1

Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling, 

and Disposal in the United States: 

Facts and Figures for 2012

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has collected and reported data on 

the generation and disposal of waste in the United States for more than 30 years. We 

use this information to measure the success of waste reduction and recycling programs 

across the country. These facts and figures are current through calendar year 2012. 

In 2012, Americans generated about 251 million tons1

 of trash and recycled and 

composted almost 87 million tons of this material, equivalent to a 34.5 percent 

recycling rate (See Figure 1 and Figure 2). On average, Americans recycled and 

composted 1.51 pounds out of our individual waste generation rate of 4.38 pounds 

per person per day.

EPA is thinking beyond waste and seeking a systematic approach that provides a 

transition from waste management to sustainable materials management (SMM). 

In this year’s report, EPA explores the connection between personal consumer 

expenditures and the generation of wastes. The transition is well under way, with the 

U.S. economy continuing to provide goods and services for household consumption 

more efficiently when looking at the MSW generated from consuming those goods and 

services.

1 U.S. short tons unless specified.

0

2

4

6

8

10

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Per capita generation (lbs/person/day)

Total MSW generation (million tons)

Total MSW generation Per capita generation

88.1

104.4

121.1 127.8

151.6

166.3

208.3

217.3

243.5

253.7 250.4 250.9

2.68

2.96

3.25 3.25

3.66

3.83

4.57 4.52 4.74 4.69

4.44 4.38

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2012

Figure 1. MSW Generation Rates, 1960 to 2012
2

Over the last few decades, the generation, 

recycling, composting, and disposal of MSW 

have changed substantially. Solid waste 

generation per person per day peaked in 2000 

while the 4.38 pounds per person per day is 

the lowest since the 1980’s. The recycling rate 

has increased–from less than 10 percent of 

MSW generated in 1980 to over 34 percent 

in 2012. Disposal of waste to a landfill has 

decreased from 89 percent of the amount 

generated in 1980 to under 54 percent of MSW 

in 2012.

Figure 2. MSW Recycling Rates, 1960 to 2012

Percent of generation recycled

Total MSW recycling (million tons)

Total MSW recycling Percent recycling

5.6 6.5 8.0 9.3

14.5

16.7

33.2

55.8

69.5

79.8

85.2

86.6

6.4% 6.2% 6.6% 7.3%

9.6% 10.1% 16.0%

25.7%

28.5%

31.4%

34.0%

34.5%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2012

Trends in Municipal Solid Waste in 

2012 

Our trash, or municipal solid waste (MSW), is 

comprised of various items Americans commonly 

throw away after being used. These include items 

such as packaging, food waste, grass clippings, sofas, 

computers, tires, and refrigerators. MSW does not 

include industrial, hazardous, or construction waste.

In 2012, Americans recovered over 65 million tons 

of MSW through recycling and over 21 million 

tons through composting. We combusted about 29 

million tons for energy recovery (about 12 percent). 

Subtracting out what is recycled and composted, we 

combusted (with energy recovery) or discarded in 

landfills 2.9 pounds per person per day of MSW.

In 2012, lead-acid battery recovery was about 96 

percent (2.8 million tons). Newspaper/mechanical 

papers recovery was about 70 percent (5.9 million 

tons), and over 57 percent of yard trimmings were recovered (19.6 million tons) (see Figure 3). About 135 

million tons of MSW (53.8 percent) were discarded in landfills in 2012 (see Figure 4).

Sources of MSW

Sources of MSW include residential waste (including waste from apartment houses) and waste from 

commercial and institutional locations, such as businesses, schools, and hospitals. 
3

Figure 3. Recycling Rates of Selected Products, 2012**

0

20

40

60

80

100

HDPE Natural 

(White Translucent) 

Bottles

Selected 

Consumer 

Electronics

PET Bottles

 & Jars

Glass 

Containers

Aluminum Tires

Beer 

& Soda Cans

Yard 

Trimmings

Newspaper/

Mechanical Papers

Steel 

Cans

Lead-Acid 

Batteries

95.9

70.8 70.0

57.7

54.6

34.1

28.2

30.8

Recycling Rate (Percent)

