Florida collected 53,241,257 tons of municipal solid waste in 2023. The state reported a 41% traditional recycling rate, a 48% total unadjusted recycling rate, and a 49% total adjusted recycling rate. The same 2023 Florida DEP reporting also records 27,535,588 tons landfilled and 3,714,215 tons combusted.
Contents
- Statewide recycling totals
- How Florida measured recycling
- Where the waste went
- Largest county totals
- County recycling rates
- Selected county population figures
Statewide recycling totals
Florida’s 2023 population estimate was 22,609,411, according to the 2023 Summary of Recycling Credits. That report recorded 53,241,257 tons of municipal solid waste collected statewide. It also reported 21,991,454 tons of traditional recycling credits.
The traditional recycling rate was 41% in 2023. In the same reporting, Florida recorded 3,497,439 tons of renewable energy credits. Renewable energy credits represented 7% of Florida’s total recycling credits for the year.
The state’s total unadjusted recycling credits were 25,510,771 tons, producing a total unadjusted recycling rate of 48%. The total adjusted recycling credits were 25,870,293 tons, and the total adjusted recycling rate was 49%.
These figures describe different measures in the 2023 Summary of Recycling Credits. Traditional recycling credits and renewable energy credits are reported separately, while unadjusted and adjusted totals provide two statewide total-rate measures. The 41% traditional rate should therefore be kept distinct from the 48% unadjusted rate and the 49% adjusted rate.
How Florida measured recycling
The 2023 Summary of Recycling Credits reported 21,991,454 tons of traditional recycling credits statewide. It separately reported 3,497,439 tons of renewable energy credits and identified those credits as 7% of the total recycling credits.
Florida’s total unadjusted recycling credits were 25,510,771 tons, with a 48% total unadjusted recycling rate. The adjusted total was 25,870,293 tons, with a 49% total adjusted recycling rate. The adjusted and unadjusted credit totals are therefore separate reported measures, as are their corresponding rates.
Yard trash was also identified separately in the 2023 reporting. Florida reported 21,878 tons of yard trash disposed in a landfill. The report described that amount as 0.04% of Florida’s 2023 recycling-credit total.
The measures can be read together as a reporting profile: 41% traditional recycling, 7% renewable energy credits, 48% total unadjusted recycling, and 49% total adjusted recycling. Each percentage belongs to the measure named in the 2023 Summary of Recycling Credits and applies to Florida’s 2023 reporting period.
Where the waste went
The Final Disposition of Municipal Solid Waste reported that Florida landfilled 27,535,588 tons of municipal solid waste in 2023. Landfilled waste represented 52% of the state’s 2023 municipal solid waste disposition.
Florida combusted 3,714,215 tons of municipal solid waste in 2023. Combusted waste represented 7% of the state’s municipal solid waste disposition for that year.
The landfill and combustion figures are disposition measures, while the recycling-credit figures are recycling-reporting measures. They should not be treated as interchangeable categories. The disposition report specifically identifies 52% for landfilled waste and 7% for combusted waste; the recycling summary identifies 41% for traditional recycling and 49% for the adjusted total recycling rate.
Largest county totals
The 2023 DEP tables in the 2023 Summary of Recycling Credits provide county-level population, collected-waste, credit, and rate figures. Among the counties with collected-waste totals listed here, Miami-Dade County recorded 5,466,608 tons of municipal solid waste collected in 2023. Broward County recorded 4,896,585 tons, Palm Beach County recorded 4,196,745 tons, and Hillsborough County recorded 3,366,244 tons.
| County | Population in 2023 DEP tables | Waste collected in 2023 | Traditional recycling credits | Reported rate figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami-Dade | 2,768,954 | 5,466,608 tons | 2,047,584 tons | 37% traditional; 38% overall |
| Broward | 1,973,579 | 4,896,585 tons | 1,488,456 tons | 30% traditional; 39% overall |
| Palm Beach | 1,532,718 | 4,196,745 tons | 2,281,262 tons | 54% traditional; 84% overall |
| Hillsborough | 1,541,531 | 3,366,244 tons | 1,525,038 tons | 59% overall |
Miami-Dade County had 2,768,954 residents in the 2023 DEP tables. It reported 2,047,584 tons of traditional recycling credits, a 37% traditional recycling rate, and a 38% overall recycling rate.
