How much trash do Americans produce? 
The latest estimates from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are from 2018 and are likely underestimated.
Per Derf Backderf’s graphic novel Trashed (source of these great drawings), in 2015 the EPA put out estimates that were likely underestimated. He presented corrected numbers. It is fair to assume the latest figures are underestimated as well. The figures presented by the EPA in 2018 roughly match the corrected figures from Backderf in 2015., And don’t forget, these figures are from more than seven years ago. So assume these figures don’t tell the complete extent of the issue. But they are shocking enough.
According to the latest data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 2018, Americans generated approximately 292.4 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW). This translates to about 4.9 pounds of waste per person per day.
And where does it go?
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Recycling and composting accounted for nearly 94 million tons, resulting in a 32.1% recycling rate.
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Approximately 17 million tons were combusted with energy recovery.
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The remaining 146 million tons were landfilled.
And read the fine print:
Yikes indeed!
All the more reason to try to lessen our consumption, as per The Story of More.
And all the more reason to applaud and support the Green Success Stories of companies keeping waste out of landfills and creating sustainable alternatives.