Products

29.2

44.6

Figure 4. Management of MSW in the United States, 2012

Figure 4: Management of MSW in the United States, 2011

Recovery

34.5%

Discarded

53.8%

Combustion with

Energy Recovery

11.7%

**Does not include combustion with energy recovery.
4

Nationally, Americans recycled and 

composted almost 87 million tons of 

municipal solid waste. This provides an 

annual benefit of more than 168 million 

metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent 

emissions reduced, comparable to the 

annual GHG emissions from over 33 

million passenger vehicles.2

Analyzing MSW

We analyze waste by material, such as plastics, and paper 

and paperboard, and by major product categories, which 

include durable goods (such as furniture), nondurable 

goods (such as paper or clothing), containers and 

packaging (such as milk cartons and plastic wrap), and 

other materials (such as food waste). 

Materials in MSW

Total MSW generation in 2012 was 251 million tons. 

Figure 5 shows the breakdown of MSW generated, 

by material. Organic materials such as paper and 

paperboard, yard trimmings, and food waste continue to 

be the largest component of MSW. Paper and paperboard 

account for over 27 percent and yard trimmings and food waste accounts for another 28 percent. Plastics 

comprise about 13 percent; metals make up 9 percent; and rubber, leather, and textiles account for 

almost 9 percent. Wood follows at over 6 percent and glass at almost 5 percent. Other miscellaneous 

wastes make up approximately 3 percent of the MSW generated in 2012.

Total MSW recovery in 2012 was almost 87 million tons. Paper and paperboard account for over 51 

percent and yard trimmings account for over 22 percent, while food waste accounts for another 2 

percent. Metals comprise about 9 percent; glass about 4 percent; and plastic and wood about 3 percent 

each. Other miscellaneous materials make up about 6 percent of MSW recovery in 2012 (see Figure 6).

After MSW recovery through recycling and composting, 164 million tons of MSW were discarded in 

2012. Food waste is the largest component of discards at 21 percent. Plastics comprise about 18 percent; 

paper and paperboard make up almost 15 percent; and rubber, leather, and textiles account for about 11 

percent of MSW discards. The other materials account 

for less than 10 percent each (see Figure 7).

Significant amounts of material from each category 

were recycled or composted in 2012. The highest 

recovery rates were achieved in paper and paperboard, 

yard trimmings, and metals. Americans recycled 

more than 64 percent of the paper and paperboard 

generated. Over 19 million tons of yard trimmings 

were composted, representing almost a five-fold 

increase since 1990. Recycling these three materials 

alone kept over 28 percent of MSW generated out of 

landfills and combustion facilities. Recycling amounts 

and rates (recovery as a percent of generation) for all 

materials in 2012 are listed in Table 1. This table also 

presents millions of tons of discarded materials.

Recycling and composting 

almost 87 million tons of 

MSW saved more than 1.1 

quadrillion Btu of energy; 

that’s the same amount 

of energy consumed by almost 10 million 

U.S. households in a year. 

2 All benefit calculations in this fact sheet are derived from EPA’s Waste Reduction Model (WARM). Please see www.epa.gov/warm. All benefits information that was 

included in last year’s report only took into account the CO2 reduction for recycling of materials. In the report this year, we are accounting for both the recycling of 

those materials and the CO2 emissions that may occur in the alternative waste management scenarios of landfilling and combustion. This gives us the net overall 