Broward County had 1,973,579 residents. Its 2023 table figures include 4,896,585 tons of municipal solid waste collected, 1,488,456 tons of traditional recycling credits, a 30% traditional recycling rate, and a 39% overall recycling rate.
Palm Beach County had 1,532,718 residents and collected 4,196,745 tons of municipal solid waste. It reported 2,281,262 tons of traditional recycling credits, a 54% traditional recycling rate, and an 84% overall recycling rate.
Hillsborough County had 1,541,531 residents and collected 3,366,244 tons of municipal solid waste. It reported 1,525,038 tons of traditional recycling credits and 2,002,381 tons of adjusted total recycling credits. Its overall recycling rate was 59%.
County recycling rates
The county rates show that traditional and overall recycling percentages can differ substantially within the same 2023 DEP tables. Miami-Dade’s rates were 37% traditional and 38% overall. Broward’s were 30% traditional and 39% overall. Palm Beach’s were 54% traditional and 84% overall.
Collier County had 403,966 residents in the 2023 DEP tables. Its traditional recycling rate was 70%, and its overall recycling rate was 75%.
Pinellas County had 974,689 residents. Its traditional recycling rate was 49%, and its overall recycling rate was 70%.
Lee County had 800,864 residents. Its traditional recycling rate was 55%, and its overall recycling rate was 68%.
Charlotte County had 202,772 residents. Its traditional recycling rate was 60%, and its overall recycling rate was also 60%.
Pasco County had 610,743 residents. The 2023 DEP tables reported an overall recycling rate of 60% for Pasco County.
| County | Population in 2023 DEP tables | Traditional rate | Overall rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collier | 403,966 | 70% | 75% |
| Pinellas | 974,689 | 49% | 70% |
| Lee | 800,864 | 55% | 68% |
| Charlotte | 202,772 | 60% | 60% |
| Pasco | 610,743 | Not reported here | 60% |
In this county set, Collier’s reported traditional rate was 70% and its overall rate was 75%. Pinellas reported 49% traditional and 70% overall. Lee reported 55% traditional and 68% overall. Charlotte reported matching 60% traditional and overall rates, while Pasco’s listed figure is the 60% overall rate.
Selected county population figures
The population figures in the 2023 DEP tables provide context for the county-level recycling measures. Miami-Dade’s listed population was 2,768,954, followed by Broward at 1,973,579. Hillsborough was listed at 1,541,531, and Palm Beach at 1,532,718.
The other counties represented smaller populations in the same tables: Pinellas had 974,689 residents, Lee had 800,864, Pasco had 610,743, Collier had 403,966, and Charlotte had 202,772.
Population, collected waste, recycling credits, and recycling rates are separate fields in the 2023 Summary of Recycling Credits. The county population figures above are the values listed in the 2023 DEP tables for that report; they are not presented as a separate population estimate series.
For statewide context, Florida’s 2023 population estimate was 22,609,411. The statewide report recorded 53,241,257 tons of municipal solid waste collected, 21,991,454 tons of traditional recycling credits, 25,510,771 tons of total unadjusted recycling credits, and 25,870,293 tons of total adjusted recycling credits. The associated reported rates were 41% traditional, 48% total unadjusted, and 49% total adjusted.
The statewide disposition report separately recorded 27,535,588 tons landfilled, equal to 52% of Florida’s 2023 municipal solid waste disposition, and 3,714,215 tons combusted, equal to 7%.
The 2023 reporting therefore includes statewide collection, recycling credits, recycling rates, and final disposition measures in the same year-specific picture. County tables add local rates and population context.