Recovered Metals: United States

Report Overview

This report forecasts to 2023 US recovery of post-consumer metal from the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream in short tons. For comparison, this report also forecasts to 2023 the total generation of post-consumer metal in short tons. Total MSW metal recovery and generation are segmented by material in terms of:
ferrous, lead, aluminum, and other nonferrous (generation only).

To illustrate historical trends, total metal recovery, generation, and the various segments are provided in annual series from 2008 to 2018.

Pre-consumer metal (industrial scrap) and lead from non-battery sources and non-vehicle batteries are excluded from the scope of this report. The following materials are excluded from this analysis because MSW volumes are considered negligible (less than 0.05% of the total volume) or a method for accurately quantifying these volumes has not been established: recovery of aluminum from nondurable and durable goods; and recovery of other nonferrous metals (such as copper, titanium, zinc, and brass).

Throughout this report, measures in tons refer to short tons.

Key macroeconomic indicators are also provided with quantified trends. Other various topics, including profiles of pertinent leading companies, are covered in this report. A full outline of report items by page is available in the Table of Contents.

Related NAICS Codes:
327213 Glass Container Manufacturing
423930 Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesalers
562111 Solid Waste Collection
562920 Materials Recovery Facilities

• Historical Trends
• Key Economic Indicators
• Recycling Initiatives
• Secondary Metal Production

• Ferrous
• Lead
• Aluminum

• Industry Characteristics
• Market Leaders

• Scope
• Sources
• Industry Codes
• Freedonia Methodology
• Resources

• Figure 1 | Key Trends in US MSW Metal Recovery, 2018 - 2023
• Figure 2 | US MSW Metal Recovery Trends, 2008 - 2018
• Figure 3 | US MSW Metal Recovery Rate Trends, 2008 - 2018
• Table 1 | Key Indicators for US MSW Metal Generation & Recovery, 2008 - 2023 (2012US$ bil)
• Figure 4 | US MSW Metal Recovery by Material, 2008 - 2023 (mil tons)
• Table 2 | US MSW Metal Recovery by Material, 2008 - 2023 (000 tons)
• Figure 5 | US MSW Metal Generation by Material, 2008 - 2023 (mil tons)
• Table 3 | US MSW Metal Generation by Material, 2008 - 2023 (000 tons)
• Figure 6 | US Metal Recovery Rates by Source, 2008 - 2023 (%)
• Table 4 | US Metal Recovery Rates by Source, 2008 - 2023 (%)
• Figure 7 | US MSW Metal Recovery by Material, 2008 - 2023 (%)
• Table 5 | Representative US Waste Metal Processors by Material
• Table 6 | NAICS & SIC Codes Related to MSW Metal Recovery