These yard waste figures cover the measurement periods and populations identified in the available source material. Estimates, surveys and forecasts retain their reported scope.
Key Yard Waste Statistics
The main findings are:
- U.S. municipal solid waste yard-trimmings generation was 20.0 million tons in 1960 (United States MSW).
- Yard-trimmings composting was 4.20 million tons in 1990 (United States MSW).
- Landfills received 20.00 million tons of yard trimmings in 1960 (United States MSW).
- Yard trimmings combusted with energy recovery totaled 0.09 million tons in 1970 (United States MSW).
- Programs diverting 10%-19.9% of a municipality’s waste stream averaged $66.56 per ton collected in a study of 60 U.S. cities over 25,000 population (Study cited in EPA report; 1995; 60 U.S. cities with populations over 25,000).
- A Texas recycling-economics survey reported 2,289,542 tons of yard trimmings, brush, and green waste from 106 responding facilities (2015-2016 study period).
- Generation was 23.2 million tons in 1970 (United States MSW).
- Yard-trimmings composting was 15.77 million tons in 2000 (United States MSW).
- Landfills received 23.11 million tons in 1970 (United States MSW).
- Combustion with energy recovery totaled 0.55 million tons in 1980 (United States MSW).
- More mature curbside programs diverting at least 20% averaged $53.67 per ton collected (Study cited in EPA report; 1995; U.S. curbside yard-trimmings programs).
- Eight of the nine communities in EPA’s comparison had yard-trimmings collection and composting costs $5-$150 per ton lower than mixed-waste collection and disposal (Community case studies; early 1990s; Nine U.S. communities).
- Generation was 27.5 million tons in 1980 (United States MSW).
- Yard-trimmings composting was 19.86 million tons in 2005 (United States MSW).
- Landfills received 26.95 million tons in 1980 (United States MSW).
Contents
- Key Yard Waste Statistics
- Yard waste generation statistics and long-term trends
- Yard waste composting and recovery statistics
- Yard waste landfill disposal statistics
- Yard waste combustion and energy-recovery data
- Yard waste collection costs and program economics
- State and community yard waste program measurements
Yard waste generation statistics and long-term trends
- U.S. municipal solid waste yard-trimmings generation was 20.0 million tons in 1960 (United States MSW). (Yard Trimmings: Material-Specific Data)
- Generation was 23.2 million tons in 1970 (United States MSW). (Yard Trimmings: Material-Specific Data)
- Generation was 27.5 million tons in 1980 (United States MSW). (Yard Trimmings: Material-Specific Data)
- Generation was 35.0 million tons in 1990 (United States MSW). (Yard Trimmings: Material-Specific Data)
- Generation was 30.53 million tons in 2000 (United States MSW). (Yard Trimmings: Material-Specific Data)
- Generation was 32.07 million tons in 2005 (United States MSW). (Yard Trimmings: Material-Specific Data)
- Generation was 33.40 million tons in 2010 (United States MSW). (Yard Trimmings: Material-Specific Data)
- Generation was 34.72 million tons in 2015 (United States MSW). (Yard Trimmings: Material-Specific Data)
- Generation was 35.18 million tons in 2017 (United States MSW). (Yard Trimmings: Material-Specific Data)
- Generation was 35.40 million tons in 2018, equal to 12.1% of total MSW generation (United States MSW). (Yard Trimmings: Material-Specific Data)
EPA MSW estimate; yard trimmings means grass, leaves, and tree/brush trimmings from residential, institutional, and commercial sources.
EPA MSW estimate; same yard-trimmings definition.
EPA’s latest listed yard-trimmings series year; excludes backyard composting from recovery estimates.
Yard waste composting and recovery statistics
The reported yard-trimmings composting figures cover United States MSW.
| Measurement period | Yard-trimmings composting (million U.S. tons) |
|---|---|
| 1990 | 4.20 million |
| 2000 | 15.77 million |
| 2005 | 19.86 million |
| 2010 | 19.20 million |
| 2015 | 21.29 million |
| 2017 | 24.42 million |
Source: Yard Trimmings: Material-Specific Data.
- Yard-trimmings composting or wood-waste mulching was 22.30 million tons in 2018 (United States MSW). (Yard Trimmings: Material-Specific Data)
- The 2018 yard-trimmings composting rate was 63% (United States MSW). (Yard Trimmings: Material-Specific Data)
- Yard trimmings represented 12.0% of generation in the 1990 composted-yard-trimmings series (United States MSW). (Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: Facts…)
- Yard trimmings represented 69.4% of generation in 2017 in EPA’s composted-yard-trimmings series (United States MSW). (Advancing Sustainable Materials Management: Facts…)
EPA estimate based on state composting-program information.
EPA estimate based on state composting-program information; annual tonnage can vary with storm debris.
Does not include trimmings recovered for direct land application or backyard composting.
EPA rate uses its estimated composted/mulched tonnage and does not count backyard composting.
EPA Table 11 percentage series; not a household participation rate.
EPA Table 11 percentage series; differs from a household diversion or participation measure.
