUMER ELECTRONICS AS A
PERCENTAGE OF TOTAL MISCELLANEOUS DURABLE
GOODS AND TOTAL MSW, 2001
(1,000 TONS)
Selected Consumer
Electronics
Miscellaneous Durable
Goods
Total Miscellaneous Durable
Goods
Consumer Electronics as %
of Misc. Durable Goods
Total MSW
Consumer Electronics as %
of Total MSW
Generation
2,260
13,330
15,590
14%
229,230
1.0%
Recovery
210
710
920
23%
67,990
0.3%
Recovery
%of
Generation
9%
5%
6%
30%
Discards
2,050
12,620
14,670
14%
161,240
1.3%
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd.
CURRENT RECOVERY PROGRAMS
Increasing numbers of city, county, and state agencies across the United States are
considering options for consumer electronics collection and management. More and more are
conducting 1-day consumer electronics collection events or providing ongoing collection
programs. Typically, both public and private entities work together to ensure the success of the
programs. In addition to removing hazardous materials from the waste stream, the collection
programs provide valuable information to help guide the development of long-term recovery
programs. More information on state, local, and regional programs is available at
www.epa.gov/epr.
Many times, manufacturers, retailers, and industry organizations lead the collection and
recovery efforts. The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA), in cooperation with several
164
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Appendix C Consumer Electronics in Municipal Solid Waste
electronics manufacturers10, has cooperated in a number of electronics collection and recycling
pilot projects to evaluate different collection and recycling models. As of November 2002, led
by EPA Region 3 and partner governments in the mid-Atlantic region, the eCyding partnership
had collected more than 2,100 tons of electronics from residents in the mid-Atlantic states and
prevented more than 21,000 CRTs from going into regional landfills and incinerators11.
Some manufacturers allow both consumers and businesses to recycle any manufacturer's
computer equipment for a fee. For more information on these services, www.eiae.org contains a
listing of manufacturers' recycling programs. United Recycling Industries provides a computer
1 9
recycling mail-in program for residents of seven Midwestern states .
Best Buy has held 2-day collection events in about 10 markets across the country. The
programs collected computers, monitors, TVs, VCRs, and other consumer electronics from any
manufacturer. Fees were charged for some items such as computer monitors and televisions.
The first six collections recovered approximately 100 tons of consumer electronics13.
Some manufacturers are demonstrating product stewardship initiatives through changing
the design of their products. Product design to improve the ease of disassembly, using recovered
and remanufactured parts, if possible, and reducing the types of plastic resin used in
manufacturing are examples of company policies that enhance consumer electronic recyclability.
The Northeast Recycling Coalition (NERC) identified 486 residential used electronics
collection programs held in the United States during the last 3 years (1999 - 2001). These were
located in 29 states and the District of Columbia. NERC performed a survey of 425 of these
communities that had held electronics recycling events, either on a special event or an ongoing
basis. They received a 41 percent response rate for this survey.
10 Electronics Industries Alliance, Canon, Hewlett Packard, JVC, Kodak, Nokia, Panasonic, Philips
Electronics, Sharp, Sony and Thomson. Press release dated June 21, 2001. www.eiae.org.
11 www.eia.org. www.epa.gov/epr
)
13 www.e4partners.com. September 2001
12 www.unitedrecvcling.com/takeback/main.html. December 2002.
165
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Appendix C Consumer Electronics in Municipal Solid Waste
Of the 425 programs that responded to the survey, 280 (45 percent) were in
Massachusetts. In addition, Minnesota was found to have 30 programs. Several states had
between 10 and 29 programs (California, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, and
New York), and 22 states had between one and nine programs, as of July 2001.
NERC found that there are three main types of electronics collection programs: ongoing
collection programs, curbside collection programs, and special event collections. Of these, the
most common type is ongoing collection programs—47 percent of communities with electronics
programs use this mechanism. Curbside collection programs are used by 8 percent of the
communities, and special event collection is the primary collection method for 45 percent of the
communities. Special events took in the greatest amounts by weight on a per capita basis. Most
of the programs include small businesses and municipal government in addition to residential
customers.
Massachusetts has made reuse and recycling of electronics a clear priority. They have
achieved this both through regulatory and voluntary means. On April 1, 2000, cathode ray tubes
were banned from disposal in Massachusetts. NERC reports that Massachusetts also
"deregulated cathode ray tubes as a hazardous waste if handled for recycling." Over the last
several years, the state of Massachusetts strongly supported electronics recycling initiatives
through outreach and education. The state established a program so that any community in
Massachusetts disposing of more than 200 pounds of electronic equipment could contract with
one of two vendors to handle these materials through reuse or recycling. The state of
Massachusetts coordinated with the Salvation Army, Goodwill, industry, and local governments.
