Earth Day Index

4.39 the number of pounds of trash thrown away each day by the average American

10% amount of solid waste in US that gets recycled

18 billion the number of disposable diapers thrown away each year

2.5 million plastic bottles are thrown away every hour in America

4 million the number of tons of junk mail delivered in America every year

650 the average number of pounds of paper used by each American in one year

43,000 the number of tons of food thrown out in the US every day

270 million the number of tires thrown away annually in the US

2 the number of manmade structures seen from space, the Great Wall of China and the Fresh Kills Landfill in NYC

900 million the number of trees cut down annually for US paper and pulp mills

5% the percentage of the world’s population that lives in the US

33% the percentage of the earth’s timber and paper consumed by Americans

96% the amount of energy saved using a recycled aluminum can rather than making a can from ore

95% the amount of reduction in air pollution manufacturing an aluminum can from recycled materials rather than ore

97% the amount of reduction in water pollution manufacturing an aluminum can from recycled materials rather than ore

1 million the number of gallons of water that can be contaminated from improperly disposing of one quart of engine oil

4 million the number of tons of wrapping paper and shopping bags thrown away during the holiday season in the US

9 cubic yards the amount of landfill space saved by recycling one ton of cardboard

60 pounds the amount of air pollutants avoided by producing one ton of recycled paper