In 2017, 55 percent of the 14.6 million tons of recyclable exports that were shipped from California were sent to China.
China has accepted a significant amount of the recyclable materials shipped from California since 2000.
Note: All figures below are in millions of tons.
| Year | China | All Other Countries | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 4.3 |
| 1999 | 1.3 | 3.8 | 5.1 |
| 2000 | 2.4 | 3.9 | 6.3 |
| 2001 | 4.1 | 3.2 | 7.3 |
| 2002 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 7.6 |
| 2003 | 5.6 | 4.0 | 9.6 |
| 2004 | 6.3 | 3.8 | 10.1 |
| 2005 | 7.8 | 4.2 | 12.0 |
| 2006 | 8.3 | 4.8 | 13.2 |
| 2007 | 9.5 | 6.7 | 16.3 |
| 2008 | 10.6 | 9.0 | 19.6 |
| 2009 | 12.3 | 6.4 | 18.7 |
| 2010 | 10.8 | 7.9 | 18.7 |
| 2011 | 13.3 | 9.1 | 22.4 |
| 2012 | 11.5 | 8.4 | 19.9 |
| 2013 | 10.9 | 7.8 | 18.7 |
| 2014 | 10.3 | 7.8 | 18.1 |
| 2015 | 10.2 | 6.3 | 16.4 |
| 2016 | 9.3 | 5.7 | 15.0 |
| 2017 | 8.1 | 6.5 | 14.6 |
| 2018 | 6.6 | 8.8 | 15.4 |
Resources
- National Sword Home
- Statewide Commission on Recycling Markets and Curbside Recycling
- COVID-19 Response and Resources
- SB 1383: California’s Short-Lived Climate Pollutant Reduction Strategy
- Markets Home
- Statewide Monthly Scrap Value
- Waste Reduction
- Buy Recycled
- Recycle
- Meeting Webcasts
- Statewide Monthly Scrap Value
For more information contact: Business Assistance, bzassist@calrecycle.ca.gov.