How much waste does each person produce annually?
These Facts and Figures are current through calendar year 2018. The total generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) in 2018 was 292.4 million tons (U.S. short tons, unless specified) or 4.9 pounds per person per day. Of the MSW generated, approximately 69 million tons were recycled and 25 million tons were composted.
How much waste does the average American produce?
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American produces about 4.4 pounds (2 kg) of garbage a day, or a total of 29 pounds (13 kg) per week and 1,600 pounds (726 kg) a year. This only takes into consideration the average household member and does not count industrial waste or commercial trash.
How much waste is produced around the world each day?
The world generates at least 3.5 million tons of plastic and other solid waste a day, 10 times the amount a century ago, according to World Bank researchers. The U.S. is the king of trash, producing a world-leading 250 million tons a year —roughly 4.4 pounds of trash per person per day.
How much waste does the average human produce?
According to the EPA, the average American person will produce about 5.91 pounds of trash, with about 1.51 pounds being recycled; 4.40 pounds is the rough average daily waste per person. That’s a lot! How much waste does a person produce in a year? on average Americans generate 4.3 pounds of trash per day.
How much waste does a human produce per day?
The Current National Picture The total generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) in 2018 was 292.4 million tons (U.S. short tons, unless specified) or 4.9 pounds per person per day.
How much waste does the US produce in 2020?
Each American produces more than 1,700 pounds of it a year, the report's authors found, adding up to 239 million tons annually.
How much waste do humans produce in a year?
The average American consumer produces just under five pounds of trash each day, while a family creates about 18 pounds. Multiplying those numbers by 365 days for the year, it all adds up to: 1,642 pounds per person annually. 6,570 pounds per family annually.
Who produces the most waste in the world?
1. Canada. Canada's estimated total waste generation is the largest in the entire world. It has an estimated annual waste total is 1,325,480,289 metric tons.
How much trash does the average person produce?
The average global citizen produces 2.6 pounds of trash a day. The US produces 33% of the world's solid waste. Over thirty years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began collecting and reporting data on waste. The agency used this data to look at how much waste the U.S. generated and what municipalities choose to do with their waste.
How much trash does the US throw away?
The US makes up about 4% of the world’s population but produces 12% of its trash. The average American throws away 4.4 pounds of trash each day , which is almost twice as much as the global average of 2.6 pounds each day. That amounts to about 29 pounds per week, and 1,600 pounds per year from the average American.
How many landfills does the US have?
It is so efficient that the system can get rid of trash by throwing it in a landfill or paying another country to throw it in their landfills. The US has over 2,000 landfills and thousands of inactive ones.
What percentage of electronic waste is recyclable?
Only 25% of electronic waste is recyclable and 70% of metals found in US landfills come from electronic devices. Common materials found in e-waste are lead and lead-acid. Lead leaches into water and soil which can lead to devastating effects on the environment and serious health problems by entering the food chain.
How to reduce waste?
There are many ways to reduce the amount of waste generated. Anyone who uses a plastic straw can switch to bamboo or stainless-steel straws. Use a reusable water bottle to fill your liquids. Gardeners may want to think about starting a compost bin to discard the fallen leaves and leftover food.
Can school lunches be reusable?
School or work lunches can be packed in a reusable lunch bag or lunch box. Efforts can also be made to consume less so that there is less waste. Purchase products with less packaging so there is less trash to throw away. Each household can play a game to see how little trash each member in the household makes.
Does China take recycled paper?
Until now, China was importing America's recyclables that would be used to make shoes, bags, and other recycled products. Recently though, China put new restrictions on what they would take including not taking mixed paper, magazines, office paper, junk mail, and most plastics.
How much MSW was recycled?
Of the MSW generated, approximately 69 million tons were recycled and 25 million tons were composted. Together, almost 94 million tons of MSW were recycled and composted, equivalent to a 32.1 percent recycling and composting rate. An additional 17.7 million tons of food were managed by other methods.
What percentage of MSW is recycled?
It decreased to 32.1 percent in 2018.
How much of MSW was combusted?
In addition, nearly 35 million tons of MSW (11.8 percent) were combusted with energy recovery and more than 146 million tons of MSW (50 percent) were landfilled. EPA refers to trash, or MSW, as various items consumers throw away after they are used.
What was the rate of yard trimmings composted in 2000?
The rate of yard trimmings composted in 2000 was 51.7 percent . In 2018, the rate of food and other MSW organics composting was 4.1 percent (2.6 million tons). Although this is down from 6.3 percent in 2017, the tons composted remained the same between 2017 and 2018 (2.6 million tons).
How many tons of MSW were produced in 2018?
Generation. The total generation of MSW in 2018 was 292.4 million tons, which was approximately 23.7 million tons more than the amount generated in 2017. This is an increase from the 268.7 million tons generated in 2017 and the 208.3 million tons in 1990. Created with Highcharts 4.2.7.
