Waste Industry Facts and Statistics

From rinsing out containers to keeping plastic bags out of your bin, learn the ins and outs of proper recycling with our informational guide.

Downtown Streets Team is combatting litter and homelessness in San Jose. Learn more about their unique litter cleanup program and more prevention tips.

Check out our list of the 3 alternative fuels most likely to replace gasoline in our vehicles. Learn how each works and the advantages of using renewable energies for cars.

Learn about the four main landfill types — MSW, industrial, hazardous and green — and how each works to ensure your trash is properly taken care of.

Curious what happens after a landfill is capped? Many are transformed into useful community spaces like parks, wildlife habitats or green energy projects.

Sanitary landfills operate by layering waste and tightly sealing it. Experts monitor the drainage and gas collection systems beneath the waste for leaks.

Plastic bags can contaminate food sources when improperly disposed, but will your food be exposed to bacteria without them?

After garbage is tossed, the majority of it is sent to a landfill to decompose, while recyclables are sorted and repurposed in a recycling center.

The U.S. produces 268 million tons of waste — 140 million going into landfills — each year, with the average American tossing 4.5 pounds of trash per day. Learn more about America's trash production.

See how you can take part in Campus Sustainability Month using these event and program ideas from colleges dedicated to promoting green initiatives.

After you throw your garbage away, it's usually sorted at a transfer station then sent to another facility. Start here to learn where your trash goes next.

While the recycling rate in the U.S. has dropped, the total tonnage is at an all-time high. Learn all about the current American recycling landscape.

Tiny houses are sweeping the nation, but is it the right lifestyle for you? Find out the costs, benefits and what to consider before taking the plunge.

Illegal dumping can do more than just harm the environment. It can also cause property values to fall and cost taxpayers money to clean up the mess.

A recent trend in the U.S. is the emergence of green waste landfills. We’ve got the info you need, from why compost landfills are important to how they’ll benefit the environment.

Ever wonder what happens at a waste transfer station? Find out exactly how they work, and the important role they play in managing our trash.

Is single-stream recycling as simple as it sounds? Learn how single-stream recycling works, and if tossing everything in the same container affects the sorting and recycling process.

Find out how hazardous waste disposal sites properly handle harmful materials like household cleaners and paint so you can safely get rid of them.

Are these grocery store waste statistics true where you shop? Learn how much food your supermarket throws away, why so many don’t donate and how they could benefit by cutting waste.

Alliance for Chesapeake Bay pushes companies to see their effect on the watershed and implement green practices into their business model.

Check out these easy home energy saving tips to increase home energy efficiency.

Going zero waste at home? Follow these zero waste living tips to reduce kitchen waste and cut back on packaging.

One-third of the average landfill is made up of single-use packaging. Learn how to reduce packaging waste in 5 easy steps.

Learn how composting at home benefits the environment and your garden by reducing landfill waste, spreading nutrients to your soil and more.

Want to cut food waste? Find out how a curbside collection program in your city can help reduce methane emissions by keeping organic waste out of landfills.

Learn about the four main landfill types — MSW, industrial, hazardous and green — and how each works to ensure your trash is properly taken care of.

Curious what happens after a landfill is capped? Many are transformed into useful community spaces like parks, wildlife habitats or green energy projects.

Sanitary landfills operate by layering waste and tightly sealing it. Experts monitor the drainage and gas collection systems beneath the waste for leaks.

After garbage is tossed, the majority of it is sent to a landfill to decompose, while recyclables are sorted and repurposed in a recycling center.

After you throw your garbage away, it's usually sorted at a transfer station then sent to another facility. Start here to learn where your trash goes next.

While the recycling rate in the U.S. has dropped, the total tonnage is at an all-time high. Learn all about the current American recycling landscape.

A recent trend in the U.S. is the emergence of green waste landfills. We’ve got the info you need, from why compost landfills are important to how they’ll benefit the environment.

Ever wonder what happens at a waste transfer station? Find out exactly how they work, and the important role they play in managing our trash.

Find out how hazardous waste disposal sites properly handle harmful materials like household cleaners and paint so you can safely get rid of them.

What is anaerobic digestion? It’s a process that aims to turn waste into renewable energy. We talked to the experts to learn how anaerobic digestion works and the potential benefits.

Plastic bags can contaminate food sources when improperly disposed, but will your food be exposed to bacteria without them?

After garbage is tossed, the majority of it is sent to a landfill to decompose, while recyclables are sorted and repurposed in a recycling center.

The U.S. produces 268 million tons of waste — 140 million going into landfills — each year, with the average American tossing 4.5 pounds of trash per day. Learn more about America's trash production.

After you throw your garbage away, it's usually sorted at a transfer station then sent to another facility. Start here to learn where your trash goes next.

While the recycling rate in the U.S. has dropped, the total tonnage is at an all-time high. Learn all about the current American recycling landscape.

Illegal dumping can do more than just harm the environment. It can also cause property values to fall and cost taxpayers money to clean up the mess.

Are these grocery store waste statistics true where you shop? Learn how much food your supermarket throws away, why so many don’t donate and how they could benefit by cutting waste.