Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: Facts and Figures Report

In 2020, EPA released the last Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: Facts and Figures Fact Sheet, formerly called Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: Facts and Figures based on 2018 data. It includes information on Municipal Solid Waste generation, recycling, composting, other food management, combustion with energy recovery and landfilling. The 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018 factsheets also include information on construction and demolition debris, which is outside of the scope of municipal solid waste. Data are in U.S. short tons unless specified.

In April 2023, EPA released the 2019 Wasted Food Report.

• 2019 Wasted Food Report (pdf) (1.34 MB)  Please note that on November 2, 2023, and April 23, 2024, EPA updated this report to correct a typo in Table 1 for the generation factor for manufacturing/processing from 0.005 to 0.095, and for food wholesale from 0.095 to 0.005.
• 2018 Facts and Figures Fact Sheet (pdf) (4.86 MB)
• 2018 Data Tables (pdf) (7.84 MB)
• 2018 Wasted Food Report (pdf) (1.34 MB)  Please note that on November 2, 2023, EPA updated this report to correct a typo in Table 2 for the generation factor for manufacturing/processing from 0.01 to 0.005.
• 2017 Facts and Figures Fact Sheet (pdf) (4.06 MB, November 2019, 530-F-19-007)
• 2016 and 2017 Data Tables (pdf) (9.55 MB, November 2019)
• 2015 Facts and Figures Fact Sheet (pdf) (4.98 MB)
• 2015 Data Tables (pdf) (6.52 MB)
• 2014 Facts and Figures Fact Sheet (pdf) (2.18 MB)
• 2014 Data Tables (pdf) (7 MB)
• 2013 Facts and Figures Fact Sheet (pdf) (1.64 MB)
• 2013 Facts and Figures Full Report (pdf)(121.1 MB)
• 2012 Facts and Figures Fact Sheet (pdf) (1.17 MB)
• 2012 Data Tables (pdf) (1.59 MB)
• Methodology for MSW Characterization Numbers (pdf) (77.85 KB)
• Methodology for Estimating MSW Recycling Benefits (pdf) (161.09 KB)
• Methodology Document for Selected Municipal Solid Waste Products (pdf) (1005.09 KB, April 2014)