MAIN CATEGORIES:
 1. Population
2. Vital Statistics
3. Health and Nutrition
4. Education
5. Law Enforcement, Courts
and Prisons
6. Geography and Environment
7. Parks, Recreation, Travel
8. Elections
9. State and Local Government
Finances and Employment
10. Federal Government
Finances and Employment
11. National Defense and
Veterans Affairs
12. Social Insurance and Human
Services
13. Labor Force, Employment,
and Earnings
14. Income, Expenditures, and
Wealth
15. Prices
16. Banking, Finance, and
Insurance
17. Business Enterprise
18. Communications and
Information Technology
19. Energy
20. Science and Technology
21. Transportation - Land
22. Transportation - Air
and Water
23. Agriculture
24. Natural Resources
25. Construction and Housing
26. Manufactures
27. Domestic Trade and
Services
28. Foreign Commerce and Aid
29. Outlying Areas
30. Comparative International
Statistics
31. Industrial Outlook
32. 1997 Economic Census
|
|
396. Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recovery, and Disposal
[In millions of tons (87.8 represents 87,800,000), except as indicated. Covers post-consumer residential and commercial solid wastes which comprise the major portion of typical
municipal collections. Excludes mining, agricultural andindustrial processing, demolition and construction wastes, sewage sludgeand junked autos and obsolete equipment wastes. Based
on material-flows estimating procedure and wet weight as generated;for description, see below table]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Item and material
|
1960
|
1965
|
1970
|
1975
|
1980
|
1985
|
1986
|
1987
|
1988
|
1989
|
1990
|
1991
|
1992
|
1993
|
1994
|
1995
|
1996
|
1997
|
1998
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Waste generated
|
87.8
|
103.4
|
121.9
|
128.0
|
151.5
|
164.4
|
170.7
|
178.1
|
184.2
|
191.4
|
205.2
|
204.6
|
208.9
|
211.8
|
214.2
|
211.4
|
209.2
|
216.4
|
220.2
|
|
|
Per person per day (lb.).
|
2.7
|
3.0
|
3.3
|
3.3
|
3.7
|
3.8
|
3.9
|
4.0
|
4.1
|
4.2
|
4.5
|
4.4
|
4.5
|
4.5
|
4.5
|
4.4
|
4.3
|
4.4
|
4.5
|
|
|
Materials recovered
|
5.9
|
6.8
|
8.6
|
9.9
|
14.5
|
16.4
|
18.3
|
20.1
|
23.5
|
29.9
|
33.6
|
37.0
|
40.6
|
43.8
|
50.8
|
54.9
|
57.3
|
59.4
|
62.2
|
|
|
Per person per day (lb.).
|
0.18
|
0.19
|
0.23
|
0.25
|
0.35
|
0.38
|
0.42
|
0.45
|
0.52
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
0.8
|
0.9
|
0.9
|
1.1
|
1.1
|
1.2
|
1.2
|
1.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Combustion for energy recovery
|
(NA)
|
0.2
|
0.4
|
0.7
|
2.7
|
7.6
|
9.6
|
16.0
|
24.5
|
27.1
|
29.7
|
30.1
|
30.5
|
30.9
|
31.2
|
34.5
|
36.1
|
36.7
|
37.0
|
|
|
Per person per day (lb.).
|
(NA)
|
0.01
|
0.02
|
0.02
|
0.06
|
0.17
|
0.22
|
0.36
|
0.59
|
0.6
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
0.7
|
0.8
|
0.8
|
|
|
Combustion without energy recovery.
|
27.0
|
26.8
|
24.7
|
17.8
|
11.0
|
4.1
|
3.0
|
2.0
|
1.0
|
2.0
|
2.2
|
2.2
|
2.2
|
1.6
|
1.3
|
1.0
|
(1)
|
(1)
|
(1)
|
|
|
Per person per day (lb.).
|
0.82
|
0.75
|
0.66
|
0.45
|
0.27
|
0.10
|
0.07
|
0.05
|
0.02
|
0.04
|
0.05
|
0.05
|
0.05
|
0.03
|
0.03
|
0.02
|
(1)
|
(1)
|
(1)
|
|
|
Landfilled, other disposal.
|
54.9
|
69.6
|
88.2
|
99.7
|
123.3
|
136.4
|
139.8
|
140.0
|
135.1
|
132.4
|
139.7
|
135.3
|
135.7
|
135.5
|
130.9
|
120.9
|
115.8
|
120.4
|
121.1
|
|
|
Per person per day (lb.).
