The Journey Of Trash

Modern trash and recycling collection are convenient and easy processes for individuals and businesses. When our trash or recyclables are placed curbside, in a bin, or down a chute – they are “out of sight and out of mind.” But that’s just the first step in a processing journey.

The waste industry does more than simply collect trash. Along this journey, industry professionals are essential partners in meeting your community’s needs for professional, innovative and environmentally responsive management of waste. We offer solutions to some of today’s most important environmental challenges: recycling millions of tons of paper, metal, plastic and other resources; creating new sources of clean, renewable energy; and building state-of-the-art landfills for increased protection of natural resources and wildlife habitats.

How does the waste collection and management process typically work? Where does our garbage & recycling go? Explore the steps of the journey below…

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Overview

At Your Home

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American produces about 4.4 pounds of trash every day. That’s a little over 250 million tons collected per year in the U.S. That figure only includes the waste from homes, businesses, schools, etc. -- known as municipal solid waste (MSW). If you add all the construction and demolition debris, industrial wastes such as coal ash and medical waste and other wastes produced in America each year, that number would be significantly higher. Proper waste management and environmental stewardship is vital. There is an entire section of this site that will help you to Be Mindful with your waste.

Modern Trucks

There are over 100,000 garbage trucks operating in the United States, and most are diesel powered. However, America’s waste industry is investing in alternative fuels such as clean natural gas and biodiesel. Some of this natural gas is being directly sourced from landfill gas capture. Hybrid collection trucks conserve energy and reduce operating costs. In fact, garbage trucks have become the most rapidly growing natural gas vehicle sector in the nation with almost 50% of such vehicles purchased in 2012 powered by natural gas, according to Natural Gas Vehicles for America. In addition to using less fuel and reducing costs, these trucks generally emit less particulate matter and nitrogen oxide, helping improve air quality. They also have fewer greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline and diesel vehicles. Learn more about modern truck technologies.

Transfer Stations

Transfer stations are the hubs for waste management. Municipal solid waste is unloaded from collection vehicles at these facilities and briefly held before being reloaded onto larger long-distance transport vehicles for shipment to landfills or other treatment or disposal facilities. By combining the loads of several garbage trucks into a single shipment, communities can save money on the labor and operating costs of transporting waste to a distant disposal site. They can also reduce the total number of trips traveling to and from the disposal site, cutting down on road wear.

At the Recycling Center

The waste industry collects and processes recyclables. According to the EPA in 2012, Americans recycled 65 million tons of paper, cans and bottles and composted another 21 million tons of yard waste, for a total of almost 87 million tons. Recycling not only reduces the waste that ends up in our landfills, it produces other tangible benefits. For example, recycling allows us to conserve vital natural resources. It reduces air and water pollution and cuts greenhouse gas emission, which contributes to climate change. Learn more about recycling across the nation.

Composting

Composting is a method of recycling organic food and yard waste from households and commercial establishments. More and more Americans are composting at home, and commercial composting facilities may be found in many communities. The addition of compost promotes healthy soil and plants while preserving landfill capacity. Compostable materials break down into a soil-like substance that is a good fertilizer and soil additive for planting. Compost also offers economic benefits by reducing the need for water, fertilizers and pesticides. Learn more about composting.

Modern Landfills

Despite our efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle waste, more than half of the garbage generate ends up in landfills. Landfills are designed, sited, engineered, operated, regulated, tested and monitored in a safe and environmentally responsible manner. It is a carefully designed and monitored facility that protects the environment (e.g., groundwater, air, surface water). This is accomplished through the use of liners and daily covering of soil. Landfills are carefully filled, monitored and maintained while operating. The monitoring continues long after they close. Permitting a modern landfill generally takes years – sometimes as long as a decade, costing millions of dollars due to the rigorous siting, engineering and environmental requirements necessary to demonstrate and ensure regulatory and safety concerns are satisfied. Learn more about modern landfill.

Landfill Gas-to-Energy

As landfill waste decomposes, it produces landfill gas that is largely composed of methane and carbon dioxide. The collected landfill gas can be utilized as “green” energy. The use of landfill gas for energy is helping advance our national energy security goals by reducing reliance on foreign sources. It also reduces the landfill’s affect on climate change by displacing fossil fuel use.. According to the EPA, America’s = waste industry produces enough electricity and methane from landfill gas projects to light and heat nearly 1.6 million homes. Learn more about landfill gas-to-energy.

Waste-to-Energy

Waste can be used as a source of renewable and sustainable energy directly. Waste-to-energy facilities burn garbage in power plants equipped with modern pollution control equipment to manage emissions. According to the Energy Recovery Council, as of 2014, America’s waste industry operated 86 waste-to-energy facilities in 24 states with the capacity to process more than 97,000 tons of municipal solid waste per day. These facilities generate the energy equivalent of 2,790 megawatt hours of electricity, enough to power 1.6 million homes. Learn more about waste-based energy.

