DIGITAL

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TRENDSRecyclingintheU.S.CHAPTER

01OverviewMunicipalsolidwastematerialrecoveryratesinselectedcountriesworldwidein2010and2021Globalmunicipalwasterecoveryrates2010-2021,byselectcountryRecoveryrate2020

201040%0%10%20%30%50%60%70%80%90%76.6%SloveniaGermanySouthKorea*NetherlandsItaly*27.9%69.4%62.5%59.5%60.5%57.8%49.2%56.5%32.9%52.8%50.5%SwitzerlandFranceUnitedKingdom**Australia**Norway44.4%44.3%36%40.2%40.5%40.6%38.2%42.8%38%Spain**Denmark29.2%33.3%48.8%3Description:NumerousOECDcountrieshavedramaticallyimprovedtheirmunicipalrecoveryratesoverthepastdecade.Asof2021,Sloveniahadthehighestrecyclingrate,at76.6percent-upfromlessthan30percentin2010.Turkeyhasalsoseenrecoveryratesriseintheperiod,surpassing13percentin2020.MeanwhileinDenmark,municipalwasterecoverydroppedfromroughly50percenttosome33percentin2021.

ReadmoreNote(s):Worldwide;2021(orlatestavailable,asindicated);materialrecoveryreferstorecyclingandcomposting;*Figureisfor2020.**Figureisfor2019.***Figureisfor2018.

ReadmoreSource(s):OECDMunicipalsolidwasterecyclingratesinselectedcountriesworldwidein2021Globalmunicipalwasterecyclingrate2021,byselectcountryRecyclingrate30%0%10%20%40%50%60%70%SloveniaSouthKorea(2020)Germany58.5%56.5%46.3%Austria(2020)Latvia(2020)Slovakia40.6%34%33.9%Belgium30.8%30.4%30.1%30.1%30%Italy(2020)SwitzerlandCzechiaLuxembourgIreland(2020)Norway29.9%28.6%4Description:SloveniaandGermanyhadthehighestmunicipalsolidwaste(MSW)recyclingratesamongOECDcountriesin2021,at58.5and46.3percent,respectively.Meanwhile,SouthKoreaboastedarecyclingrateabove56percentin2020.Ofthe10highestrankedrecyclingrateswithinOECD,ninewereEuropeancountries.Incontrast,therecyclingrateinCostaRicawasbelowfourpercent.ReadmoreNote(s):Worldwide;2021(orlatestavailable,asindicated)Source(s):OECDMunicipalsolidwaste(MSW)generationintheUnitedStatesfrom1960to2018(inmilliontons)MunicipalsolidwastegenerationintheU.S.1960-2018350300250200292.4268.7262.1253.7251.1243.5208.3151.6150121.1197088.11005001960198019902000200520102015201720185Description:ThegenerationofmunicipalsolidwasteintheUnitedStateshasincreasedsignificantlyoverthepast60years.In1960,theNorthAmericancountryproducedapproximately88milliontonsofMSW,andby2018thatfigurehadmorethantripled,amountingto292milliontons.ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStates;1960to2018Source(s):EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyMunicipalsolidwaste(MSW)generationintheUnitedStatesfrom1960to2018,bymaterial(in1,000tons)MunicipalsolidwastegenerationintheU.S.1960-2018,bymaterialPaperandpaperboardYardtrimmingsFood*MetalsPlasticsWoodTextilesGlassRubberandleatherMiscellaneousinorganicwastes**Othermaterials***100,00090,00080,00070,00060,00050,00040,00030,00020,00010,000019601970198019902000200520102015201720186Description:ThevolumeofdifferentmaterialsgeneratedintheUnitedStatesmunicipalsolidwastestreamhasincreasedconsiderablysincethe1960s.Oneofthemostdramaticincreaseswasobservedinplasticwastegeneration,whichgrewfrom6.8milliontonsin1980tomorethan35milliontonsin2018.ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStates;1960to2018;*In2018,thefoodwastemeasurementmethodologywasexpandedtoincludeadditionalsourcesofgenerationandmanagementpathwaysbeyondcomposting,combustionwithenergyrecoveryand[...]

ReadmoreSource(s):EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyShareofpopulationwithaccesstorecyclingprogramsintheUnitedStatesin2021,bytypeShareofresidentswithaccesstorecyclingservicesintheU.S.2021,bytypeNorecyclingprogramavailable8.6%Curbsiderecyclingprogramonly34.1%Bothcurbsideanddrop-offrecycling25.4%Drop-offrecyclingprogramonly31.9%7Description:CurbsiderecyclingisthemostpopularrecyclingprogramintheUnitedStates.In2021,over34percentofU.S.populationhadaccesstocurbsiderecyclingservicesonly,whileanadditional25percenthadaccesstobothcurbsideanddrop-offrecycling.Whencomparedtootherdevelopedcountriesaroundtheworld,therecyclingrateintheUnitedStatesisratherlow,especiallyincontrasttoEuropeancountriessuchasGermany,SloveniaorAustria.

ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStates;September2020toFebruary2021Source(s):ResourceRecyclingSystems;SustainablePackagingCoalitionCHAPTER

02TradeExportsofscrapplasticfromtheUnitedStatesfrom2015to2022(inbillionpounds)ScrapplasticexportsfromtheU.S.2015-20225.04.54.54.03.53.02.52.01.51.00.50.04.33.682.371.461.381.230.95201520162017201820192020202120229Description:TheUnitedStatesexportedaround950millionpoundsofscrapplasticin2022,adecreaseofalmost23percentwhencomparedtothepreviousyear.ThevolumeofscrapplasticexportedbytheNorthAmericancountryhasfallenconsiderablysince2015,whenshipmentstotaled4.5billionpounds.ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStatesSource(s):ResourceRecyclingInc.;USCensusBureauPlasticscrapexportsfromtheUnitedStatesin2022,bydestination(in1,000metrictons)PlasticwasteexportsfromtheU.S.2022,bydestinationPlasticscrapexportsinthousandmetrictons60

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10002040120140160CanadaMexico145.0485.52India44.35MalaysiaIndonesiaVietnamGermanyTurkey35.1820.4714.9112.6311.0310.23ElSalvadorPakistan6.4810Description:TheleadingdestinationforscrapplasticexportsfromtheUnitedStatesisCanada.In2022,Canadaimportedover145thousandmetrictonsofthisproduct.Mexicofollowedthatyear,with85.5thousandtonsofplasticscrapsimported.Chinawasoncethemainexportdestinationformuchoftheworld'splasticscrap,butin2018itintroducedabanontheimportofsuchmaterials.ThismeantcountriessuchastheU.S.hadtolookelsewhere.Plasticscrapfromdevelopednationsisoften[...]

ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStates;2022Source(s):TradeMapExportsofrecoveredwasteandscrappaperandpaperboardfibersfromtheUnitedStatesfrom2015to2022(inmilliontons)ExportsofrecoveredscrappaperfromtheU.S.2015-20222519.7519.58201510519.0318.2716.5916.2915.114.4802015201620172018201920202021202211Description:In2022,theUnitedStatesexportedapproximately15.1milliontonsofrecoveredwasteandscrappaperandpaperboard,adeclineofaroundsevenpercentincomparisontothepreviousyear.PaperscrapexportsfromtheU.S.droppedconsiderablyin2019,afterChina-themaindestinationforexportsatthetime-imposedaseriesofrestrictionsonwasteimports.IndiaisnowtheleadingdestinationforU.S.paperscrapexports.

ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStates;2015to2022Source(s):TradeMap;USCensusBureauLeadingimportersofrecoveredwasteandscrappaperandpaperboardfibersfromtheUnitedStatesin2022(inmilliontons)ExportsofrecoveredscrappaperfromtheU.S.2022,bymaindestinationPaperscrapexportsinmilliontons0.00.51.01.52.02.53.03.54.0IndiaMexico3.652.42ThailandVietnamTaiwan1.831.630.890.840.790.77MalaysiaCanadaSouthKoreaIndonesia0.5112Description:IndiaistheleadingimporterofrecoveredwasteandscrappaperandpaperboardfromtheU.S.,withmorethanthreemilliontonsimportedin2022.ItwasfollowedbyMexico,Thailand,andVietnam,eachwithmorethan1.6milliontonsimportedthatyear.TheU.S.exportedaround15milliontonsofrecoveredpaperscrapin2022.ChinawasthemainimporterofU.S.recoveredfibersinthepastdecade,butthecountrybeganrestrictingwasteimportsin2018,andimportsofrecovered[...]

ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStates;2022Source(s):TradeMap;USCensusBureauCHAPTER

03RecyclingvolumeDailymunicipalsolidwaste(MSW)recycledpercapitaintheUnitedStatesfrom1960to2018(inpounds)PercapitamunicipalsolidwasterecycledintheU.S.1960-2018RecycledComposted*1.81.61.41.21.00.420.360.40.450.380.320.80.090.60.40.20.01.161.151.161.131.11.030.640.350.220.17196019701980199020002005201020152017201814Description:Onaverage,1.16poundsofmunicipalsolidwastewasrecycledperpersonintheUnitedStatesin2018.Thiswasaslightincreasefromthepreviousyear.Overall,thevolumeofpercapitarecycledMSWintheU.S.hasincreasedconsiderablyoverthepastsixdecades,butprogresshasstalledinrecentyears.ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStates;1960to2018;*Compostingofyardtrimmings,foodandothermunicipalsolidwasteorganicmaterial.Doesnotincludebackyardcomposting.ReadmoreSource(s):EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyMunicipalsolidwaste(MSW)recycledintheUnitedStatesfrom1960to2018(inmilliontons)MunicipalsolidwasterecycledintheU.S.1960-20188070605040302069.167.66765.359.2532914.581005.6196019701980199020002005201020152017201815Description:OneofthefirstmassrecyclingprogramsintheUnitedStateswasimplementedin1970inHawaii.Sincethen,therecoveryofmunicipalsolidwaste(MSW)forrecyclinghasincreased,surpassing69milliontonsin2018.ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStates;1960to2018Source(s):EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyMunicipalsolidwaste(MSW)recycledintheUnitedStatesfrom1960to2018,bymaterial(in1,000tons)MunicipalsolidwasterecycledintheU.S.1960-2018,bymaterialPaperandpaperboardGlassMetalsPlasticsRubberandleatherTextilesWoodOthermaterials80,00070,00060,00050,00040,00030,00020,00010,000019601970198019902000200520102011201220132014201520162017201816Description:PaperandpaperboardarebyfarthemostrecycledmaterialsintheU.S.municipalsolidwaste(MSW)stream,withroughly46milliontonsofthesematerialsrecycledin2018.Metalisthesecondmostrecycledwastetype,withmorethaneightmilliontonsrecycledeachyear.ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStates;1960to2018Source(s):EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyPaperandpaperboardrecycledintheUnitedStatesfrom1990to2022(inmilliontons)PaperandpaperboardrecycledintheU.S.1990-2022605040302010017Description:In2022,over49milliontonsofpaperandpaperboardwererecycledintheUnitedStates.Despitehavingdecreasedslightlyfromthepreviousyear,thevolumeofpaperrecycledintheNorthAmericancountryhasincreasedbynearly70percentsince1990.Approximately41percentofrecoveredpaperintheU.S.wasusedtomakecontainerboard.ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStates;1990to2022Source(s):AF&PACarboardrecycledintheUnitedStatesfrom2001to2022(inmilliontons)CardboardrecycledintheU.S.2001-202240353025201510502001

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202218Description:Approximately34milliontonsofcardboard–orwhattheindustrycallscorrugated–wererecycledintheUnitedStatesin2022.Thisrepresentedanincreaseofroughly11.7milliontonsincomparisonto2001levels.In2022,therecyclingrateofcardboardintheU.S.stoodat93.6percent.ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStates;2001to2022Source(s):AF&PASelectedmetalsrecycledfromscrapintheUnitedStatesin2021,bytype(in1,000metrictons)RecycledscrapmetalsintheU.S.2021,bytypeQuantityinthousandmetrictons20,000

25,00005,00010,00015,00030,00035,00040,00045,00050,00046,700IronandsteelAluminumLead3,3001,060840CopperChromium

114Magnesium

103Nickel

100Tin

16.619Description:TheUnitedStatesrecycledsome46.7millionmetrictonsofironandsteelfromscrapin2021–morethananyothermetalrecycledthatyear.Rankingsecond,butbyawidemargin,wasaluminum,withroughly3.3millionmetrictonsrecycled.TheU.S.isoneoftheleadingexportersofsteelscrapworldwide,surpassedonlybytheEuropeanUnion.ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStates;2021Source(s):USGeologicalSurveyPost-consumerplasticmaterialrecoveredforrecyclingintheUnitedStatesin2021,bytype(inmillionpounds)Post-consumerplasticrecoveredforrecyclingintheUnitedStates2021,bytypeWasteinmillionpounds800