benefit of recycling these materials.
5

Figure 5. Total MSW Generation (by material), 2012 

251 Million Tons (before recycling)

Figure 5. Total MSW Generation (by material), 2012

250 Million Tons (before recycling)

Yard 

trimmings 

13.5%

Wood 

6.3%

Rubber, leather 

& textiles 

8.7%

Plastics 

12.7%

Metals 

8.9%

Glass

4.6%

Paper & paperboard 

27.4%

Other 3.4%

Food waste

 14.5%

Figure 6. Total MSW Recovery (by material), 2012 

87 Million Tons

Figure 6. Total MSW Recovery (by material), 2012

Wood 2.8%

Plastics 3.2%

Glass

3.7%

Metals 8.8%

Yard trimmings 22.6%

Paper & paperboard 51.2%

Other 5.7%

Food waste 2.0%

Figure 7. Total MSW Discards (by material), 2012 

164 Million Tons (after recycling and composting)

Figure 7. Total MSW Discards (by material), 2012

Food waste 

21.1%

Wood 

8.2%

Plastics 

17.6%

Glass 

5.1%

Metals 

9.0%

Yard trimmings

8.7%

Paper & paperboard 

14.8%

Rubber, leather Other 4.3%

& textiles 

11.2%

Figure 8. Total MSW Generation (by product category), 2012 

251 Million Tons (before recycling)

Figure 8: Total MSW Generation (by category), 2012

249.6 Million tons (before recycling)

Other

1.6%

Containers & packaging 

30.0%

Nondurable goods

20.5%

Food waste 

14.5%

Yard trimmings

 13.5%

Durable goods 

19.9%
6

Material Weight 

Generated

Weight 

Recovered

Recovery as Percent 

of Generation

Weight 

Discarded

Paper and paperboard 68.62 44.36 64.6% 24.26

Glass 11.57 3.20 27.7% 8.37

Metals

Steel 16.80 5.55 33.0% 11.25

Aluminum 3.58 0.71 19.8% 2.87

Other nonferrous metals† 2.00 1.36 68.0% 0.64

Total metals 22.38 7.62 34.0% 14.76

Plastics 31.75 2.80 8.8% 28.95

Rubber and leather 7.53 1.35 17.9% 6.18

Textiles 14.33 2.25 15.7% 12.08

Wood 15.82 2.41 15.2% 13.41

Other materials 4.60 1.30 28.3% 3.30

Total materials in products 176.60 65.29 37.0% 111.31

Other wastes

Food, other‡ 36.43 1.74 4.8% 34.69

Yard trimmings 33.96 19.59 57.7% 14.37

Miscellaneous inorganic wastes 3.90 Negligible Negligible 3.90

Total other wastes 74.29 21.33 28.7% 52.96

Total municipal solid waste 250.89 86.62 34.5% 164.27

Table 1. Generation, Recovery, and Discards of Materials in MSW, 2012* 

(in millions of tons and percent of generation of each material)

* Includes waste from residential, commercial, and institutional sources.

† Includes lead from lead-acid batteries.

‡ Includes recovery of other MSW organics for composting.

Details might not add to totals due to rounding.

Negligible = Less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percent.

Materials and Products 

We track both materials and products. Materials are what products are made of and will ultimately be what 

is recovered and be reprocessed in the recycling process. Examples are metals and plastic. Products are 

what people buy and handle. Products are manufactured out of materials. Examples include packaging and 

newspapers. We track products to learn how people are consuming, using, and discarding materials. This 

information allows us to target activities that will ultimately maximize the recovery of materials.
7

Recycling Trends 

In percentage of total MSW generation, 

recycling (including composting) did not 

exceed 15 percent until 1990. Growth 

in the recycling rate was significant over 

the next 15 years. The recycling rate has 

grown more slowly over the last five 

years.

Products in MSW

The breakdown of MSW generated in 2012 by product 

category is shown in Figure 8. Containers and packaging 

made up the largest portion of MSW generated: 30 percent, 

or over 75 million tons. The second largest portion came 

from nondurable goods, which amounted to over 20 percent, 

or about 51 million tons. Durable goods make up the third 

largest segment, accounting for about 20 percent, or 50 

million tons.

The generation, recovery, and discards of materials in the 

product categories, by weight and recovery as a percent of 

generation, are shown in Table 2. This table shows that the 

recovery of containers and packaging was the highest of the 

four product categories, with over 51 percent of the generated 

materials recycled. Paper products, steel, and aluminum were the most recycled materials by percentage 

in this category. Over 76 percent of paper and paperboard containers and packaging was recycled. Over 72 

percent of steel packaging (mostly cans) was recycled. The recycling rate for aluminum packaging was 38 

percent, including almost 55 percent of aluminum beverage cans.

