EPA Encourages Americans to Recycle

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is urging Americans to increase their own personal recycling rates above the 33.4 percent national average in honor of American Recycles Day, Nov. 15.

“Our recycling rate has increased as more and more Americans recognize that recycling helps our environment and our economy,” says Susan Bodine, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. “On America Recycles Day, I encourage Americans to celebrate the nation’s progress, but also to learn about opportunities to do more.”

EPA’s new 2007 Municipal Solid Waste Characterization report shows Americans recycled and composted 85 million tons of the 254 million tons of total municipal solid waste generated in 2007. Each person produced 4.6 pounds of trash per day, of which 1.5 pounds were recycled or composted, according to the EPA. Recycling posted a slight increase from 2006, when people recycled and composted nearly 82 million tons of the 251 million tons of total municipal solid waste produced.

According to the EPA, recycling 85 billion tons of municipal solid waste in 2007 saved the energy equivalent of more than 10.7 billion gallons of gasoline and prevented the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 35 million passenger vehicles.

EPA also points out that recycling provides economic benefits by reducing costs to businesses and creating jobs. The American recycling and reuse industry is a $200 billion enterprise involving more than 50,000 recycling and reuse establishments, employing more than 1 million people and generating an annual payroll of approximately $37 billion, according to the EPA.

Additional information on the 2007 Municipal Solid Waste Report is available at www.epa.gov/epawaste/nonhaz/municipal/msw99.htm.