Steel
Generated:
• 2.69 million tons or 1.2% by weight
*
• 19.92 pounds of steel cans per person *
• 33.6 billion steel cans, or 125 per person were used in 2000
• The average steel can weighs 2.55 ounces
Recycled:
• 1.5 million tons for a 56.1% recycling
rate. *
• 19.5 billion cans for a 58.4% rate in 2000 (industry data)
Recycled Content:
• A minimum of 25% scrap steel is
used to manufacture steel products such as tin-plate for cans
through the oxygen furnace process;
this process uses less than 10% of steel cans.
• Products such as railroad ties, use nearly 100% scrap steel
and are produced via electric furnaces.
Composted:
Though not compostable, if exposed to the elements, steel cans will slowly deteriorate
and rust.
Density:
• Whole, unflattened steel cans
have a density of 150 pounds per cubic yard.
• Baled cans have a density of 850 pounds per cubic yard.
• Landfilled steel cans weigh 560 pounds per cubic yard.
* 1998 estimates
Primary source: “Waste Age”, June 2001 “Profiles
in Garbage: Steel Cans” by Chaz Miller
Secondary sources:
American Iron & Steel Institute, Washington D.C. Website: www.steel.org
Can Manufacturers Institute, Washington, D.C. Website: www.cancentral.com
“ Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling and Disposal in the United
States: Facts and Figures for 1998,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Washington D.C. Website: www.epa.gov
National Recycling Coalition, Measurement Standards and Reporting Guidelines
Alexandria, Va. Website: www.nrc-recycle.org
Resource Recycling Technologies, Vesta, NY
“ Scrap Specifications Circular,” 1998, Institute of Scrap Recycling
Industries, Washington, D.C. Website: www.isri.org
Steel Recycling Institute, Pittsburgh, Pa. Website: www.recycle-steel.org
Waste Recyclers Council, Washington, D.C. Website: www.envasns.org
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Corrugated Boxes
OCC
= old corrugated containers
Generated:
• 29.7 million tons or 12.6 percent by weight*
• 204.2 pounds per person per year *
• 33 million tons in 2004 (industry data)
Recycled:
• 21.2 million tons or 71.3 percent
*
• 24 million tons or percent in 2003 (industry data)
Recycled content:
• Generally less than 40%
• A greater percentage of recycled content is found in the corrugated
medium than liner board
Composted
• If correctly shredded, OCC is highly
compostable
Density
• Landfilled OCC weights 750 lbs/cubic
yard
•
Loose, unbaled OCC weighs 50 – 100 pounds/cubic yard
•
Baled OCC weighs 1,000 – 1,200 pounds/cubic yard
Primary source: “Waste Age”,
January 2006 “Profiles in Garbage: Corrugated Boxes” by
Chaz Miller
Secondary sources:
American Forest and Paper Association, www.afandpa.org
“ Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling and Disposal in the United
States: Facts and Figures for 203,” U.S. EPA, Offices of Solid Waste, 2005,
www.epa.gov/osw
Corrugated Packaging Council, www.corrugated.org
Fibre Box Association, www.fibrebox.org
“ Measurements Standards and Reporting Guidelines,” national Recycling
Coalition, Washington, D.C., www.nrcrecycle.org
“ Scrap Specifications Circular 2005,” Institute of Scrap Recycling
Industries, Washington, D.C., www.isri.org
* 2003 estimate
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Plastic Film
What exactly is plastic film?
Totaling nearly 40% of all plastic packaging, plastic film is typically a thin-gauge
packaging element. Generated: Examples of the material include grocery sacks,
trash bags, dry cleaning garment bags and plastic stretch wrap.
• 4.3 million tons of plastic film, 1.95% of MSW by weight.*
• 0.84 Million tons of trash bags, 0.4% of MSW by weight.*
• 1.48 million tons of bags and sacks, 0.7% of MSW by weight.*
• 1.98 million tons of wrap, 0.9% of MSW by weight.*
• 31.85 pounds of plastic film per person per year.*
Recycled:
• 130,000 tons for a 3% plastic film
recycling rate.*
• Trash bags have a negligible recycling rate.*
• 10,000 tons or 0.7% of bags and sacks were recycled.*
• 120,000 tons or 6.1% of plastic wrap were recycled.*
•
Manufactured from a variety of resins and colors, plastic film
poses a difficulty in recycling because of the material’s
thickness.
