Solid Waste (aka Trash)

Globally ONLY 30% of trash is recycled.

Some FACTS

  • Increasingly massive landfills are driving people in Indonesia from their homes.
  • Rich countries often export recyclables to poorer nations.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic has made our waste and recycling problem worse.
  • Each year around 92 million metric tons of textile waste is generated around the world.
  • Our trash pile-ups affect animal behavior.
  • There’s more than one ocean garbage patch around the world (There are at least 5).
  • The plastic waste recycling industry has an underbelly of crime.
  • The total generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) in 2018 was 292.4 million tons or 4.9 pounds per person per day.
  • Of the MSW generated, approximately 69 million tons were recycled and 25 million tons were composted. Together, almost 94 million tons of MSW were recycled and composted, equivalent to a 32.1 percent recycling and composting rate.

Locally – Eastham

  • The transfer station for 2021 reported a decrease of nearly 213 tons in solid waste materials.
  • The transfer station for 2021 reported an increase of nearly 80 tons in recycled materials.

More information

Check out these resources for more information.