Electronic waste recycling rate in United States
United States: Electronic waste recycling rate was 42.5% in 2018. ▲ Rising
Latest (2018)
42.5%
Change on year
up 1.3%
World rank
37th
of 41 countries
All-time high
43.5%
in 2015
All-time low
33.6%
in 2000
Years of data
6
2000–2018
Electronic waste recycling rate in United States, 2000–2018
Source: United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
United States recorded 42.5% for electronic waste recycling rate in 2018.
The figure is up 1.3% on the previous year and up 12.9% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electronic waste recycling rate in United States peaked at 43.5% in 2015 and was at its lowest, 33.6%, in 2000.
United States ranks 37th of 41 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Electronic waste recycling rate in United States, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 33.6% | — |
| 2005 | 37.7% | +12.4% |
| 2010 | 37.7% | -0.2% |
| 2015 | 43.5% | +15.3% |
| 2017 | 42.0% | -3.4% |
| 2018 | 42.5% | +1.3% |
United States compared with similar countries
- United States's 42.5% is below the median for high income countries, which is 81.4%, 52% of the median. (37 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 35.7% | 33.6% | 37.7% | 2 |
| 2010s | 41.4% | 37.7% | 43.5% | 4 |
Countries ranked near United States
More environment data for United States
- Historical exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.64 Percentage change (2025)
- Historical exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -2.16 Percentage change (2025)
- Wood-based panels — Production, annual growth rate 3.36 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), annual 0.3672 % change on previous year (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per unit 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Total greenhouse gas emissions excluding LULUCF (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), annual growth rate -0.624 % change on previous year (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per unit of GDP 0 Mt CO2e per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Agriculture (Mt CO2e), per capita 0 Mt CO2e per person (2024)
- Methane (CH4) emissions from Building (Energy) (Mt CO2e), annual 0.1269 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electronic waste recycling rate in United States?
- Electronic waste recycling rate in United States was 42.5% in 2018, according to United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electronic waste recycling rate recorded in United States?
- The highest recorded value was 43.5% in 2015.
- What is the lowest electronic waste recycling rate recorded in United States?
- The lowest recorded value was 33.6% in 2000.
- How does United States rank for electronic waste recycling rate?
- United States ranks 37th out of 41 countries with data for 2018.
- Is electronic waste recycling rate rising or falling in United States?
- Over the last ten years it is up 12.9%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division and United Nations Environment Programme – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Electronic waste recycling rate. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 6 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Proportion of electronic waste recycled (%).