1,00002004006001,2001,4001,6001,8002,0002,200PETbottlesFilm1,931.51,106.2Non-bottleRigids1,071HDPEbottles927.2PP&OtherBottlesOtherPlastics(excludingfoams)28.120.220Description:Nearly5.1billionpoundsofpost-consumerplasticmaterialssourcedintheUnitedStateswererecoveredforrecyclingin2021.Bottleswerethemostrecoveredplastictypethatyear,atalmost2.9billionpounds.Inparticular,PETbottlesaccountedformorethan65percentofallU.S.sourcedpost-consumerplasticbottlesrecoveredforrecycling.ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStates;2021Source(s):AssociationofPlasticRecyclers;StinaPlasticcontainersandpackagingmunicipalsolidwaste(MSW)recycledintheUnitedStatesfrom1980to2018(in1,000tons)PlasticpackagingmunicipalwasterecycledintheU.S.1980-20182,5002,0002,1501,9801,8901,8501,5001,00050001,2801,030260101980199020002005201020152017201821Description:Thevolumeofplasticcontainersandpackagingmunicipalsolidwaste(MSW)recycledintheUnitedStatesamountedto1.98milliontonsin2018.Thisrepresentedapproximately13.6percentofthetotalplasticcontainersandpackagingwastegeneratedintheUnitedStatesthatyear.Plasticpackagingincludesitemssuchaspolyethyleneterephthalate(PET)plasticbottles,andlow-densitypolyethylene(LDPE)filmproducts.ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStatesSource(s):AmericanChemistryCouncil;EnvironmentalProtectionAgency;NAPCORCHAPTER

04RecyclingratesMunicipalsolidwaste(MSW)recyclingrateintheUnitedStatesfrom1960to2018RecyclingrateofmunicipalsolidwasteintheUnitedStates1960-201840%35%30%25%34.7%34.9%35%34%32.1%31.4%28.5%20%16%15%9.6%10%5%6.4%19606.6%19700%19801990200020052010201520162017201823Description:Therecyclingrateofmunicipalsolidwaste(MSW)intheUnitedStatesstoodat32.1percentin2018.RecyclingratesintheNorthAmericancountryhaveincreasedconsiderablysincethe1990s.However,recyclingintheU.S.hassloweddowninrecentyears,experiencinglittlechangesince2005.ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStates;1960to2018;IncludescompostingSource(s):EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyRecyclingandcompostingrateofmunicipalsolidwaste(MSW)intheUnitedStatesin2018,byproductMunicipalsolidwasterecyclingrateintheU.S.2018,byproductRecyclingrate30%

40%0%10%20%50%60%70%80%90%100%110%Lead-acidbatteriesCorrugatedboxes99%96.5%Steelcans70.9%Newspapers/mechanicalpapersYardtrimmings64.8%63%59.8%MajorappliancesAluminumbeer&sodacansTires50.4%40%38.5%SelectedconsumerelectronicsGlasspackaging31.3%29.3%26.8%HDPENatural(whitetranslucentbottles)PETbottles&jars24Description:Therecyclingrateoflead-acidbatteriesintheU.S.municipalwastestreamstoodatabout99percentin2018.Bycontrast,onlysome27percentofthePETbottlesandjarsgeneratedintheNorthAmericancountrywererecycledthatyear.

ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStates;2018Source(s):EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyAnnualpaperrecyclingrateintheUnitedStatesfrom1990to2022PaperrecyclingrateintheUnitedStates1990-202280%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%0%25Description:TherecyclingrateofpaperandpaperboardintheUnitedStatesstoodatnearly68percentin2022.PaperrecyclingintheNorthAmericancountryhasimprovedsignificantlyoverthepastthreedecades,andnowaccountsforthelargestshareofmunicipalsolidwasterecycled.ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStates;1990to2022Source(s):AF&PAAnnualcarboardrecyclingrateintheUnitedStatesfrom2000to2022CardboardrecyclingrateintheUnitedStates2000-2022120%100%80%60%40%20%0%2000

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202226Description:Therecyclingrateofcarboard–orwhattheindustrycallscorrugated–intheUnitedStatesstoodat93.6percentin2022.Therecyclingrateofcardboardhasgenerallyremainedabove90percentoverthepastdecade,makingitthemostrecycledpackagingmaterialintheNorthAmericancountry.ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStates;2000to2022Source(s):AF&PARecyclingratesofselectedmetalsintheUnitedStatesin2021,bytypeRecyclingrateofmetalsintheU.S.2021,bytypeRecyclingrate0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%69%80%LeadMagnesiumAluminiumNickel57%56%51%IronandsteelCopper44%32%30%TinChromium19%27Description:LeadhasoneofthehighestmetalrecyclingratesintheUnitedStates.In2021,about69percentofleadintheNorthAmericancountrywasrecycled.Thiswasfollowedbymagnesium,witharecyclingrateofsome57percent.Meanwhile,theUnitedStatesrecyclednearly50millionmetrictonsofironandsteelthatyear,resultinginarecyclingrateofroughly44percent.ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStates;2021Source(s):USGeologicalSurveyShareofplasticwasteacceptedbymaterialrecyclingfacilities(MRF)andaccesstomunicipalcollectionintheUnitedStatesin2022,byproductShareofplasticitemsacceptedbymaterialrecyclingfacilitiesintheU.S.2022ShareofwasteandpopulationShareofpopulationwithaccesstomunicipalitemcollection0%

