Nature · Facts & sources
6 sourced facts about recycling, each with the context behind the number. 4 more are in today's round and appear here after it closes.
Answer4.9 pounds per person per day
Across the country that added up to 292.4 million tons of municipal solid waste in 2018.
Source: U.S. EPA, Facts and Figures about Materials, Waste and Recycling (2018) epa.gov
Answer8.7%
Of 35.7 million tons of plastic generated, about 27 million tons went to landfills.
Source: U.S. EPA, Plastics: Material-Specific Data (2018) epa.gov
Answer68.2%
About 46 million tons of paper and paperboard were recycled — far more than any other material.
Source: U.S. EPA, Facts and Figures about Materials, Waste and Recycling (2018) epa.gov
AnswerLead-acid batteries, 99%
Recyclers recover the lead and polypropylene from nearly every old car battery.
Source: U.S. EPA, Durable Goods: Product-Specific Data (2018) epa.gov
Answer31.3%
About 3.1 million tons of glass containers were recycled that year.
Source: U.S. EPA, Glass: Material-Specific Data (2018) epa.gov
Answer71%
By comparison, glass bottles average about 23% recycled content and plastic PET bottles far less.
Source: The Aluminum Association (2023) aluminum.org