In 2023, somewhat equal amounts (2.6 billion) of unused items in the United States were either donated or sold secondhand online. Only a fifth of a total of almost 14 billion items went into trash or recycling bins. This would sum up to approximately 76.3 billion U.S. dollars' worth of discarded items, which otherwise would have been fit for sale.
Total number of discarded items in the United States in 2022, by disposal method
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Total number of items in billions
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The source adds that all consumer product segments (e.g. food, household goods, beverages, homewares, furniture, home improvement, electronics, apparel, health, beauty, sports, games, leisure and hobby, entertainment, and other various products) were added.
Numbers refer to the total number of unused items that were disposed of in different ways in 2022.
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Mercari. (July 25, 2023). Total number of discarded items in the United States in 2022, by disposal method (in billions) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 25, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1426718/unused-item-disposal-in-the-usa/
Mercari. "Total number of discarded items in the United States in 2022, by disposal method (in billions)." Chart. July 25, 2023. Statista. Accessed August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1426718/unused-item-disposal-in-the-usa/
Mercari. (2023). Total number of discarded items in the United States in 2022, by disposal method (in billions). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1426718/unused-item-disposal-in-the-usa/
Mercari. "Total Number of Discarded Items in The United States in 2022, by Disposal Method (in Billions)." Statista, Statista Inc., 25 Jul 2023, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1426718/unused-item-disposal-in-the-usa/
Mercari, Total number of discarded items in the United States in 2022, by disposal method (in billions) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1426718/unused-item-disposal-in-the-usa/ (last visited August 25, 2024)
Total number of discarded items in the United States in 2022, by disposal method (in billions) [Graph], Mercari, July 25, 2023. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1426718/unused-item-disposal-in-the-usa/
