Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Characterization Data for
the United States
2008
Municipal Solid Waste Generation in 2008 250 Million Tons
Paper 31.0%
Glass 4.9%Metals 8.4%
Plastics 12.0%
Other 3.3%
Food Scraps 12.7%
Yard Trimmings 13.2 %
Wood 6.6%
Rubber, leather, and textiles 7.9%
EPA 2008 Facts and Figures
Products Generated in MSW, 2008
Other Wastes 1.5%
Containers & Packaging 30.8%
Nondurable Goods 23.5%
Food Scraps 12.7%
Yard Trimmings 13.2%
Durable Goods 18.3%
250 million tons before recycling
Commodity Recycling Trends1970 1980 1990 2000 2009
Paper and paperboard 15% 21% 28% 43% 56%
Glass 1% 5% 20% 23% 23%
Metals 4% 8% 24% 35% 35%
Plastics Neg. <1% 2% 6% 7%
Yard trimmings Neg. Neg. 12% 52% 65%
Rubber tires 13% 6% 12% 26% 35%
Lead-acid batteries 76% 70% 97% 93% 99%
Neg. = less than 5,000 tons or 0.05 percent.
How Waste is Managed
• Land Disposal
54.2%• Combustion
12.6%• Recovery
33.2%
Combustion12.6%
MSW Management in the U.S.
Recovery33.2%
Land Disposal54.2%
For more information
Please contact:
Hope Pillsbury
U.S. EPA
Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery
(703) 308-7258