How much plastic was produced in 2018?
In 2018, plastic products generation was 35.7 million tons, or 12.2 percent of generation. This was an increase of 4.3 million tons from 2010 to 2018, and it came from durable goods and the containers and packaging categories. Plastics generation has grown from 8.2 percent of generation in 1990 to 12.2 percent in 2018.
What is the EPA collecting?
The Current National Picture. EPA began collecting and reporting data on the generation and disposition of waste in the United States more than 35 years ago. The Agency uses this information to measure the success of materials management programs across the country and to characterize the national waste stream.
How much waste is recycled in the world?
Of this waste, just 16% is recycled, while 46% is disposed of unsustainably in ways that harm the environment.
What are the main drivers of waste generation?
The main drivers of the global surge in waste generation are the growing population, economic growth, and urbanization. These trends are expected to intensify in the years ahead. By 2050, the global population could reach nearly 10 billion people, while the proportion of people living in cities could reach 68%.
What countries are reaching their landfill capacity?
As countries exceed their capacity to manage waste, geopolitical tensions could arise. Countries like the US and Singapore are reaching their landfill capacity, while countries like China and Malaysia have refused to continue accepting trash exported from Western nations.
How much waste is recycled each year?
However, less than 20 percent of waste is recycled each year, with huge quantities still sent to landfill sites. Waste is also often disposed of at hazardous open dump sites, especially in developing nations.
Which region produces the most waste?
Biggest waste producers worldwide. The region that generates the most municipal solid waste (MSW) is East Asia and the Pacific Region. As the world’s most populous nation, China is responsible for ...
How much e-waste is generated in 2019?
Global electronic waste generation totaled more than 50 million metric tons in 2019 and is expected to increase by an estimated 20 million metric tons in the coming decade. Much like other waste forms, e-waste generation per capita is higher in wealthier nations. Food is the most common form of waste, accounting for almost 50 percent of global MSW.
How much waste will be produced by 2050?
By 2050, worldwide municipal solid waste generation is expected to have increased by roughly 70 percent to 3.4 billion metric tons. This is due to a number of factors, such as population growth, urbanization, and economic growth, as well as consumer shopping habits. Every year, humans produce millions of tons of waste, ...
Which country produces the most waste per capita?
This is more than double the per capita waste generation of Japan, where citizens produce on average, 350 kilograms of MSW each year. In Europe, Denmark is perhaps surprisingly the biggest producer of waste per capita, with Danes producing a similar volume as Americans each year.
Is food waste a leading cause of environmental pollution?
And much like other waste forms, food waste is a leading cause of environmental pollution . This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
What is considered waste in recycling?
In some of the statistics and activities surrounding recycling, the term “waste” is stretched to include non-edible (by humans) parts of food such as banana peels, bones, and egg shells.
How much food waste will be eliminated by 2030?
In 2015, the USDA joined with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to set a goal to cut our nation’s food waste by 50 percent by the year 2030.
How much food was lost in 2010?
USDA estimates: amount of food loss and waste from the food supply at the retail and consumer levels: in 2010 food loss and waste at the retail and consumer levels was 31 percent of the food supply, equaling 133 billion pounds and almost $162 billion. Neither estimate provides a comprehensive evaluation of food loss and waste in the United States.
What causes food loss in the farm?
Between the farm gate and retail stages, food loss can arise from problems during drying, milling, transporting, or processing that expose food to damage by insects, rodents, birds, molds, and bacteria. At the retail level, equipment malfunction (such as faulty cold storage), over-ordering, and culling of blemished produce can result in food loss.
What are the inputs used in producing, processing, transporting, preparing, storing, and disposing of
Land, water, labor, energy and other inputs are used in producing, processing, transporting, preparing, storing, and disposing of discarded food.
What is food loss?
USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) defines food loss as the edible amount of food, postharvest, that is available for human consumption but is not consumed for any reason. It includes cooking loss and natural shrinkage (for example, moisture loss); loss from mold, pests, or inadequate climate control; and food waste.
Work and Play, Throughout the Day
How much plastic you encounter throughout your day at work or at school will depend on some lifestyle choices you may make around plastic-use. Still, you’re likely to come into contact with several of these situations along the way.
Home Again
After you’ve completed your tasks for the day and commute back home, you’ll surely spend the rest of your waking hours in contact with plastics yet again.
The Current National Picture
Generation
Recycling
Composting/Other Food Management
Combustion with Energy Recovery
Landfilling
Trends – 1960 to Today
- In 2018, the amount of MSW generated was 292.4 million tons. The amount of MSW recycled was 69.0 million tons and the amount composted was 24.9 million tons. About 17.7 million tons of food were managed by other methods. The amount of MSW combusted with energy recovery was 34.6 million tons, while the amount of MSW sent to landfills was 146.2 milli...
Generation Trends
Recycling and Composting Trends
Other Food Management Trends