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4%ShareofMRFs**acceptingtheitem6%

8%6%10%12%PlasticclamshellsPlasticcups11%5%5%9%3%Plastictrays0%Plasticbagsandfilms*Expandedpolystyrene(EPS)foodservicePlasticlidsandcaps(loose)Plasticplates1%1%1%1%2%2%1%28Description:Asof2022,aboutninepercentofthematerialrecyclingfacilities(MRFs)intheUnitedStatesacceptedplasticcups,whileroughlyfivepercentofthepopulationhadaccesstomunicipalcollectionoftheseitems.ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStates;August2022;375operatingMRFs;*Doesnotincludeplasticbagscollectedbydrop-offatprivateretailoperationsduetoFTCrequirements.ReadmoreSource(s):GreenpeaceRecyclingrateofplasticmunicipalsolidwaste(MSW)intheUnitedStatesfrom1960to2018PlasticmunicipalsolidwasterecyclingrateintheU.S.1960-201810%9%8%7%6%5%4%3%9%8.7%8.5%8%6.1%5.8%2.2%2%1%0%0.3%19800%0%1960*1970*199020002005201020152017201829Description:In2018,some8.7percentofplasticwastegeneratedintheUnitedStatesmunicipalsolidwastestreamwasrecycled.TheamountofplasticwasterecycledintheNorthAmericancountryhasremainedlowsincethe1960s,despitethevolumeofplasticwastegeneratedhavingincreasedmassivelysincethen.Withsome2.9milliontonsofplasticwastegeneratedin1970,theUnitedStatesnowproducesmorethan30milliontonsofplasticeachyear.Andwhiletherecyclingrateofplastic[...]

ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStates;*Lessthan0.05percent.ReadmoreSource(s):AmericanChemistryCouncil;EnvironmentalProtectionAgency;NAPCORCHAPTER

05CompaniesRevenueofleadingwastemanagementcompaniesintheUnitedStatesin2022(inbillionU.S.dollars)LeadingwastemanagementcompaniesintheUnitedStates2022,byrevenueRevenueinbillionU.S.dollars1002468121416182022WasteManagementIncRepublicServicesWasteConnectionsCleanHarbors19.713.517.215.01Stericycle2.7CasellaWasteSystems1.0931Description:TheleadingwastemanagementcompanyintheUnitedStatesisWasteManagementInc.In2022,theTexas-basedcompanyreportedarevenueof19.7billionU.S.dollars.ThiswasfollowedbyRepublicServices–headquarteredinArizona–witharevenueamountingto13.5billionU.S.dollars.ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStates;2022Source(s):FinancialTimes;ThomsonReuters;Varioussources(Companydata)OperatingrevenueofWasteManagementInc'srecyclingservicesfrom2013to2022(inmillionU.S.dollars)WasteManagementInc'srecyclingrevenue2013-20221,8001,6001,7011,6811,4471,4321,3701,4001,2001,00080060040020001,2931,2211,1631,1271,040201320142015201620172018201920202021202232Description:WasteManagementInc'srecyclingservicesgeneratedanoperatingrevenueofover1.7billionU.S.dollarsin2022.Thiswasanincreaseof20millionU.S.dollarsfromthepreviousyear.TherecyclingsegmentaccountedforapproximatelysevenpercentofWasteManagementInc'stotaloperatingrevenuein2022.ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStates;FY2013toFY2022Source(s):WasteManagementRecycledmaterialsbyWasteManagementIncin2022,bymaterial(in1,000tons)WasteManagementInc'srecycledmaterials2022,bytypeRecycledmaterialsinthousandtons01,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,0008,000PaperMixedorganicsC&D/woodFlyash7,3713,8021,222915Glass546469465MetalPlasticE-waste/lampsOther*83433Description:WasteManagementIncrecycledatotalof14.8milliontonsofmaterialsin2022.Outofthese,nearly7.4milliontonswerepaper,makingitthemostrecycledmaterialbytheU.S.companythatyear.Thiswasfollowedbymixedorganics,ofwhichsome3.8milliontonswererecycled.ReadmoreNote(s):UnitedStates;2022;*Otherincludesspecialtymaterialssuchasusedoil,tires,andtextiles.Figureshavebeenrounded.ReadmoreSource(s):WasteManagementRecyclingrevenueofWasteConnections,Inc.fromFY2015toFY2022(inmillionU.S.dollars)WasteConnectionsrecyclingrevenue2015-2022250200150205.08204.88161.7392.46201692.63201810050086.39202064.25201947.29201520172021202234Description:WasteCon