# Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling, and Disposal in the United States: Facts and Figures for 2005

The Envir onmental Pr otection Agency has collected and r eported data on the generation and disposal of waste in the United States for more than 40 years. W e use the information to measur e the success of municipal solid waste (MSW) reduction and r ecycling pr ograms acr oss the country. The data also shows us wher e we, as a nation, need to make envir onmental impr ovements. Because we only r eport this information every two years, these facts and figures ar e curr ent thr ough calendar year 2005. Both 2004 and 2005 data ar e r eported her e for the first time. 

# T R END S INMUNI CIP A L S O L ID W A S T E Municipal solid waste (MSW), usually known as trash or garbage, is made up of things we commonly thr ow away. This household type of waste ranges from our package wrappings, food scraps, and grass clippings to our old sofas, computers, and r efr igerators. It does not contain industr ial, hazar dous, or construction waste. Despite sustained impr ovements in waste r eduction, household waste 

# Recycling and Composting r emains a constant concer n because 

# Programs for M SW tr ends indicate that the overall tonnage we cr eate continues to incr ease. The latest recycling and composting figures we have are for 2005. In that year ,Since 1980, the total annual generation of MSW has incr eased mor e than • Recycling and composting programs 60 per cent to its 2005 level of nearly recovered 32.1 percent of M SW in 2005—that was 7 9 million tons! 246 million tons per year. Excluding composting, MSW r ecover ed thr ough • Around 8,550 curbside recycling pro- r ecycling r ose to mor e than 58 million grams existed nationwide, slightl y down tons, 5.7 tons mor e than in 2004. from 8,8 7 5 in 2002. Composting r ecover ed nearly 21 mil- • About 3,4 7 0 community composting lion tons of waste. The total MSW programs were operational, an increase r ecovery rate, which includes both from 3,22 7 in 2002.

Recycled/Recyclable—Printed with V egetable Oil Based Inks on 100% Postconsumer, Process Chlorine Free Recycled Paper

## r ecycling and composting, was just over 32 per cent in 2005. Our individual MSW generation rate has r emained r elatively constant since the 1990s at 4.5 pounds per person per day. Our r ecycling 

# Recovering Energy from Burning MS W
• In 2005, approximatel y 33.4 million tons or 13.6 percent of M SW was combusted with energy recovery

. • Combustion with energy recovery

increased nearl y tenfold from 1980 to 1990; since then M SW combustion with energy recovery has increased slightl y 

# Disposing of M S WFigure 5 on page 9 shows that the number of M SW landfills has steadil y declinedover the years. On the other hand, average landfill size has increased. At the national level, landfill capacity appears to be sufficient, although it ma y not be in some regional areas.
• The percentage of M SW going to landfills continues to decrease. Since 1990, M SW sent to landfills has decreased by 9 million tons, from 142.3 million tons in 1990 (See T able 1) to 133.3 million tons in 2005.
• In 2005, the net per capita discard rate

(after recycling, composting, and combustion with energy recovery) was 2.46 pounds per person per da y

, similar to 2.49 pounds per person in 2003 (see T

able 3 on page 4). rate was close to 1.5 pounds per person per day. After accounting for what we r ecycled, we combusted with energy r ecovery or discar ded about 3 pounds per person per day in 2005. In 2005, r ecycling and composting diverted 79 million tons of waste. Paper and paperboar d r e covery r ose to 42 million tons. Metals wer e r ecycled at a rate of nearly 37 per cent, and 62 per cent of yar d tr immings wer e r ecover ed. Consider the significance of these figur es today compar ed to 1980 when we only r ecycled 10 per cent of all our MSW and disposed of the r est. Clearly, we’r e r ecycling mor e and discar ding less. After accounting for the MSW that was recover ed by r ecycling and composting, we measur e waste disposed of in combustors and landfills. In 2005, more than 33 million tons (14 percent) wer e combusted with energy r ecovery, and about 133 million tons (54 per cent) went to landfills or wer e otherwise disposed of. T able 1 Generation, Materials Recovery , Composting, Combustion with Energy Recovery , and Discards of Municipal Solid W aste, 1960 - 2005 (in millions of tons) Activity 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2003 2004 2005 Generation 88.1 121.1 151.6 205.2 237.6 240.4 247.3 245.7 Recovery for r ecycling 5.6 8.0 14.5 29.0 52.7 55.8 52.7 58.4 Recovery for composting* Neg. Neg. Neg. 4.2 16.5 19.1 20.5 20.6 T

otal Mater ials Recovery 5.6 8.0 14.5 33.2 69.1 74.9 77.7 79.0 Combustion with Energy Recovery† 0.0 0.4 2.7 29.7 33.7 33.7 34.1 33.4
Discards to Landfill, Other Disposal‡ 82.5 112.7 134.4 142.3 134.8 131.9 135.5 133.3

