Facts

* In 2007, 245.1 million tons of municipal solid waste or MSW(more commonly known as trash or garbage)were generated in the US.Organic materials-comprised of yard trimmings,food scraps,wood waste and paper and paper products-are the largest component of our trash and make up more than two-thirds of the solid waste stream(Enviromental Protection Agency)

  • The average American discards 7.5lbs of garbage every day (National Recycling Coalition)
  • Americans throw away enough office paper each year to build 12 feet high wall from New York to Seattle (National Recycling Coalition)
  • 40% of Americas rivers are too polluted for swiming, fishing or aquatic life
  • About 80% of what Americans throw is recycable, yet our recycling rate is only 33%
  • Recycling can create 6 times as many jobs as landfilling
  • #2 polluter for the rivers is fertilizer-that keep our lawns green and destroys life in our waters
  • LIPA USA Reports, “3.6 billion pounds of dog waste/year is produced in the United States alone, equaling 800 football fields, one foot high.  approximately 50 million registered dogs in the United States produces more than 5,000 tons of waste daily.” 

 

Worms Eating Garbage