How Much Waste Does the Average New Yorker Produce Each Day? Pounds of Refuse Per Person Per Day Pounds of Recycling Per Person Per Day Pounds per person per day, residential waste 4.0 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 12 20 11 20 10 20 09 20 08 20 07 20 06 20 05 20 04 20 20 03 02 20 01 20 20 0.0 00 0.5 Fiscal Year And How Much Does It Cost the City Each Day? In 2012 dollars Refuse Cost Per Person Per Day Recycling Cost Per Person Per Day Dollars per person per day $1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.2 12 20 11 20 10 20 09 20 08 20 07 20 06 20 05 20 04 20 03 20 02 20 01 20 20 00 0.0 Fiscal Year Prepared by Justin Bland New York City Independent Budget Office SOURCES: Mayor's Management Reports; Department of Sanitation; U.S. Census Bureau; Moody's Economy.com NOTE: 2012 estimated by IBO due to missing data.