OPL INSIGHT: RECYCLING RATES IN USA
The average recycling rate in the United States is about 34%. This is a failing grade when you consider the fact that Americans are the biggest garbage producers in the world. Some large cities well exceed the average recycling rate, which is good news. However, many other cities have considerable room for improvement in their recycling practices. Overall, the United States has a long way to go to reach a zero-waste target. Explore the graphs below to see progress made over the past 35 years and to gain an understanding of recycling rates for 48 major US cities.
US RECYCLING RATES FROM 1985 – 2020

Copyright: 2021 One Planet Life, LLC
Copyright: 2021 One Planet Life, LLC