Science In Action Index and Data

These data support the post "Does Recycling Make Sense" at Science in Action. Click here to return to the article.

Americans generated 229 million tons of municipal solid waste in 2001 (see EPA report from which these figures were drawn.) Of that 229 million tons of trash, 51.4 million tons (22.4%) was recovered for recycling.

What's In Trash, USA, 2001

Type of Trash	% of Total Trash	% Recovered
containers and packaging	32%	38.3%
nondurable goods (including newspapers)	26.4%	17.5%
durable goods	16.4%	27.1%
other materials (yard waste, food scraps)	25%	0% (some composted)

Composition and Recycling of Municipal Solid Waste, USA, 2001

Material	% of Trash	% Recovered	Million Tons Recovered
Paper	36%	45%	37
Plastic	11%	5.5%	1.4
Metals	8%	35%	6.3
Glass	5.5%	19%	2.4
Other Materials	39.5%

Breakdown of Recovered Materials, USA, 2001

Segment	Million Tons	Percent of Total Recovered Trash
paper & paperboard	36.7	71.4%
steel	4.6	8.9%
glass	2.4	4.7%
plastic	1.4	2.7%
aluminum	0.8	1.5%
other materials	5.5	10.7%
Total	51.4	100%

These data support the post "Does Recycling Make Sense" at Science in Action. Click here to return to the article.