Over 34 percent of glass containers were recycled while about 25 percent of wood packaging, mostly 

wood pallets, was recovered. About 14 percent of plastic containers and packaging were recycled, 

mostly from soft drink, milk, and water bottles. Plastic bottles were the most recycled plastic products. 

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and jars were recovered at about 31 percent. Recovery of high 

density polyethylene (HDPE) natural (white translucent) bottles was also estimated at over 28 percent 

(see 2012 MSW full data tables).

Overall recovery of nondurable goods was about 34 percent in 2012. Nondurable goods generally last 

less than three years. Newspapers/mechanical papers and other paper products were the most recycled 

nondurable goods. Newspapers/mechanical papers include newspapers, directories, inserts, and 

some advertisement and direct mail printing. Seventy percent of newspapers/mechanical papers were 

recovered. Collectively, the recovery of other paper products such as office paper and magazines was over 

43 percent in 2012. Clothing, footwear, and other textile products are included in the nondurable goods 

category. These products were recovered for recycling at a rate of over 16 percent.

Overall, more than 18 percent of durable goods was recovered in 2012. Nonferrous metals other than 

aluminum had one of the highest recovery rates due to the high rate of lead recovery from lead-acid 

batteries. With an almost 96 percent recycling rate, lead-acid batteries continue to be one of the most 

recovered products. Recovery of steel in all durable goods was 27 percent, with high rates of recovery 

from appliances and other miscellaneous items. Recovery of selected consumer electronics was 29% (see 

2012 MSW full data tables). 

Measured by percentage of generation, products with the 

highest recovery rates in 2012 were lead-acid batteries (96 

percent), corrugated boxes (91 percent), steel cans (71 percent), 

newspapers/mechanical papers (70 percent), major appliances 

(64 percent), yard trimmings (58 percent), aluminum cans (55 

percent), tires (45 percent), and mixed paper (43 percent) (see 

2012 MSW full data tables).

Every ton of mixed paper recycled 

can save the 

energy equivalent 

of 165 gallons of 

gasoline.
8

Products Weight 

Generated

Weight 

Recovered

Recovery as Percent 

of Generation

Weight 

Discarded

Durable goods

Steel 14.57 3.94 27.0% 10.63

Aluminum 1.52 Not Available Not Available 1.52

Other non-ferrous metals† 2.00 1.36 68.0% 0.64

Glass 2.19 Negligible Negligible 2.19

Plastics 11.46 0.77 6.7% 10.69

Rubber and leather 6.52 1.35 20.7% 5.17

Wood 6.16 Negligible Negligible 6.16

Textiles 3.88 0.55 14.2% 3.33

Other materials 1.73 1.30 75.6% 0.42

Total durable goods 50.03 9.27 18.5% 40.76

Nondurable goods

Paper and paperboard 30.60 15.44 50.5% 15.16

Plastics 6.51 0.13 2.0% 6.38

Rubber and leather 1.01 Negligible Negligible 1.01

Textiles 10.15 1.70 16.7% 8.45

Other materials 3.07 Negligible Negligible 3.07

Total nondurable goods 51.34 17.27 33.6% 34.07

Containers and packaging

Steel 2.23 1.61 72.2% 0.62

Aluminum 1.87 0.71 38.0% 1.16

Glass 9.38 3.20 34.1% 6.18

Paper and paperboard 38.01 28.92 76.1% 9.09

Plastics 13.78 1.90 13.8% 11.88

Wood 9.66 2.41 24.9% 7.25

Other materials 0.30 Negligible Negligible 0.30

Total containers and packaging 75.23 38.75 51.5% 36.48

Other wastes

Food, other‡ 36.43 1.74 4.8% 34.69

Yard trimmings 33.96 19.59 57.7% 14.37

Miscellaneous inorganic wastes 3.90 Negligible Negligible 3.90

Total other wastes 74.29 21.33 28.7% 52.96

Total municipal solid waste 250.89 86.62 34.5% 164.27

Table 2. Generation, Recovery, and Discards of Products in MSW, 2012* 

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

* Includes waste from residential, commercial, and institutional sources.

