Guides / What's In Our Waste
What's In Our Waste
Americans generate 292 million tons of trash each year—about 4.9 pounds per person per day. According to the most recent EPA data, three materials dominate our waste stream: paper, food, and plastics.
The Big Three
More than half of everything Americans throw away falls into just three categories. Together, paper, food, and plastics account for 57% of the waste stream.
The Full Breakdown
Here's what 292 million tons of municipal solid waste looks like, broken down by material.
Source: EPA, Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: Facts and Figures (2018)
The Recycling Gap
Not all waste is created equal when it comes to recovery. Paper has a strong recycling infrastructure, but two of the big three—plastics and food—are barely being diverted from landfills.
91% goes to landfill or incineration
96% wasted in landfills or down the drain
The takeaway: Recycling alone won't solve the waste crisis. For plastics and food, the most impactful step is reducing how much we generate in the first place. Refuse single-use plastics, plan meals to avoid food waste, and compost what you can't eat.
Where It All Goes
Half of America's waste ends up in landfills. Only about a third is recycled or composted.
Source: EPA, Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: Facts and Figures (2018)
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