Recovery for recycling and composting has increased from approximately 7 percent of MSW generated in 1960 to 27 percent in 1996, with much of the growth happening over the past ten years. The per capita generation of yard trimmings is, however, projected to continue to decline if current source reduction activities continue. Combustors handled an estimated 30 percent of MSW generated in 1960, mostly through incinerators with no energy recovery and no air pollution controls. All major new facilities have energy recovery and are designed to meet air pollution standards. Tonnage of MSW combusted will increase only slightly by the year 2000.
Landfill use fluctuates with changes in the use of alternative solid waste management methods.
Recovery for recycling and composting at a 30 to 35 percent in 2000, combined with projected source reduction efforts would reduce total national discards of MSW after recovery to below 1996 levels. In 1995 EPA estimated that adding projected combustion levels to recycling and composting levels would lower landfill tonnage to 118 million tons in 2000 compared to 129 million tons in 1993. However, landfill tonnage has already dropped to 116 million tons and is expected to continue to decrease.