They used technical assistance and grants to help communities to establish CRT recycling
programs. The NERC report states, "By July 2001, 75 percent of all Massachusetts communities
offered used electronics recycling programs, and 91 percent of Massachusetts residents live in
those communities." More information on these efforts can be found at www.nerc.org.
California has also banned disposal of CRTs in landfills. In 2003, California passed
legislation to place a fee on purchases of certain new electronic products containing CRTs.
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Appendix C Consumer Electronics in Municipal Solid Waste
These fees will go toward funding of CRT recycling programs in the state. Legislation continues
to be considered in other states, aimed at finding ways to encourage recycling of electronic waste.
EPA has launched a "Plug-In To Recycling" education campaign
(www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/conserve/plugin/index.htm) aimed at increasing the safe reuse and
recycling of consumer electronics. This effort is intended to raise Americans' awareness about
the need to recycle old electronics and to motivate them to act on this new information. It is also
aimed at motivating manufacturers, retailers, recyclers, and government to share in the
responsibility of providing Americans with safe, convenient options. It is one of the many
projects that EPA is championing to positively impact the environmental aspects of the
electronics industry. EPA has a series of projects underway to increase the recycling of
electronics now and to work with key stakeholders to ensure that electronics products are
designed with fewer toxics, greater energy efficiency, and more resource conservation in mind.
167
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Appendix C Consumer Electronics in Municipal Solid Waste
REFERENCES
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Consumer Electronics Association. Fast Facts Data. 1984 - 1999.
Dana Chase Publications, Inc. Appliance Statistical Review. May 2002.
Dann, Carolyn. End-of-Life Electronics Equipment Pilot Collection Program Summary Report -
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Franklin County Solid Waste Management District. Consumer Electronics Collection Report
DEP Technical Assistance Grant. October 1998. Franklin County, MA. Average age of products
recovered.
Jun Fujimoto, Tetsuya Tamura, et al. NEC Corporation. A New Era Computer Product Focused
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Lehman, Richard L., Reggie Caudill, Julian Kliokis. Processes and Products for Utilization of
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-^^-^^ 9
Recycling [DEER ] Information Exchange. October 26 - 27, 1999. Center for Ceramics
Research. Rutgers University.
Materials For The Future Foundation. The Monitor of Electronics Recycling Issues. CRT
Smelting. January 2002. www.materials4future.org.
Materials For The Future Foundation. The Monitor of Electronics Recycling Issues. CRT Glass
to CRT Glass Recycling. September 2001. www.materials4future.org.
168
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Appendix C Consumer Electronics in Municipal Solid Waste
Matthews, H. Scott, Francis C. McMichael, et al. Disposition and End-of-Life Options for
Personal Computers. Green Design Initiative Technical Report #97-10. Carnegie Mellon
University.
Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance. Management of Waste Electronic Appliances.
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Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance. Recycling Used Electronics. Report on
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National Recycling Coalition. Electronics Recycling Initiative. Contracting for Proper Recovery
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National Recycling Coalition. Electronics Recycling Initiative. State and Local Policy Initiative
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National Recycling Coalition. Electronics Recycling Initiative. Trends in Electronics Recycling
in the United States. November 3, 1999. www.nrc-recycle.org/programs
National Safety Council. Electronic Product Recovery and Recycling Baseline Report. May
1999.
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Manual for Municipalities & Counties. March 2002. www.nerc.org.
Pasco County and Center for Environmental Communications. The Recycling and
Demanufacturing of Computers and Electronic Equipment in Pasco County, Florida. April 2000.
169
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Appendix C Consumer Electronics in Municipal Solid Waste
Pitts, Greg. Computer and Electronics Disposition Eco-Industrial Park. Presentation at
_^_^ O
Demanufacturing of Electronic Equipment for Reuse and Recycling [DEER ] Information
Exchange. October 26 - 27, 1999.
Southern Waste Information eXchange, Inc. SWIX. Used TV & Computer Recycling &
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U.S. Census Bureau. U.S. Department of Commerce. Economics and Statistics Administration.
1997 Economic Census. Industry Series. Audio and Video Equipment Manufacturing. EC97M-
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U.S. Census Bureau. U.S. Department of Commerce. Current Industrial Report: Communication
Equipment. 1985-2001.
U.S. Census Bureau. U.S. Department of Commerce. Current Industrial Report: Computers and
Office and Accounting Machines. 1980 - 2001.
U.S. Census Bureau. U.S. Department of Commerce. Current Industrial Report: Consumer
Electronics. 1980 - 2001.
U.S. EPA. Analysis of Five Community Consumer/Residential Collections. End-Of-Life
Electronic and Electrical Equipment. April 1999. EPA-901-R-98-003.
U.S. EPA. Energy and Greenhouse Gas Factors for Personal Computers. Franklin Associates,
Ltd. August 7, 2002. Contract No. 68-W-99-001.
170
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