Yard waste landfill disposal statistics
The reported landfills received figures cover United States MSW.
| Measurement period | Landfills received (million U.S. tons) |
|---|---|
| 1970 | 23.11 million |
| 1980 | 26.95 million |
| 1990 | 25.56 million |
| 2000 | 11.90 million |
| 2005 | 9.99 million |
| 2010 | 11.69 million |
| 2015 | 10.80 million |
| 2017 | 8.65 million |
Source: Yard Trimmings: Material-Specific Data.
- Landfills received 20.00 million tons of yard trimmings in 1960 (United States MSW). (Yard Trimmings: Material-Specific Data)
- Landfills received 10.53 million tons in 2018, 7.2% of all MSW landfilled (United States MSW). (Yard Trimmings: Material-Specific Data)
EPA MSW management estimate.
Yard waste combustion and energy-recovery data
The reported combustion with energy recovery figures cover United States MSW.
| Measurement period | Combustion with energy recovery (million U.S. tons) |
|---|---|
| 1980 | 0.55 million |
| 1990 | 5.24 million |
| 2000 | 2.86 million |
| 2005 | 2.22 million |
| 2010 | 2.51 million |
| 2015 | 2.63 million |
| 2017 | 2.11 million |
| 2018 | 2.57 million |
Source: Yard Trimmings: Material-Specific Data.
- Yard trimmings combusted with energy recovery totaled 0.09 million tons in 1970 (United States MSW). (Yard Trimmings: Material-Specific Data)
- Yard trimmings were 7.4% of all MSW combusted with energy recovery in 2018 (United States MSW). (Yard Trimmings: Material-Specific Data)
EPA management estimate.
EPA management estimate; this is a share of the combustion pathway, not a yard-trimmings recovery rate.
Yard waste collection costs and program economics
- Programs diverting 10%-19.9% of a municipality’s waste stream averaged $66.56 per ton collected in a study of 60 U.S. cities over 25,000 population (Study cited in EPA report; 1995; 60 U.S. cities with populations over 25,000). (Organic Materials Management Strategies)
- More mature curbside programs diverting at least 20% averaged $53.67 per ton collected (Study cited in EPA report; 1995; U.S. curbside yard-trimmings programs). (Organic Materials Management Strategies)
- EPA’s assumed yard-trimmings collection cost for drop-off programs was $0 because residents or contractors bear collection costs (EPA report estimate; Yard-trimmings drop-off programs). (Organic Materials Management Strategies)
- EPA used a 2:1 curbside-to-drop-off diversion ratio in its national midrange cost estimate (EPA report estimate; Yard-trimmings collection programs). (Organic Materials Management Strategies)
- The resulting midrange collection estimate was $44.37 per ton collected (EPA report estimate; Yard-trimmings programs). (Organic Materials Management Strategies)
- A survey of seven public composting facilities processing 2,000-23,500 tons per year found average total capital-plus-operating cost of $21.65 per ton (Survey cited in EPA report; Seven U.S. public composting facilities). (Organic Materials Management Strategies)
- EPA’s modeled low-to-high yard-trimmings diversion cost range was $21.65-$88.21 per ton diverted (EPA report estimate; Yard-trimmings programs). (Organic Materials Management Strategies)
- EPA’s assumed national midrange cost was $66.02 per ton diverted (EPA report estimate; Yard-trimmings programs). (Organic Materials Management Strategies)
- In Berlin Township, New Jersey, recovery was 39% and yard-trimmings collection/composting cost $10 per ton (Community case study; early 1990s). (Report to Congress on Flow…)
- In Lincoln Park, New Jersey, recovery was 31% and collection/composting cost $23 per ton (Community case study; early 1990s). (Report to Congress on Flow…)
Historical study result cited by EPA; includes mixed public/private programs and some vacuum programs.
Historical study result cited by EPA; program cost definitions and dollars are contemporaneous to the study.
Program assumption, not a measured universal cost.
Modeling assumption used to combine collection modes.
EPA-derived estimate from the $66.56 curbside assumption and 2:1 ratio; historical dollars.
Small facility sample and historical dollars; feedstock-processing cost, not a national average.
Combines drop-off or curbside collection assumptions with the seven-facility composting-cost average; historical dollars.
Historical modeled estimate combining $44.37 collection and $21.65 composting components.
Historical community case study; recovery and cost definitions are report-specific.
State and community yard waste program measurements
- A Texas recycling-economics survey reported 2,289,542 tons of yard trimmings, brush, and green waste from 106 responding facilities (2015-2016 study period). (The Study on the Economic…)
- Eight of the nine communities in EPA’s comparison had yard-trimmings collection and composting costs $5-$150 per ton lower than mixed-waste collection and disposal (Community case studies; early 1990s; Nine U.S. communities). (Report to Congress on Flow…)
Responding facilities included 2 MRFs, 42 landfill-based compost/mulch facilities, 23 transfer-station facilities, and 39 compost/mulch facilities; small exempt facilities were difficult to capture.
Historical case-study comparison; one Louisiana community was more expensive than landfill disposal.