• Recycling programs have been established in large US cities
specifically for collecting plastic grocery bags.
Recycled Content:
• Post-consumer content is not present
in most plastic film, however the appearance of pre-consumer
recycled content is
increasing.
•
Plastic film’s thickness can increase up to 50% if the
product contains recycled content
Composted:
• Unless the bags are made from degradable
plastics, plastic film is not compostable.
• Studies are inconclusive on the practicality of degradable
plastics.
Density:
• Weighing in at nearly 1,100 pounds,
the horizontally baled plastic film block is sized at 30" x
42" x 48"
• Landfilled plastic film has a density of 670 pounds per cubic
yard.
Primary source: “Waste Age”,
November 2000 “Profiles in Garbage: Plastic Film” by
Chaz Miller
Secondary Sources:
American Plastics Council, Arlington, Va. Website: www.plasticresources.com
Flexible Packaging Association, Washington, D.C. Website: www.flexpack.org
Measurement Standards and Reporting Guidelines”, National Recycling Coalition,
Alexandria, Va. Website: www.nrc-recycle.org
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, “Recycling and Disposal in the United
States: Facts & Figures for 1998”. Website: www.epa.gov/msw
*1998 U.S. EPA estimates
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Glass Containers
Generated:
• 11.0 million tons or 5.0% by weight.*
• 81.5 pounds per person per year.*
• The average glass bottle weighs 8 oz.
• 82% of glass bottles are generated from homes; 18% from business
Recycled:
• 3.2 million tons for a 28.9% recycling
rate.*
• Industry data shows a 35% recycling rate in 1999. (This figure
includes refillables at a trippage rate of 8 times per bottle.)
• Ten states within the United States require glass beverage
container deposit site.
Recycled Content:
• 26% U.S.-produced bottles.
Composted:
• This material is non-compostable.
Density:
• Landfilled glass bottles weigh 2,800
pounds per cubic yard.
• Loose glass bottles have a density of 600 pounds per cubic
yard.
Primary Source: “Waste Age”,
January 2001 “Profiles in Garbage: Glass Containers” by
Chaz Miller
Secondary sources:
Glass Packaging Institute, Washington, D.C. Website: www.gpi.org
“ Measurement Standards and Reporting Guidelines,” National Recycling
Coalition, Alexandria, Va. Website: www.nrc-recycle.org
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, “Recycling and Disposal in the United
States: Facts and Figures for 1998,” U.S. EPA, 2000. Website:www.epa.gov.osw
National Solid Wastes Management Association’s Waste Recyclers Council,
Washington, D.C., Processing Collection Cost Studies.
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, 1990.
Scrap Specifications Circular 1997, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries,
Washington, D.C. Website: www.isri.org
1998 U.S. EPA estimates.
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Aluminum Packaging
Generated:
• 1.96 million tons or 0.9% by weight.*
• 1.59 million tons of cans per year.*
• 370,000 tons of foil per year.*
• 14.51 pounds of aluminum packaging per person per year.*
• 11.77 pounds of cans and 2.74 pounds of foil per person per
year.*
• 102.2 billion cans, or 379 cans per person, were used in 1999.
• 1 can weighs slightly less than 1/33 of a pound.
• 79% of cans are generated in homes and 21% are generated in
businesses.
• 90% of foil is generated in homes and 10% is generated in businesses.
Recycled:
• 860,000 tons for a 43.9% aluminum
packaging recycling rate.*
• 830,000 tons for a 53.9% can recycling rate.*
• Industry data shows 965,000 tons for a 62.5% can recycling
rate in 1999.
• 30,000 tons for an 8.1% foil recycling rate.*
Recycled Content:
• In 1999, 33% of the raw material
for aluminum was recycled.
• According to 1999 industry data, 51.2% of that overall statistic
included aluminum cans.
Composted:
• Aluminum is a non-compostable material.