† Includes lead from lead-acid batteries.

‡ Includes recovery of other MSW organics for composting.

Details might not add to totals due to rounding.

Negligible = less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percent.
9

Activity 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2008 2010 2011 2012

Generation 88.1 121.1 151.6 208.3 243.5 253.7 252.5 250.4 250.4 250.9

Recovery for 

recycling

5.6 8.0 14.5 29.0 53.0 59.2 61.9 65.0 66.3 65.3

Recovery for 

composting*

Negligible Negligible Negligible 4.2 16.5 20.6 22.1 20.2 20.6 21.3

Total materials 

recovery

5.6 8.0 14.5 33.2 69.5 79.8 84.0 85.2 86.9 86.6

Discards after 

recovery

82.5 113.0 137.1 175.0 174.0 173.9 168.5 165.3 163.5 164.3

Combustion 

with energy 

recovery†

0.0 0.4 2.7 29.7 33.7 31.6 31.6 29.3 29.3 29.3

Discards to 

landfill, other 

disposal‡

82.5 112.6 134.4 145.3 140.3 142.3 136.9 136.0 134.2 135.0

Table 3. Generation, Materials Recovery, Composting, Combustion With Energy Recovery, and Discards of MSW, 

1960 to 2012 (in millions of tons)

* Composting of yard trimmings, food waste, and other MSW organic material. Does not include backyard composting.

† Includes combustion of MSW in mass burn or refuse-derived fuel form, and combustion with energy recovery of source separated materials in MSW 

(e.g., wood pallets, tire-derived fuel).

‡ Discards after recovery minus combustion with energy recovery. Discards include combustion without energy recovery.

Details might not add to totals due to rounding.

Disposing of MSW

While the number of U.S. landfills has steadily declined 

over the years, the average landfill size has increased. At 

the national level, landfill capacity appears to be sufficient 

for our current disposal practices, although it is limited in 

some areas.

• Since 1990, the total amount of MSW going to landfills 

dropped by over 11 million tons, from 145.3 million to 

135.0 million tons in 2012 (see Table 3). 

• The net per capita discard rate to landfills (after 

recycling, composting, and combustion for energy 

recovery) was 2.36 pounds per day, lower than the 3.19 

per capita rate in 1990 (see Table 4).

3 Source: For 2002 data: BioCycle 2006.

 For 2012 data: EPA, Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 2012 data tables and BioCycle, 2013.

Composting Collection Programs3

• About 3,120 community composting 

programs were documented in 2012, 

a decrease from 3,227 in 2002.

• Over 2.4 million households were 

served with food waste composting 

collection programs in 2012.
10

Activity 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2005 2008 2010 2011 2012

Generation 2.68 3.25 3.66 4.57 4.74 4.69 4.55 4.44 4.40 4.38

Recovery for 

recycling

0.17 0.22 0.35 0.64 1.03 1.10 1.12 1.15 1.17 1.14

Recovery for 

composting*

Negligible Negligible Negligible 0.09 0.32 0.38 0.40 0.36 0.36 0.37

Total Materials 

Recovery

0.17 0.22 0.35 0.73 1.35 1.48 1.52 1.51 1.53 1.51

Discards after 

recovery

2.51 3.03 3.31 3.84 3.39 3.21 3.03 2.93 2.87 2.87

Combustion 

with energy 

recovery†

0.00 0.01 0.07 0.65 0.66 0.58 0.57 0.52 0.51 0.51

Discards to 

landfill, other 

disposal‡

2.51 3.02 3.24 3.19 2.73 2.63 2.46 2.41 2.36 2.36

Population 

(millions)

179.979 203.984 227.255 249.907 281.422 296.410 304.060 309.051 311.592 313.914

Table 4. Generation, Materials Recovery, Composting, Combustion With Energy Recovery, 

and Discards of MSW, 1960 to 2012 (in pounds per person per day)

* Composting of yard trimmings, food waste, and other MSW organic material. Does not include backyard composting.

