Municipal waste recycled in United States of America
United States of America: Municipal waste recycled was 62.68 million tonnes in 2018. ▲ Rising
Municipal waste recycled in United States of America, 2000–2018
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database. Measured in tonnes.
Analysis
The most recent figure for municipal waste recycled in United States of America is 62.68 million tonnes, measured in 2018. That is the highest value across all 19 years on record.
The figure is up 3.1% on the previous year and up 11.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, municipal waste recycled in United States of America peaked at 62.68 million tonnes in 2018 and was at its lowest, 48.09 million tonnes, in 2000.
United States of America ranks 2nd of 91 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 19 years of available data.
Municipal waste recycled in United States of America, year by year
| Year | tonnes | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 48.09 million tonnes | — |
| 2001 | 48.20 million tonnes | +0.2% |
| 2002 | 49.20 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2003 | 50.84 million tonnes | +3.3% |
| 2004 | 52.71 million tonnes | +3.7% |
| 2005 | 53.74 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2006 | 56.12 million tonnes | +4.4% |
| 2007 | 57.24 million tonnes | +2.0% |
| 2008 | 56.21 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 2009 | 56.27 million tonnes | +0.1% |
| 2010 | 59.20 million tonnes | +5.2% |
| 2011 | 60.50 million tonnes | +2.2% |
| 2012 | 59.39 million tonnes | -1.8% |
| 2013 | 58.91 million tonnes | -0.8% |
| 2014 | 60.01 million tonnes | +1.9% |
| 2015 | 61.29 million tonnes | +2.1% |
| 2016 | 62.18 million tonnes | +1.5% |
| 2017 | 60.76 million tonnes | -2.3% |
| 2018 | 62.68 million tonnes | +3.1% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 52.86 million tonnes | 48.09 million tonnes | 57.24 million tonnes | 10 |
| 2010s | 60.55 million tonnes | 58.91 million tonnes | 62.68 million tonnes | 9 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
More environment data for United States of America
- 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)
- Exposure to drought — Land soil moisture anomaly -2.91 Percentage change (2024)
- Exposure to drought — Cropland soil moisture anomaly -3.62 Percentage change (2024)
- Heating Degree Days 6,193 (2024)
- Cooling Degree Days 1,199 (2024)
- Total fisheries production 4.68 million metric tons (2024)
- Capture fisheries production 4.21 million metric tons (2024)
- Aquaculture production 467,617 metric tons (2024)
- Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from Waste 9.94 Mt CO2e (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is municipal waste recycled in United States of America?
- Municipal waste recycled in United States of America was 62.68 million tonnes in 2018, according to United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database.
- What is the highest municipal waste recycled recorded in United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 62.68 million tonnes in 2018.
- What is the lowest municipal waste recycled recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 48.09 million tonnes in 2000.
- How does United States of America rank for municipal waste recycled?
- United States of America ranks 2nd out of 91 countries with data for 2018.
- Is municipal waste recycled rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 11.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States of America data come from?
- The figures come from United Nations Statistics Division, SDG Global Database, published as part of Municipal waste recycled (Tonnes). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 19 observations, free to reuse under UN SDG Global Database (open, attribution requested).