Density:
• Landfilled aluminum cans weigh 250
pounds per cubic yard.*
• Landfilled foil weighs 550 pounds per cubic yard.*
• Loose aluminum cans have a density of 50 pounds to 74 pounds
per cubic yard.
• Flattened cans have a density of 250 pounds per cubic yard.
Primary Source: “Waste Age”,
February 2001 “Profiles in Garbage: Aluminum Packaging” by
Chaz Miller
Secondary sources:
Aluminum Association, Washington, D.C. Website: www.aluminum.org
“ Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 1998
Updated,” 1999. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Solid Waste,
Washington, D.C. Website: www.epa.gov
“ Measurement Standards and Reporting Guidelines,” National Recycling
Coalition, Alexandria, Va. Website: www.nrc-recycle.org
“ Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling and Disposal in the United
States: Facts and Figures for 1998,” EPA, Office of Solid Waste, 2000.
Website: www.epa.gov
National Solid Wastes Management Association’s Waste Recyclers Council,
Processing and Collection Cost Studies. Website: www.envasns.org
“ Scrap Specifications Circular 1998,” Institute of Scrap Recycling
Industries, Washington D.C. Website: www.isri.org
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Polyethylene Terephthalate
(PET)
PET is a type of plastic used to manufacture
soft drink bottles and other kinds of food containers; other
uses include fabric production.
Generated:
• 1.66 million tons or 0.75% by weight.*
• 1.54 million tons of bottles.*
• 120,000 tons of non-bottle packaging.*
• 12.3 pounds of all PET packaging per person.*
• 11.4 pounds of PET bottles per person.*
• 15 20 oz. soft drink bottles weigh 1 pound.
• 9 2-liter soft drink bottles weigh 1 pound.
• 80% of bottles are generated in homes and 20% are generated
in businesses*
Recycled:
• 360,000 tons for a 29% bottle recycling
rate.*
• 385,000 tons for a 24% container recycling rate in 1999 (industry
data).
• In the past five years, the industry as seen a recycling rate
decline for PET bottles because of the increased production
for custom bottles.
• 305,000 tons for an 18.8% bottle utilization rate in 1999 (industry
data based on clean flake used for final product and export
only).
• At this time, only minimal recycling is used for other PET
packages and products.
Recycled content:
• Though the FDA has approved the
recycling of PET, it is an unusual to be found in bottles.
Composted:
• Typical of many plastics, PET is
a non-compostable material.
Density:
• Landfilled soft drink bottles weigh
355 pounds per cubic yard.*
• Whole PET bottles have a density of 30 pounds per cubic yard
to 40 pounds per cubic yard.
• Baled PET bottles have a density of 400 pounds per cubic yard
to 500 pounds per cubic yard.
• Granulated PET bottles have a density of 700 pounds to 750
pounds.
Primary Source: “Waste Age”,
May 2001 “Profiles in Garbage: Polyethylene Terephthalate” by
Chaz Miller
Secondary sources:
American Plastics Council, Washington, D.C. Website: www.plasticsresources.com
Measurement Standards and Reporting Guidelines, National Recycling Coalition,
Alexandria, VA. Website: www.nrc-recycle.org
Modern Plastics, New York, Website: www.modplas.com
“ Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling and Disposal in the United
States: Facts and Figures for 1998,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
of Solid Waste, Website: www.epa.gov.osw
National Association of Plastic Container Recyclers, Washington, D.C. Website:
www.napcor.com
Processing and Collection Cost Studies, Waste Recyclers Council, National Solid
Waste Management Association, Washington, D.C.
Scrap Specifications Circular 1998, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries,
Washington, D.C. Website: www.isri.org
Recycling Times, Washington, D.C. Website: www.wasteage.com
*1998 U.S. EPA estimates
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Magazines & Catalogs
Generated:
• 2.26 million tons of magazines or
1% by weight.*
• 16.7 pounds of magazines per person per year.*
Recycled:
•
470,000 tons for a 21% recycling rate.*
Recycled Content:
• A recent study, published in 1993,
noted the recent surge in magazine publishing companies using
recycled-content paper
within their publication by 21%.
• Coated paper is not conducive to using recycled fiber, as the
highly precise manufacturing process adds a thin layer of coating
to the fiber base.
