Price of landfilling municipal waste in the U.S. 2020-2022, by region

The average municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill tipping fee in the United States increased 8.2 percent in 2022 to 58.47 U.S. dollars per ton. Average landfill tipping fees were highest in the Northeast, at 75.92 U.S. dollars per ton. Landfill sites are used for the disposal of waste materials such as paper, food, and yard trimmings. U.S. landfill sites are regulated by each state’s environmental agency which, in turn, follows the guidelines set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Landfill sites in the U.S.

The number of landfills in the U.S has dropped dramatically in the last few decades. In 1990, the number stood at more than 6,000, but by 2018 this number had dropped to just 1,269. The largest landfill site in the world is the Apex Regional, located in Las Vegas, Nevada. This mammoth dump site stretches more than 2,000 acres and is equivalent in size to approximately 1,500 football fields.

Waste generation

As of 2018, MSW generation in the U.S. stood at almost 300 million tons, with the average American producing roughly five pounds of municipal solid waste per day. This is more than any other country produces worldwide. Waste generation in the U.S. has increased dramatically since the 1960s as a result of increased consumerism and a "throwaway culture".