According to the report of the American Agency for Environmental Protection (EPA), in 2009 the U.S. had accumulated 243 million tons of municipal solid waste, ie about 4.34 pounds per capita. This figure is almost half a pound below the absolute record in 2000 – 4.72 pounds per capita. Of that amount more than a third (82 million tons or 33.8%) were processed. Thus, from 4.34 pounds of waste produced by each resident of the U.S. daily, the processing went 1.46 pounds.
Necessary noted that the percentage of recycling (MSW) in the country is steadily growing since the 70s of last century. A total of 50 years, the level of recycling has increased more than fivefold. To this we must add that 11.9% of waste incinerated for generate heat and electricity. The best indicators of processing in the United States recorded in the segment of automotive batteries, paper, steel cans, garden waste and aluminum cans. Level less than 40% corresponds to the recycling of tires, glass containers and plastic packaging.
The source of over half of the MSW in the U.S. are private households. Even the order of 35-45% of solid waste produced by commercial, administrative, cultural and medical institutions. TBT in the U.S. is paper waste – 28.2% in 2009. This is followed by food and garden waste, and waste plastics. The structure of education by category of MSW is presented in the following chart. The graph category 'other' combines including wood waste (6.5%) and glass waste – 4.8%. EPA notes that the processing of 82 million tons of solid waste equivalent to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 178 million tons of emissions, or 33 million cars. Another consequence of recycling are cleaner air, soil and water resources, leading ultimately to a more sustainable economy. Information & Consulting Cleandex – we specialize in the study of technologies and markets, clean technology sector.