USA: EPA report estimates municipal waste generation increased slightly in 2012

14 March 2014

The US Environmental Protection Agency EPA has released its 2012 Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Characterization Report, which estimates that MSW generation in the United States edged up slightly to 250.9 million tons in 2012 from 250.4 million tons in 2011. The full report, which is released every two years, contains data on MSW generation, recovery, and disposal from 1960 to 2011.
The national recycling rate declined from 34.7% to 34.5% during the same period. For 2012, the US recycled more than 65 million tons of waste, composted more than 21 million tons of waste, and recovered as energy another 29 million tons, according to the report (State Recycling Laws Update, 10 March 2014).
Click here for the report.

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