Disposal rate of municipal solid waste in pounds per person per day
Current Value
3.50
Definition
Story Behind the Curve
After three consecutive years of increasing waste generation, 2020 brought a pandemic-related reduction in generation. In 2021, Vermont saw a 2.4% increase in waste generation compared to 2020, although total generation was lower than in 2018 or 2019. Of the waste generated in 2021, Vermonter’s disposes of 66% of that waste and diverted (recycled, composted etc.) 34%. These rates of disposal and diversion have held steady throughtout the last 10 years, despite increases in generation. Data for Calendar year 2022 were available at the time of report but analysis of data and trends is still underway.
Notes on Methodology
The disposal and diversion numbers are based on a combination of reports from Vermont facilities (landfill, materials recovery facilities, transfer stations, certified compost facilities, etc.) and estimates from studies such as the Vermont Waste Composition Study (conducted every 5 years). Consequently, while the disposal number is quite accurate, the diversion number is based on many estimates of diversion activities that are hard to quantify, such as reuse and home composting.