|
1.7
|
2.1
|
2.4
|
2.5
|
3.0
|
3.13
|
3.18
|
3.15
|
3.02
|
2.9
|
3.1
|
2.9
|
2.9
|
2.9
|
2.8
|
2.5
|
2.4
|
2.5
|
2.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PERCENT CHANGE FROM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PRIOR YEAR
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Waste generated
|
(NA)
|
15.1
|
15.2
|
4.8
|
15.5
|
7.8
|
3.7
|
4.2
|
3.3
|
3.8
|
6.4
|
-0.3
|
2.1
|
1.4
|
1.1
|
-1.3
|
-1.0
|
3.5
|
1.8
|
|
|
Per person per day .
|
(NA)
|
11.3
|
8.3
|
-0.3
|
10.7
|
3.2
|
2.8
|
3.2
|
2.7
|
2.8
|
8.1
|
-1.4
|
1.0
|
0.3
|
0.2
|
-2.2
|
-1.9
|
2.5
|
0.8
|
|
|
Materials recovered
|
(NA)
|
13.2
|
20.9
|
13.1
|
31.7
|
11.6
|
10.4
|
9.0
|
14.5
|
21.4
|
8.3
|
10.3
|
9.5
|
8.0
|
15.9
|
8.2
|
4.4
|
3.6
|
4.7
|
|
|
Per person per day .
|
(NA)
|
5.3
|
17.4
|
8.0
|
28.6
|
7.9
|
9.5
|
6.7
|
13.5
|
21.2
|
2.8
|
9.1
|
8.3
|
6.9
|
14.8
|
7.2
|
3.4
|
2.6
|
3.7
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Combustion for energy recovery
|
(NA)
|
(NA)
|
50.0
|
42.9
|
74.1
|
64.5
|
20.8
|
40.0
|
34.7
|
9.6
|
2.8
|
1.5
|
1.4
|
1.1
|
1.1
|
10.7
|
4.5
|
1.7
|
0.8
|
|
|
Per person per day .
|
(NA)
|
(NA)
|
50.0
|
0.0
|
66.7
|
64.7
|
22.7
|
38.9
|
39.0
|
1.7
|
6.0
|
0.4
|
0.3
|
0.0
|
0.1
|
9.7
|
3.5
|
0.7
|
-0.1
|
|
|
Combustion without energy recovery.
|
(NA)
|
-0.7
|
-8.5
|
-38.8
|
-61.8
|
-168.3
|
-36.7
|
-50.0
|
-100.0
|
50.0
|
10.1
|
-1.8
|
-1.8
|
-24.5
|
-20.2
|
-23.1
|
(1)
|
(1)
|
(1)
|
|
|
Per person per day .
|
(NA)
|
-9.3
|
-13.6
|
-46.7
|
-66.7
|
-170.0
|
-42.9
|
-40.0
|
-150.0
|
50.0
|
17.1
|
-2.9
|
-2.9
|
-25.3
|
-21.0
|
-23.8
|
(1)
|
(1)
|
(1)
|
|
|
Landfilled, other disposal.
|
(NA)
|
21.1
|
21.1
|
11.5
|
19.1
|
9.6
|
2.4
|
0.1
|
-3.6
|
-2.0
|
3.0
|
-3.2
|
0.3
|
-0.2
|
-3.4
|
-7.6
|
-4.2
|
3.9
|
0.6
|
|
|
Per person per day .
|
(NA)
|
18.5
|
13.5
|
6.7
|
14.5
|
5.1
|
1.6
|
-1.0
|
-4.3
|
-3.1
|
4.6
|
-4.2
|
-0.8
|
-1.2
|
-4.3
|
-8.5
|
-5.1
|
2.9
|
-0.4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Percent distribution of generation:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Paper and paperboard..
|
34.1
|
36.8
|
36.3
|
33.6
|
36.1
|
37.4
|
38.4
|
39.1
|
38.9
|
37.6
|
35.4
|
34.7
|
35.5
|
36.6
|
37.7
|
38.6
|
38.1
|
38.5
|
38.2
|
|
|
Glass..
|
7.6
|
8.4
|
10.4
|
10.5
|
9.9
|
8.0
|
7.6
|
6.9
|
6.8
|
6.7
|
6.4
|
6.2
|
6.3
|
6.4
|
6.2
|
6.1
|
5.9
|
5.5
|
5.7
|
|
|
Metals.
|
12.0
|
10.7
|
11.6
|
11.2
|
9.6
|
8.6
|
8.5
|
8.3
|
8.3
|
8.2
|
8.1
|
8.1
|
7.7
|
7.5
|
7.6
|
7.5
|
7.7
|
7.7
|
7.6
|
|
|
Plastics..
