Approximately ** million tons of municipal solid waste in the United States was recycled or composted in 2018. The volume of MSW recycled and composted has increased a lot over the past three decades, having totaled ** million tons in 1990. By weight, the most recycled material in the U.S. MSW stream is paper and paperboard.
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Environmental Protection Agency. (January 23, 2021). Municipal solid waste recycled and composted in the U.S. from 1960 to 2018 (in 1,000 tons) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 20, 2026, from /statistics/186266/us-municipal-solid-waste-recovery-since-1960/
Environmental Protection Agency. "Municipal solid waste recycled and composted in the U.S. from 1960 to 2018 (in 1,000 tons)." Chart. January 23, 2021. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 20, 2026. /statistics/186266/us-municipal-solid-waste-recovery-since-1960/
Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Municipal solid waste recycled and composted in the U.S. from 1960 to 2018 (in 1,000 tons). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 20, 2026. /statistics/186266/us-municipal-solid-waste-recovery-since-1960/
Environmental Protection Agency. "Municipal Solid Waste Recycled and Composted in The U.S. from 1960 to 2018 (in 1,000 Tons)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 23 Jan 2021, /statistics/186266/us-municipal-solid-waste-recovery-since-1960/
Environmental Protection Agency, Municipal solid waste recycled and composted in the U.S. from 1960 to 2018 (in 1,000 tons) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/186266/us-municipal-solid-waste-recovery-since-1960/ (last visited July 20, 2026)
Municipal solid waste recycled and composted in the U.S. from 1960 to 2018 (in 1,000 tons) [Graph], Environmental Protection Agency, January 23, 2021. [Online]. Available: /statistics/186266/us-municipal-solid-waste-recovery-since-1960/
