Table 8.1

Table 8.1 U.S. Municipal Solid Waste Trends, 1960-1997

Recovery Recovery Discards Per capita

Materials for for Net Com- to waste

Year generated¹ recycling composting discards bustion landfills generation

million tons

1960 88.12 5.61 ** 82.51 27.00 55.51 2.68

1970 121.06 8.02 ** 113.04 25.10 87.94 3.25

1980 151.64 14.52 ** 137.12 13.70 123.42 3.66

1990 205.21 29.00 4.20 171.97 31.90 140.10 4.50

1995 211.36 45.30 9.6 156.45 35.50 120.90 4.40

1997 216.97 48.60 12.10 156.27 36.70 119.60 4.44

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 1998 Update, Table ES-1, p. 5 (EPA, Washington, DC, 1999).

Note: **Negligible (less than 500,000 tons). ¹Generation before materials recovery or combustion. Does not include construction and demolition debris, industrial process waste, or certain other waste.

Last Updated on Tuesday, April 25, 2000

		Recovery	Recovery			Discards	Per capita
	Materials	for	for	Net	Com-	to	waste
Year	generated¹	recycling	composting	discards	bustion	landfills	generation

	million tons

1960	88.12	5.61	**	82.51	27.00	55.51	2.68
1970	121.06	8.02	**	113.04	25.10	87.94	3.25
1980	151.64	14.52	**	137.12	13.70	123.42	3.66
1990	205.21	29.00	4.20	171.97	31.90	140.10	4.50
1995	211.36	45.30	9.6	156.45	35.50	120.90	4.40
1997	216.97	48.60	12.10	156.27	36.70	119.60	4.44