• June 20, 2013
• By Jeremy Carroll

The amount of municipal solid waste in the United States remained flat for 2011, but the nation's recycling rate inched upward, according to statistics released today from the U.S. EPA.

According to the report, Americans generated 250.4 million tons of MSW in 2011, nearly identical to the 250.5 million tons of MSW reported in 2010. Of that MSW, a total of 86.9 million tons, or 34.7% was recovered for either recycling or composting. That is higher than the 34.0% of recovered items reported in 2010.

The MSW generated per capita was 4.40 pounds per day, down slightly from 4.44 pounds in 2010.

The report also breaks down the recycling rate for various materials. Newspapers and other paper have a recycling rate of 72.5%; aluminum beer and soda cans have a recycling rate of 54.5%; glass containers have a recycling rate of 34.2%; and PET bottles have a recycling rate of 29.2%.

Among the largest gains in recycling were beverage cans and tires. Recycling of aluminum beer and soda cans jumped 9.9%, from a recycling rate of 49.6% in 2010 to 54.5% in 2011. Tire recycling jumped 25.6%, from a recycling rate of 35.5% in 2010 to 44.6% in 2011.

The annual report is typically released in the fall, but was delayed as the EPA attempted to change its methodology.

Facts and figures can be downloaded here and the full report can be downloaded here.

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http://www.wasterecyclingnews.com/article/20130620/NEWS01/130629988