MSW recycling rate remains above 34% in USA

United States – The municipal solid waste (MSW) recycling rate in the USA was 34.3% in 2013 and thus almost equal to the 34.5% recorded for 2012, according to a report from the country’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The USA generated 254.11 million tons of MSW and recovered 87.18 million tonnes for recycling and composting. MSW generation climbed 1.2% in 2013 compared with slightly more than 251 million tonnes in 2012.

At 63.3%, the paper and board recycling rate was lower in 2013 than the 64.6% for the previous year.

The glass recycling rate also fell slightly to 27.3% whereas plastics recycling witnessed an increase from 8.8% in 2012 to 9.2% the following year.