At Manufacturing Sites

The waste industry provides valuable resources and power to America’s manufacturing sector. More and more products are produced today using recycled paper, plastic, metal and glass that was collected and processed by America’s solid waste industry. Honeywell, General Motors, BMW, Mars and many other companies are using power generated from waste-based, renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save millions of dollars in annual energy costs and reduce our dependence on foreign energy. Read these Environmentalists. Every Day. stories on our homepage.

Land Reuse

Landfills in many communities feature wildlife habitats, natural wetlands, and community facilities where schoolchildren and others can learn about environmental stewardship, waste reduction, recycling, and other “green” activities. Other beneficial landfill reuse projects provide recreational areas like golf courses and bike parks to a number of communities nationwide. Even where landfills have been closed and land reuse projects have been created, the landfill operator may continue to collect landfill gas at these sites, allowing for continued renewable energy production. Learn more about land reuse.

Continue reading here: Recycling Glass Containers

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Readers' Questions

  • birikti
    How much trash does a person produce a year?
    2 months ago
  • The amount of trash produced by a person can vary depending on factors such as lifestyle, consumption patterns, and waste management practices. On average, an individual in the United States generates about 4.9 pounds (2.2 kilograms) of trash per day, adding up to approximately 1,793 pounds (814 kilograms) per year. However, this number can differ significantly in different countries and regions. It's worth mentioning that recycling and composting efforts can significantly reduce the amount of trash that ends up in landfills.
    • dirk engel
      How much garbage does the average american create each year?
      2 months ago
    • According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American generated about 4.91 pounds (2.23 kilograms) of municipal solid waste (garbage) per day in 2018. This translates to approximately 1,792 pounds (813 kilograms) of waste per year for each person in the United States.
      • Carl
        How much waste does a person produce per day?
        3 months ago
      • The amount of waste a person produces can vary depending on their lifestyle and habits. On average, an individual in the United States generates about 4.9 pounds (2.2 kilograms) of waste per day. However, this figure can differ significantly based on factors such as consumption patterns, recycling habits, and waste management practices.
        • kaylin aitken
          How much trash does the united states produce each day?
          3 months ago
        • According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as of 2018, the United States produces about 292.4 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) per year. This translates to approximately 800,000 tons of MSW generated daily.
          • Andrea
            How many tons of trash does the us produce?
            3 months ago
          • The United States produces approximately 268 million tons of trash per year.
            • sebhat tewolde
              How much garbage does the average american produce?
              3 months ago
            • According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American produces about 4.9 pounds (2.2 kilograms) of garbage per day. This translates to approximately 1,793 pounds (814 kilograms) of waste per person per year.
              • arron hamilton
                How much trash is produced daily?
                6 months ago
              • On a global scale, it is estimated that around 3.5 million tons of trash is generated every day.
                • caradoc
                  How much trash do americans produce per year?
                  6 months ago
                • According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as of 2018, Americans generated about 292.4 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) or trash. This equates to an average of approximately 4.51 pounds of trash per person per day.
                  • Sol
                    How much trash does the average person produce?
                    6 months ago
                  • The amount of trash an average person produces can vary significantly depending on factors such as lifestyle, habits, and geographic location. However, it is estimated that on average, an individual in the United States generates around 4.9 pounds (2.2 kilograms) of municipal solid waste per day. This translates to approximately 1,790 pounds (812 kilograms) of trash per year per person. It is important to note that these numbers can fluctuate and may be different in other countries.
                    • tyyne
                      How much trash does america produce per year?
                      7 months ago
                    • According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 2017, the United States generated about 267.8 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW). This means that on average, each person in America produced approximately 4.51 pounds of trash per day, or around 1,642 pounds of trash per year.
                      • reegan
                        How much trash does america produce?
                        7 months ago
                      • According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 2018, the United States generated about 292.4 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW), which is commonly known as trash. This figure equates to approximately 4.9 pounds of waste per person per day.
                        • gerry
                          How much waste does the average american produce per day?
                          7 months ago
                        • The average American produces about 4.9 pounds (2.2 kilograms) of waste per day, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This includes both residential and commercial waste.
                          • MYRTLE
                            How many pounds of trash does the average american produce a day?
                            7 months ago
                          • According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American generates about 4.5 pounds of trash per day, totaling approximately 1,642.5 pounds (745 kilograms) per year. It's important to note that this figure can vary based on numerous factors, including lifestyle, consumption patterns, and waste management practices.
                            • aamos
                              How many kilograms of trash does the average american produce per year?
                              7 months ago
                            • The average American produces about 725 kilograms (1,600 pounds) of trash per year.
                              • maria grazia
                                How much trash does the average american produce a day?
                                8 months ago
                              • According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American generates about 4.51 pounds (2.05 kilograms) of municipal solid waste per day. It is important to note that this figure includes all types of waste, such as residential, commercial, and institutional waste.