EnvironmentRecycling and Conservation |
How much has recycling of municipal solid waste grown since 1960? |
In 1960 the recycling rate was 6.4 percent. It has grown to 33.2 percent in 2008. On average, Americans recycled and composted 1.5 pounds (0.7 kilograms) of our individual waste generation of 4.5 pounds (2 kilograms) per person per day.
| Recycling in the United States, 1960–2008 | ||
| Year | Weight (thousands of tons) | Percent of Total Solid Waste |
| 1960 | 5,610 | 6.4 |
| 1970 | 8,020 | 6.6 |
| 1980 | 14,520 | 9.6 |
| 1990 | 33,240 | 16.2 |
| 2000 | 69,330 | 29.0 |
| 2005 | 79,180 | 31.7 |
| 2008 | 82,870 | 33.2 |