† Includes combustion of MSW in mass burn or refuse-derived fuel form, and combustion with energy recovery of source separated materials in MSW (e.g., 

wood pallets, tire-derived fuel).

‡ Discards after recovery minus combustion with energy recovery. Discards include combustion without energy recovery.

Details might not add to totals due to rounding.

The Benefits of Recycling

Recycling has environmental benefits at every stage in the life cycle of a consumer product—from the 

raw material with which it’s made to its final method of disposal. By utilizing used, unwanted, or obsolete 

materials as industrial feedstocks or for new materials or products, Americans can each do our part to 

make recycling, including composting work. Aside from reducing GHG emissions, which contribute to 

global warming, recycling, including composting also provides significant economic and job creation 

impacts.

The energy and GHG benefits of recycling and composting shown in Table 5 are calculated using 

EPA’s WARM methodology (see: www.epa.gov/warm). WARM calculates and totals GHG emissions of 

baseline and alternative waste management practices, including source reduction, recycling, composting, 

combustion, and landfilling. Paper and paperboard recovery at about 44 million tons resulted in a 

reduction of 130 MMTCO2E in 2012. This is equivalent to removing 27 million cars from the road in one 

year.

In 2012, nationally, we recycled and composted almost 87 million tons of MSW. This provides an annual 

benefit of more than 168 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions reduced, comparable 

to removing the emissions from over 33 million passenger vehicles from the road in one year.
11

Material Weight Recovered 

(millions of tons)

GHG Benefits 

MMTCO2E

Numbers of Cars Taken Off 

the Road per Year

Paper and paperboard 44.4 130.5 27 million

Glass 3.20 1 210 thousand

Metals

Steel 5.55 9 1.9 million

Aluminum 0.71 6.3 1.3 million

Other nonferrous metals† 1.36 5.3 1.1 million

Total metals 7.62 20.6 4.3 million

Plastics 2.80 3.2 670 thousand

Rubber and leather‡ 1.35 0.7 145 thousand

Textiles 2.25 5.7 1.2 million

Wood 2.41 4.2 900 thousand

Other wastes

Food, other^ 1.74 1.4 290 thousand

Yard trimmings 19.6 0.8 170 thousand

Table 5. Greenhouse Gas Benefits Associated with Recovery of Specific Materials, 2012* 

(in millions of tons recovered, MMTCO2E and in numbers of cars taken off the road per year)

* Includes materials from residential, commercial, and institutional sources.

 These calculations do not include an additional 1.30 million tons of MSW recovered that could not be addressed in the WARM model. MMTCO2E is million 

metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.

 All benefits information that was included in last year’s report only took into account the CO2 reduction for recycling of materials. In the report this year, we 

are accounting for both the recycling of those materials and the CO2 emissions that may occur in the alternative waste management scenarios of landfilling 

and combustion. This gives us the net overall benefit of recycling these materials.

† Includes lead from lead-acid batteries. Other nonferrous metals calculated in WARM as mixed metals.

‡ Recovery only includes rubber from tires.

^ Includes recovery of other MSW organics for composting.

Source: WARM model (www.epa.gov/warm)

MSW Generation and Household Spending

Over the years, the change in the amount of MSW generated has typically imitated trends in how much 

money American households spend on goods and services. Personal Consumer Expenditures (PCE) 

measures U.S. household spending on goods and services such as food, clothing, vehicles, and recreation 

services. PCE accounts for approximately 70 percent of 

U.S. Gross Domestic Product, a key indicator of economic 

growth. PCE adjusted for inflation is referred to as real 

PCE. This is a more useful metric in making comparisons 

over time because it normalizes the value of a dollar by 

considering how much a dollar could purchase in the past 

versus today. Figure 9 explores the relationship between 

MSW generated and real PCE since 1960.

Figure 9 is an indexed graph showing the relative changes 

in real PCE, MSW generated, and MSW generated per capita 

Recycling just 1 ton of aluminum cans 

conserves more than 153 million Btu, 

the equivalent of 26 

barrels of oil, or 1,665 

gallons of gasoline.
12

Energy Recovered from 

Waste Combustion

• In 2012, over 29 million tons of 

materials, or 11.7 percent, were 

combusted for energy recovery.

