44
Percentage of garbage Portland is no longer shipping to landfills following a citywide change to a biweekly trash pickup and weekly composting pickup.
78
Percentage of waste that the city of San Francisco reuses.
34
Percentage of waste that the average U.S. city reuses.
34 million
Tons of food waste generated in the United States in 2010.
0.36
Pounds of compostable waste recovered per person per day in 2010.
4.43
Pounds of municipal solid waste produced per person per day in 2010.
35
Average cost to build a vermicomposting (earthworm) recycling bin for a family of four to six.
1000
Adult earthworms in one pound.
72
Percentage of efficiency of earthworms in removing arsenic from old industrial sites
2
Years in the lifespan of an average earthworm in captivity and in the wild.
SOURCES: New York Times, EPA.gov, Solidwaste.org, CalRecycle.ca.gov, ScienceDaily, Compost-bin.com