• The smoothness of the coated sheet is reduce if contaminants
are not removed during the deinking process.
Composted:
• Because of the clay coating on magazines
and catalogs these materials on non-compostable.
Density:
• Landfilled magazines and catalogs have a density of
800 pounds per cubic yard.
Primary Source: “Waste Age”,
October 2000 “Profiles in Garbage: Magazines & Catalogs” by
Chaz Miller
Secondary sources:
“ Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling and Disposal in the United
States: Facts & Figures for 1998,” U.S. EPA, Washington D.C. Website:
www.epa.gov/msw
Direct Mail Association, New York. Website: www.the-dma.org
Magazine Publishers of America, New York. Website: www.magazine.org
“ Scrap Specifications Circular 1998,” Institute of Scrap Recycling
Industries, Washington, D.C. Website: www.isri.org
“ The Emerging World of Deinking,” Waste Age, June 1992. Website:
www.wasteage.com
*1998 U.S. EPA estimates
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Newspaper
Generated:
• 13.6 million tons, or 6.2% of MSW
by weight.*
• 2.5 million tons are advertising inserts printed on newsprint.*
• 100.7 pounds per person per year.*
• 118 news pages per pound (1995).
• 85% of newspapers are generated in homes, 15% in businesses.
Recycled:
• 7.68 million tons for a 56.4% recycling
rate.*
• In 1999, compiled industry data found that 9 million tons of
newspaper was recovered totaling a 69% recycling rate.
Recycled Content:
• American newspapers contain 28%
fiber from old newspapers.
• To date, 27 states have instated either voluntary or mandatory
requirements that dictate the amount of recycled fiber newspapers
published in those states must contain.
Composted:
• The material leaves only trace amounts
of ink as it degrades; material is highly compostable.
Density:
• A 12-inch stack weighs 35 pounds.
• Loose newspapers weigh 360 pounds to 500 pounds per cubic yard.
• Baled newspapers weigh 720 pounds to 1,000 pounds per cubic
yard.
• Landfilled newspapers weigh 800 pounds per cubic yard.
Primary Source “Waste Age”,
December 2000 “Profiles in Garbage: Magazines & Catalogs” by
Chaz Miller
Secondary sources:
American Forest and Paper Association, Washington, D.C. Website: www.afandpa.org
“ Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States, 1998
Update,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Solid Waste,
1999, Washington, D.C. Website: www.epa.gov/osw
“ Measurement Standards and Reporting Guidelines,” National Recycling
Coalition, Alexandria, Va., 1990 Website: www.nrc-recycle.org
“ Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling and Disposal in the United
States: Facts and Figures for 1998,” EPA Office of Solid Waste, 2000. Website:
www.epa.gov/osw
Newspaper Association of America, Falls Church, Va. Website: www.naa.org
National Solid Wastes Management Association’s Waste Recyclers Council:
Processing and Collection Cost Studies, Washington, D.C. Website: www.envasns.org
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, 1990, Providence, R.I.
“ Scrap Specifications Circular 1999: Guidelines for Paper Stock,” Institute
of Scrap Recycling Industries, Washington, D.C. Website: www.isri.org
*1999 estimates
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Office Paper
Generated:
• 7.04 million tons or 3.2% by weight.*
• 52.14 pounds of office paper per person.*
• 9.86 million tons in 1999 (industry data).
• 25% of office papers are generated in homes and 75% are generated
in businesses.*
• 31.7 million tons of printing and
writing paper in 1999 (industry data).
• 235 pounds of printing and writing paper per person in 1999
(industry data).
Recycled:
•
3.55 million tons for a 50.4% recycling rate.*
• 4.26 million tons for a 43.2% recovery rate in 1999 (industry
data).
• 12 million tons of printing and writing paper for a 37.8% recovery
rate in 1999.
• Office paper is the most heavily recovered segment of printing
and writing paper.
Recycled Content:
Depending on the paper mills capabilities,
the recycled content of office paper can range from 0% to 100%.
Recent laboratory tests prove that quality standards
are maintained with recycled copier paper when compared to virgin copier paper.
Composted:
Though compostable, inhibiting factors that inhibit the decomposition include
a low nitrogen content and lack of physical structure.