|
0.5
|
1.4
|
2.5
|
3.5
|
5.2
|
7.1
|
7.2
|
7.5
|
7.8
|
8.0
|
8.3
|
8.7
|
8.8
|
9.0
|
9.0
|
8.9
|
9.4
|
9.9
|
10.2
|
|
|
Rubber and leather..
|
2.3
|
2.5
|
2.6
|
3.0
|
2.8
|
2.3
|
2.5
|
2.5
|
2.5
|
2.4
|
2.8
|
2.9
|
2.8
|
2.7
|
2.9
|
2.9
|
3.0
|
3.0
|
3.1
|
|
|
Textiles
|
1.9
|
1.8
|
1.6
|
1.7
|
1.7
|
1.7
|
1.6
|
2.1
|
2.1
|
2.9
|
2.8
|
3.0
|
3.2
|
3.2
|
3.4
|
3.5
|
3.7
|
3.8
|
3.9
|
|
|
Wood.
|
3.4
|
3.4
|
3.3
|
3.4
|
4.4
|
5.0
|
5.3
|
5.5
|
6.1
|
6.1
|
6.0
|
6.2
|
5.9
|
5.8
|
5.3
|
4.9
|
5.2
|
5.3
|
5.4
|
|
|
Food wastes..
|
13.9
|
12.3
|
10.5
|
10.5
|
8.7
|
8.0
|
7.7
|
7.4
|
7.2
|
6.9
|
10.1
|
10.2
|
10.1
|
10.0
|
10.0
|
10.3
|
10.4
|
10.1
|
10.0
|
|
|
Yard wastes..
|
22.8
|
20.9
|
19.0
|
19.7
|
18.2
|
18.2
|
17.7
|
17.4
|
17.2
|
18.1
|
17.1
|
17.1
|
16.8
|
15.7
|
14.7
|
14.0
|
13.3
|
12.8
|
12.6
|
|
|
Other wastes
|
1.6
|
1.8
|
2.2
|
2.9
|
3.4
|
3.6
|
3.4
|
3.3
|
3.1
|
3.1
|
3.0
|
3.1
|
2.9
|
3.0
|
3.2
|
3.3
|
3.3
|
3.4
|
3.3
|
|
|
1 Combustion without energy recovery is no longer available separately.
Source: Franklin Associates, Ltd., Prairie Village, KS, Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 1998.Prepared for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/
*MATERIAL FLOWS METHODOLOGY
The material flows methodology is utilized to generate the estimates above. Thecrucial first step is making estimates of the generation of the materials andproducts in MSW.
DOMESTIC PRODUCTIONData on domestic production of materials and products were compiledusing published data series. U.S. Department of Commerce sources were usedwhere available, but in
several instances more detailed information onproduction of goods by end use is available from trade associations. The goal is toobtain a consistent historical data series for each
product and/or material.
CONVERTING SCRAPThe domestic production numbers were then adjusted for converting orfabrication scrap generated in the production processes. Examples of these kindsof scrap would be
clippings from plants that make boxes from paperboard, glassscrap (cullet) generated in a glass bottle plant, or plastic scrap from a fabricator ofplastic consumer products. This scrap
typically has a high value because it isclean and readily identifiable, and it is almost always recovered and recycledwithin the industry that generated it. Thus, converting/fabrication
scrap is notcounted as part of the postconsumer recovery of waste.
ADJUSTMENTS FOR IMPORTS/EXPORTSIn some instances imports and exports of products are a significant part ofMSW, and adjustments were made to account for this.
DIVERSIONVarious adjustments were made to account for diversions from MSW.Some consumer products are permanently diverted from the municipal wastestream because of the way they are
used. For example, some paperboard is usedin building materials, which are not counted as MSW. Another example ofdiversion is toilet tissue, which is disposed in sewer systems rather
thanbecoming MSW.
In other instances, products are temporarily diverted from the municipalwaste stream. For example, textiles reused as rags are assumed to enter the wastestream the same year the
textiles are initially discarded.
ADJUSTMENTS FOR PRODUCT LIFETIMESome products (e.g., newspapers and packaging) normally have a veryshort lifetime; these products are assumed to be discarded in the same year theyare
produced. In other instances (e.g., furniture and appliances), products haverelatively long lifetimes. Data on average product lifetimes are used to adjust thedata series to account for
this.
MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE GENERATION AND DISCARDSThe result of these estimates and calculations is a material-by-material andproduct-by-product estimate of MSW generation, recovery, and
discards.
https://allcountries.org/uscensus/396_municipal_solid_waste_generation_recovery_and.html
These tables are based on figures supplied by the United States Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce and are subject to revision by the Census Bureau.
Copyright © 2019 Photius Coutsoukis and Information Technology Associates, all rights reserved.
|