• MSW combustion for energy 

recovery has decreased from 

about 34 million tons in 2000 to 

29 million tons in 2012.

Figure 9. Indexed MSW Generated and Real PCE over Time (1960-2012) 

Indexed Value

Real PCE MSW Generated MSW Generated per Capita

0.00

1.00

2.00

3.00

4.00

5.00

6.00

1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Figure 9. Indexed MSW Generated and Real PCE over Time 

(1960-2012)

2012

over time. It is indexed to allow all three of these metrics to be shown on the same graph and compare 

their relative rates of change since 1960. The indexed value indicates the change in the value of the data 

since 1960. For example, if for a given year the value is three then the data value for that year would 

be three times the 1960 value. In this case, if the 1960 value was 200 then the resulting year’s value 

would be 600. The 2012 MSW per capita generation indexed value is 1.6 which means MSW per capita 

generation has increased by 60 percent since 1960.

Figure 9 shows that real PCE has increased at a faster rate than MSW generation, and the disparity has 

become even more distinct since the mid 1990s. This indicates the amount of MSW generated per dollar 

spent is falling. In other words, our economy has been able to enjoy dramatic increases in household 

spending on consumer goods and services without this being at the expense of the societal impact of 

similarly increasing MSW generation rates. This figure also 

shows that the MSW generated per capita leveled off in the 

early- to mid-2000s and has fallen since then. This is important 

because as population continues to grow, it will be necessary 

for MSW generated per capita to continue to fall to maintain or 

decrease the total amount of MSW generated as a country.

Thinking Beyond Waste

EPA is helping change the way our society protects the 

environment and conserves resources for future generations 

by thinking beyond recycling, composting, and disposal. 

Building on the familiar concept of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, 

the Agency is employing a systemic approach that seeks to 

reduce materials use and associated environmental impacts over 

their entire life cycle, called sustainable materials management 
13

(SMM). This starts with extraction of natural resources and material processing through product design 

and manufacturing then the product use stage followed by collection/processing and final end of life 

(disposal). By examining how materials are used throughout their life cycle, an SMM approach seeks to 

use materials in the most productive way with an emphasis on using less; reducing toxic chemicals and 

environmental impacts throughout the material’s life cycle; and assuring we have sufficient resources 

to meet today’s needs and those of the future. Data on municipal solid waste generation, recycling and 

disposal is an important starting point for the full SMM approach.

Resources

The data summarized in this fact sheet characterizes the MSW stream as a whole by using a materials 

flow methodology that relies on a mass balance approach. For example, to determine the amounts of 

paper recycled, information is gathered on the amounts processed by paper mills and made into new 

paper on a national basis plus recycled paper exported, instead of counting paper collected for recycling 

on a state-by-state basis. Using data gathered from industry associations, businesses, and government 

sources, such as the U.S. Department of Commerce and the U.S. Census Bureau, we estimate tons 

of materials and products generated, recycled, and discarded. Other sources of data, such as waste 

characterizations and research reports performed by governments, industry, or the press, supplement 

these data.

The benefits of recycling and composting, such as elimination of GHG emissions, are calculated using 

EPA’s WARM methodology. WARM calculates and totals GHG emissions of baseline and alternative 

waste management practices including source reduction, recycling, composting, combustion, and 

landfilling. The model calculates emissions in metric tons of carbon equivalent (MTCE), metric tons of 

carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2E), and energy units (million Btu) across a wide range of material 

types commonly found in MSW. EPA developed GHG emissions reduction factors through a life-cycle 

assessment methodology. Please see: www.epa.gov/warm. 

Full data tables on MSW characterization that support this Report and Summaries of the MSW 

characterization methodology and WARM are available on the EPA website along with information about 

waste reduction and recycling. Please see:

www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/msw99.htm

www.epa.gov/recycle
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5306P)

Washington, DC 20460

Official Business

Penalty for Private Use $300

EPA-530-F-14-001

February 2014

www.epa.gov/wastes