* Composting of yar d tr immings, food scraps, and other MSW organic mater ial. Does not include backyar d composting. Details may not add to totals due to rounding. † Includes combustion of MSW in mass bur n or r e fuse-der ived fuel form, and combustion with energy recovery of sour ce separated mater ials in MSW (e.g., wood pallets and tire-der ived fuel). ‡ Discar ds after r ecovery minus combustion with energy r ecovery
. Details may not add to totals due to rounding. 2

### T able 2 Generation, Materials Recovery , Composting, Combustion with Energy Recovery , and Discards of Municipal Solid W aste, 1960 - 2005 (in percent of total generation) Activity 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2003 2004 2005 Generation 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Recovery for r ecycling 6.4% 6.6% 9.6% 14.2% 22.2% 23.2% 23.1% 23.8% Recovery for composting* Neg. Neg. Neg. 2.0% 6.9% 7.9% 8.3% 8.4% T

otal Mater ials Recovery 6.4% 6.6% 9.6% 16.2% 29.1% 31.1% 31.4% 32.1% Combustion with Energy Recovery† 0.0% 0.3% 1.8% 14.5% 14.2% 14.0% 13.8% 13.6%
Discards to Landfill, Other Disposal‡ 93.6% 93.1% 88.6% 69.3% 56.7% 54.9% 54.8% 54.3%

* Composting of yar d tr immings, food scraps, and other MSW organic mater ial. Does not include backyar d composting. Details may not add to totals due to rounding. † Includes combustion of MSW in mass bur n or r e fuse-der ived fuel form, and combustion with energy recovery of sour ce separated mater ials in MSW (e.g., wood pallets and tire-der ived fuel). ‡ Discar ds after r ecovery minus combustion with energy r ecovery
. Details may not add to totals due to rounding. 

### Figure 1 M SW Generation Rates from 1960 - 2005Per capita generation (lbs/person/day)Total MSW generation (million tons)

Total MSW generation Per capita generation 1960 1965 1975 1970 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00

0 50 100 150 200 250 300

3

### Figure 2 M SW Recycling Rates from 1960 - 2005

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1995 1990 2000 2005 0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0 80.0

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0%Total MSW recycling (million tons)Percent of generation recycled

Total MSW recycling Percent recycling 55.8 69.1 79.0

9.3 5.6 6.5 8.0 14.5 16.7 33.2

10.1% 26.0% 29.1% 32.1%

6.4% 6.2% 6.6% 7.3% 9.6% 16.2%



### T

able 3 Generation, Materials Recovery , Composting, Combustion with Energy Recovery , and Discards of Municipal Solid W aste, 1960 - 2005 (in pounds per person per da y)

Activity 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2003 2004 2005 Generation 2.68 3.25 3.66 4.50 4.63 4.53 4.61 4.54 Recovery for r ecycling 0.17 0.22 0.35 0.64 1.03 1.05 1.07 1.08 Recovery for composting* Neg. Neg. Neg. 0.09 0.32 0.36 0.38 0.38 T

otal Mater ials Recovery 0.17 0.22 0.35 0.73 1.35 1.41 1.45 1.46 Combustion with Energy Recovery † 0.00 0.01 0.07 0.65 0.66 0.63 0.64 0.62

Discards to Landfill, Other Disposal ‡ 2.51 3.02 3.24 3.12 2.62 2.49 2.52 2.46 Population (millions) 179.979 203.984 227.255 249.907 281.422 290.850 293.660 296.410

* Composting of yar d tr immings, food scraps, and other MSW organic mater ial. Does not include backyar d composting. Details may not add to totals due to rounding. † Includes combustion of MSW in mass bur n or r e fuse-der ived fuel form, and combustion with energy recovery of sour ce separated mater ials in MSW (e.g., wood pallets and tire-der ived fuel). ‡ Discar ds after r ecovery minus combustion with energy r ecovery
. Details may not add to totals due to rounding.

4

# M U N I C I P A L S O L I D W AST E I N2005
Sour ces of MSW include both r esidential and commer cial locations. W e estimated r esidential waste (including waste fr om apartment houses) to be 55 to 65 per cent of total MSW generation. W aste fr om schools and commer cial locations, such as hospitals and businesses, constitutes 35 to 45 per cent of MSW . Local and r egional factors, such as climate and level of commer cial activity, contr ibute to these var iations. W e analyze MSW two ways. The first is by mater ial (paper and paperboar d, yar d tr immings, food scraps, plastics, metals, rubber, leather and textiles, wood, glass, and other); the second is by major pr oduct categor ies. Pr oduct categor ies include durable goods (like fur nitur e and appliances), nondurable goods (like newspapers, disposable diapers, and clothing), containers and packaging (like milk cartons, corrugated car dboar d boxes, and plastic wrap), and other wastes (like food scraps and yar d tr immings). 

