Part 2/10:
The challenges faced by recycling in the U.S. are compounded by the fact that it is one of the world’s largest producers of waste, managing to recycle only about one-third of its eligible trash—significantly less than countries like South Korea and Germany, where recycling rates exceed 50%. The decentralized nature of waste management in the U.S., with over 9,000 different recycling programs, leads to widespread variation in recycling rates by state. As of now, California and Oregon have the highest residential recycling rates at 37%, while states like Mississippi and Louisiana lag behind at just 8%.