Recycling Facts You Should Know

Recycling has certainly become normalized in cities across the United States, but have you ever been curious about the details? At Starr Dumpsters, we provide dumpster rental services for clients in the Washington, DC and Maryland area communities. You may have to rent a dumpster from time to time to help stay organized during a move-out, deep cleaning session, or construction project. However, you might have also been curious about the process of recycling that follows junk removal. If you’re ready to dive into some interesting statistics, then keep reading for some fun facts about recycling.

Who Recycles More?

Do you have a bit of a competitive streak? Then one statistic you may find exciting is where America ranks in the list of recycling percentage. Many people would assume that the US is somewhere near the top, considering how many large municipalities provide recycling services. Unfortunately, the United States actually ranks 25 out of 32 leading countries, with its population contributing only 32% of its waste to recycling. Seven other countries lag behind America, including Portugal, Canada, Israel, Greece, Japan, Turkey, and Costa Rica. So if the US is so near the bottom, then who took the top spots? Believe it or not, the winner is Solvenia, with an impressive 72% of waste recycled, followed by the second place and runner up, Germany and South Korea.

Which Items are Recycled Most Often?

Now, you might have questions about what kind of waste makes up the 32% of recycled materials in the US. Here is a list of the percentage of recycled material types based on the information of the EPA report from 2018:

• Other - 1.4%
• Rubber and Leather - 2.4%
• Fabric and Textiles - 3.6%
• Glass - 4.4%
• Plastic - 4.5%
• Wood - 4.5%
• Metal - 12.6%
• Paper - 66.5%

Is Recycling in the US Declining or Increasing?

As you can see, some items are recycled much more frequently than others. The majority of materials listed are less than ten percent, with paper items taking the majority of the recycling pie. Could the United States improve? Has recycling in America become more or less popular in recent years? According to 2018 data from the EPA, the amount of total weight recycled by municipalities in America stagnated for three years in a row. While recycling increased substantially in the 1990s and early 2000s, growth seems to be at a standstill. Disturbingly, the percentage of total worldwide recycled waste dropped for the first time in 2018. Could this be an ongoing trend? Only time will tell.

Do You Need to Rent a Dumpster in the Washington, DC Area? Call Starr Dumpsters

Have you been searching for a reliable dumpster rental company? Whether you’re ready to dive into a weekend spring cleaning session, need to restore an older house, or are looking forward to a big move, we’re here to help. The specialists at Starr Dumpsters will help make the process simple and stress-free. Contact our professionals today for more information about our dumpster rental services or to schedule a time for you to rent a dumpster in your Washington, DC or Maryland neighborhood.