Density:
• Landfilled office paper weighs 800
pounds per cubic yard.*
• Unbaled office paper has a density of 375 pounds to 465 pounds
per cubic yard.
• Unbaled computer printout paper has a density of 655 pounds
per cubic yard.
• Baled office paper has a density of 700 pounds to 750 pounds
per cubic yard.
• Baled computer printout paper has a density of 1,310 pounds
per cubic yard.
Primary Source: “Waste Age”,
July 2000 “Profiles in Garbage: Office Paper” by
Chaz Miller
Secondary sources:
American Forest and Paper Association, Washington, D.C. Website: www.afandpa.org
“ Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 1998
Update, 2000 and 1997 Update” 1998 ,” U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), Office of Solid Waste, 1999, Washington, D.C. Website: www.epa.gov/osw
National Recycling Coalition, Alexandria, Va., Measurement Standards and Reporting
Guidelines. Website: www.nrc-recycle.org
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Providence, R.I.
“ Scrap Specifications Circular 1998.” Institute of Scrap Recycling
Industries, Washington, D.C. Website: www.isri.org
*1998 U.S. EPA estimates
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Food Waste
Generated:
• 22.1 million tons or 10% by weight.*
• 163.7 pounds of food waste per person.*
Composted:
• 600,000 tons for a 2.6% recovery
rate.*
•
Composting facilities greatest resource is grocery stores – the
food processing trimmings are highly compostable.
• In 1997, more than 10% of food waste was reported recovered
from Minnesota, New Jersey and Washington.
• In 1999, 95 off-site food waste composting facilities operated
in the United States. Though many of the facilities are small
in size, their annual output ranged from 5 tons to 100 tons.
Density:
• Landfilled food waste has a density
of 2,000 pounds per cubic yard.
• Food scraps, and solid and liquid fats have a density of 412
pounds in a 55-gallon drum.
Primary Source: “Waste Age”,
September 2000 “Profiles in Garbage: Food Waste” by
Chaz Miller
Secondary sources:
Bicycle, Website: www.jgpress.com
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, “Recycling and Disposal in the United
States: Facts and Figures for 1998,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,
Washington, D.C., Office of Solid Waste, 2000, Website: www.epa.gov.osw
Composting Council of Canada, Toronto. Website: www.compost.org
Cornell Waste Management Institute, Ithaca, N.Y. Website: www.cals.cornell.edu/dept/compost
“ Handbook of Solid Waste Management,” Kreith 1994.
National Recycling Coalition, Alexandria, Va., “Measurement Standards and
Reporting Guidelines,” 1990. Website: www.nrc-recycle.org
U.S. Composting Council, Amherst, Ohio. Website: www.compostingcouncil.org
*1998 U.S. EPA estimates.
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Yard Waste
Generated:
• 27.7 million tons or 12.6% by weight.*
• 205 pounds of yard waste per person.*
• In 1960, yard waste was 22.7% of MSW.
• 90% of yard waste is generated at homes and 10% at businesses.
Composted:
• 12.5 million tons at composting
facilities, for a 45.3% composting rate.*
• In 1999, 3,804 yard waste composting facilities operated in
the United States.
• Ohio has the most yard waste composting facilities in the United
States.
Density:
• Uncompacted yard waste has a density
of 250 pounds per cubic yard to 500 pounds per cubic yard.
• Landfilled yard waste has a density of 1,500 pounds per cubic
yard.
Primary
Source: “Waste Age”,
April 2000 “Profiles in Garbage: Yard Waste” by
Chaz Miller
Secondary sources:
Biocycle, Website: www.jgpress.com
“Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 1998
Update,” 1999 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., Office
of Solid Waste, 2000, Website: www.epa.gov.osw
National Source Reduction Characterization Report, 1999
Composting Council, Amherst, Ohio. Website: www.compostingcouncil.org
Municipal Compost Management, Cornell Waste Management Institute, Ithaca, N.Y.
Website: www.cfe.cornell.edu/ compost
National Recycling Coalition, Alexandria, Va., “Measurement Standards and
Reporting Guidelines” Website: www.nrc-recycle.org
Waste Age, September 1994. Website: www.wasteage.com
*1997 U.S. EPA estimates.
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