The composition of packaging discarded by US households is changing rapidly, with cardboard, plastic containers and some lightweight formats growing while mixed paper and glass decline, according to new research from The Recycling Partnership.
The second instalment of the organisation’s 2026 State of Recycling report examines residential packaging and printed-paper generation across 16 material categories.
Since 2020, the number of US households has increased by approximately 8.5 million, while generation of traditionally collected recyclable material has fallen by 3.7 million tonnes, or 8%, excluding film.
At household level, cardboard generation has increased 32%, which the organisation associates with the continued expansion of e-commerce.
Other significant increases include cartons, up 61%; non-bottle PET, up 48%; polypropylene, up 47%; aluminium foil and trays, up 44%; and aluminium cans, up 18%.
Over the same period, mixed-paper generation declined 34% and glass fell 28%.
The report also finds that cardboard, metals and plastic containers increased from a combined 39% of traditionally collected material generation in 2020 to 51% in 2026.
When films and flexible packaging are included, plastics account for an estimated 31% of household generation, compared with 28% for mixed paper.
“What comes out of American homes shapes what our recycling system must be ready to handle next,” said Cody Marshall, chief programmes officer at The Recycling Partnership.
US households are expected to generate 51.5 million tonnes of packaging and printed paper during 2026, with 78% falling within categories traditionally collected for recycling.
The organisation argues that the changing mix has implications throughout the recycling chain, from collection vehicles and material recovery facilities to sorting technology, end-market demand and investment decisions.
The findings also underline the connection between packaging design decisions and recycling infrastructure: lighter or more complex packaging may reduce material use in one part of the value chain while requiring different collection and processing capabilities downstream.
