Science In Action Index and Data

The index and supporting resources for "Science In Action"
Return to Science In Action

 

Recycling Facts and Figures



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 packaging32%38.3%
nondurable goods (including newspapers)26.4%17.5%
durable goods16.4%27.1%
other materials (yard waste, food scraps)25%0% (some composted)

Composition and Recycling of Municipal Solid Waste, USA, 2001
Material% of Trash% RecoveredMillion Tons Recovered
Paper36%45%37
Plastic11%5.5%1.4
Metals8%35%6.3
Glass5.5%19%2.4
Other Materials39.5%

Breakdown of Recovered Materials, USA, 2001
SegmentMillion TonsPercent of Total
Recovered Trash
paper & paperboard36.771.4%
steel4.68.9%
glass2.44.7%
plastic1.42.7%
aluminum0.81.5%
other materials5.510.7%
Total51.4100%

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




Google
 
Web sxxzdata.blogspot.com

 Previous Science In Action Data posts:
What Are Electrons?
Population Differences (supports Evolution of Adu...
List of Sequenced Genomes (supports "Reading Life'...

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?

  Technorati tags: , , , ,

Return to Science In Action


Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.