Country profile

United States

Waste generation, collection, composition, treatment and policy statistics for United States.

Indicator year 2018N. Amer.HIC

Municipal waste generated795kg per person · 2018 · World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · reported value

Collection coverage100%2018 · World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · population coverage

Municipal recycling rate24.1%2018 · World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · reported treatment share

Uncollected waste—No published value

Open dumping—No published value

Sanitary landfill49.1%2018 · World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · reported treatment share

Waste composition

World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · 2018 · reported material shares

Paper and cardboard23.1%

Food and organics21.6%

Plastic12.2%

Garden and green waste12.1%

Metal8.8%

Wood6.2%

Textiles5.8%

Glass4.2%

Rubber and leather3.1%

Other materials1.5%

Diapers and hygiene products1.4%

World Bank What a Waste 3.0 · 2018 · reported treatment and disposal shares

Sanitary landfill49.1%

Recycling in treatment mix24.1%

Incineration11.7%

Composting8.8%

Anaerobic digestion6.3%

National waste lawYes

National waste planNational Recycling Strategy

Responsible institutionUnited States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Producer responsibilityYes

EPR operating statusLegally-binding regulations in place

Deposit-return systemYes