# Materials in M S W Organic mater ials continue to be the largest components of MSW . Rounding to the near est whole number, paper and paperboar d pr oducts account for 34 per cent of the waste str eam, with yar d tr immings and food scraps accounting for about 25 percent. Plastics compr ise 12 per cent; metals make up 8 per cent; rubber, leather, and textiles account for 7 per cent. W ood follows at 6 per cent, and glass at 5 per cent. Finally, other miscellaneous wastes made up approximately 3 per cent of the MSW generated in 2005. A breakdown, by weight, of the MSW mater ials generated in 2005 is pr ovided in Figur e 3.

Figure 3 T

otal M SW Generation - 2005 (Before Recycling = 246 million tons)

Wood 5.7%

Rubber, Leather, and Textiles 7.3%

Plastics 11.8% Paper and Paperboard 34.2%

Glass 5.2% Metals 7.6% Yard Trimmings 13.1% Food Scraps 11.9%
Other 3.4%

5

## Some mater ial fr om each MSW category was r ecycled or composted in 2005. The highest r ecovery rates wer e achieved in yar d tr immings, paper and paperboar d pr oducts, and metal pr oducts. Almost 21 million tons of yar d tr immings wer e composted, r epr esenting a five-fold incr ease since 1990. Half the paper and paperboar d generated in 2005 was r ecycled. Recycling these organic mater ials alone kept 25 per cent of municipal solid waste out of landfills and combustion facilities. Nearly 7 million tons, or about 37 percent, of metals wer e r ecycled too. Recycling rates (r ecovery as a per cent of generation) for all mater ials in 2005 ar e listed in T able 4. T able 4 Generation and Recovery of Materials in M S W , 2005 (in millons of tons and percent of generation of each material)

Mater ial W e ight Generated W e ight Recovered Recovery as a Percent of Generation Paper and paperboar d 84.0 42.0 50.0% Glass 12.8 2.76 21.6% Metals

Steel 13.8 4.93 35.8% Aluminum 3.21 0.69 21.5% Other nonferr ous metals* 1.74 1.26 72.4% T

o tal Metals 18.7 6.88 36.8% Plastics 28.9 1.65 5.7% Rubber and leather 6.70 0.96 14.3% T

extiles 11.1 1.70 15.3% W ood 13.9 1.31 9.4% Other mater ials 4.57 1.17 25.6% T

otal Mater ials in Products 180.7 58.4 32.3% Other W astes Food, other** 29.2 0.69 2.4% Y

a r d tr immings 32.1 19.9 61.9% Miscellaneous inorganic wastes 3.69 Neg. Neg. T

otal Other Wastes 65.0 20.6 31.6% TOT AL MUNICIP AL SOLID W ASTE 245.7 79.0 32.1%
Includes waste fr om r esidential, commer cial, and institutional sour ces. *Includes lead fr om lead-acid batter ies. **Includes r ecovery 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.

6

# Products in M S W
The br eakdown, by weight, of pr oduct categor ies generated in 2005 is shown in Figure 4. Containers and packaging made up the largest portion of waste generated, about 77 million tons. The second-largest portion of MSW was nondurable goods, compr ising nearly 64 million tons. Durable goods make up the thir d largest segment, accounting for 40 million tons.
Figure 4 Products Generated in M SW - 2005 (T otal W eight = 246 million tons)

Other Wastes 1.5%

Durable Goods 16.4% Yard Trimmings 13.1% Food Scraps 11.9%

Nondurable Goods 25.9% Containers and Packaging 31.2%



## The generation and r ecovery of pr oduct categor ies in MSW in 2005 ar e shown in T a ble 5. This table shows that r ecovery of containers and packaging was the highest of the four product categor ies, r e cycling almost 40 per cent of containers and packaging. Aluminum, steel, and paper pr oducts wer e the most r ecycled mater ials by per centage in this category

