Recycling Rates in the United States
These are the most recent recycling statistics for many of the common products recycled in the United States today.
| Recycling Resources Recycling Articles Recycling Pictures |
Paper and Paperboard 48.1%
Glass 18.8%
Metals 36.3%
Plastics 5.2%
Rubber and Leather 16.1%
Textiles 14.4%
Wood 9.4%
Yard Trimmings 56.3%
Source: Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling, and Disposal in the United States: Facts and Figures for 2003.
Glass recycling statistics jump from 18.8% to 22% when you only count glass containers for beverages and food.
Plastics recycling rates, while still comparatively low to other material recycling rates, have increased over 10% since 1990 (from a 4.9% recycling rate to the current 5.5% recycling rate.
© 2006 Patricia A. Michaels