Paper and paperboard account for 27 percent and yard trimmings and food account for another 28 percent. Organic materials continue to be the largest component of MSW. In 2013, newspapers/mechanical papers recovery was about 67 percent (5.4 million tons), and about 60 percent of yard trimmings were recovered (Figure 3). This resulting compost can then be used as a natural fertilizer. Composting involves collecting organic waste, such as food scraps and yard trimmings, and storing it under conditions designed to help it break down naturally.Recycling is the recovery of useful materials, such as paper, glass, plastic, and metals, from the trash to use to make new products, reducing the amount of virgin raw materials needed.Source reduction, or waste prevention, is designing products to reduce the amount of waste that will later need to be thrown away and also to make the resulting waste less toxic.Mechanical papers include directories, newspaper inserts, and some advertisement and direct mail printing. Recycling Rates of Selected Products, 2013** Individual waste generation of 4.40 pounds per person per day (Figure 1 and Figure 2).ĮPA encourages practices that reduce the amount of waste needing to be disposed of, such as waste prevention,įigure 1. On average, we recycled and composted 1.51 pounds of our Material, equivalent to a 34.3 percent recycling rate. In 2013, Americans generated about 254 million tons of trash and recycled and composted about 87 million tons of this SMM practices conserve resources, reduce wastes, slow climate change and minimize the environmental impacts of the materials we use. SMM refers to the use and reuse of materials in the most productive and sustainable ways across their entire life cycle. The new name also emphasizes the importance of sustainable materials management (SMM). It includes information on MSW generation, recycling, and disposal.Īfter 30 years of tracking MSW, the report has been expanded to include additional information on source reduction (waste prevention) of MSW, information on historical landfill tipping fees for MSW, and information on construction and demolition debris generation, which is outside of the scope of MSW. This comes from our homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses.Įach year EPA produces a report called Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: Facts and Figures 2013, formerly called Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: Facts and Figures. Then throw away, such as product packaging, grass clippings, furniture, clothing, bottles, food scraps, newspapers,Īppliances, paint, and batteries. Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)more commonly known as trash or garbageconsists of everyday items we use and Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: Facts and Figures
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