. About 36 per cent of aluminum was r ecycled (about 45 per cent of all aluminum beverage cans wer e r ecycled), while mor e than 63 per cent of steel packaging (mostly cans) was recycled. About 50 per cent of paper and paperboar d was r ecycled; corrugated car dboar d boxes accounted for most of that amount. Ar ound 25 per cent of glass containers wer e r ecycled, while about 15 per cent of wood packaging—mostly wood pallets—was r ecover ed for r ecycling. Mor e than 9 per c ent of plastic containers and packaging wer e r ecycled, mostly fr om soft dr ink, milk, and water bottles. Overall r ecovery of nondurable goods was 32 per cent in 2005. Paper pr oducts, such as newspapers and high-grade of fice papers, wer e the most r ecycled mater ials. Newspapers alone wer e r ecycled at a rate of 89 per cent. Appr oximately 63 per cent of high-grade of fice papers and 39 per cent of magazines wer e r ecover ed. About 36 per cent of unwanted mail was r ecover ed, as well as 18 per cent of telephone dir ector ies. Clothing and other textile pr oducts ar e included in the nondurable goods category. These pr oducts wer e r ecover ed for r ecycling or export at a rate of 18 per cent.

7

### T able 5 Generation and Recovery of Products in M SW by Material, 2005

(in millons of tons and percent of generation of each product)

W e ight Generated W e ight Recovered Recovery as a Percent of

Generation Durable Goods

Steel 11.4 3.43 30.1% Aluminum 1.08 Neg. Neg. Other non-ferr ous metals* 1.74 1.26 72.4%

T

otal metals 14.2 4.69 33.0% Glass 1.83 Neg. Neg. Plastics 8.71 0.37 4.2% Rubber and leather 5.68 0.96 16.9% W ood 5.37 Neg. Neg. T

extiles 3.02 0.28 9.3% Other mater ials 1.45 1.17 80.7%

T

otal durable goods 40.3 7.47 18.5% Nondurable Goods

Paper and paperboar d 44.9 19.0 42.4% Plastics 6.55 Neg. Neg. Rubber and leather 0.99 Neg. Neg. T

extiles 7.91 1.42 18.0% Other mater ials 3.36 Neg. Neg.

T

otal nondurable goods 63.7 20.5 32.1% Containers and Packaging

Steel 2.37 1.50 63.3% Aluminum 1.90 0.69 36.3%

T

otal metals 4.27 2.19 51.3% Glass 10.9 2.76 25.3% Paper and paperboar d 39.0 22.9 58.8% Plastics 13.7 1.28 9.4% W ood 8.56 1.31 15.3% Other mater ials 0.24 Neg. Neg.

T

otal containers and packaging 76.7 30.5 39.8% Other Wastes

Food, other** 29.2 0.69 2.4% Y

a r d tr immings 32.1 19.9 61.9% Miscellaneous inorganic wastes 3.69 Neg Neg

T

otal other wastes 65.0 20.6 31.6% TOT AL MUNICIP AL SOLID W ASTE 245.7 79.0 32.1% Includes waste fr om r esidential, commer cial, and institutional sour ces. *Includes lead fr om lead-acid batter ies. **Includes r ecovery 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. 8

## Overall, mor e than 18 per cent of durable goods wer e r ecover ed in 2005. Nonferr ous metals other than aluminum had one of the highest r ecovery rates, at about 72 per cent, due to the high rate of lead r ecovery fr om lead-acid batter ies. Recovery of steel in all durable goods was 30 percent, with high rates of r ecovery fr om appliances and other miscellaneous durable goods. Lead-acid batter ies wer e one of the most r ecover ed pr oducts in 2005, with an impr essive r ecycling rate of about 99 per cent. Other pr oducts with particularly high r ecovery rates wer e newspapers (about 89 per cent), corrugated boxes (about 72 per cent), major appliances (67 per cent), steel cans (about 63 per cent), and aluminum beverage cans (about 45 percent). Additionally, ar ound 35 per cent of rubber tir es wer e r ecycled, while other tir es wer e r etr eaded and shr edded rubber tir es wer e converted to fuel.

Figure 5 Number of Landfills in the United States by Y ear

7,924 8,000 7,379 7,000 6,326 5,812 6,000 5,386 5,000 4,482 4,000 3,558 3,197 3,091 3,000 2,514 2,314 2,216 2,000 1,967 1,858 1,767 1,654 data not available 1,000
0 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1 997 1 998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

9

### Figure 6 Management of M SW in the United States, 2005

Rec o v e ry 32.1% D i sca rd e d 5 4

. 3 %

Com bus tion w i th Energy Rec o v e ry 13.6%



# FORMOR E I N F OR MA TION
This r eport and pr evious r eports in the same ser ies ar e available on the Inter net at <www .epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/msw99.htm>. Detailed data tables for 2005 and pr evious years may be found at the same location. General information on municipal solid waste is available on the Inter net at <www .epa.gov/osw>.

10United StatesEnvironmental Protection AgencySolid Waste and Emergency Response (5306P)Washington, DC 20460Official BusinessPenalty for Private Use $300EPA-530-F-06-039October 2006www.epa.gov/osw