Final answer:
In the United States, landfill and incineration are the two primary means of waste disposal. In 2017, food waste made up 15.2% of all waste sent to landfills. The exact percentages for all disposal methods are not provided.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question at hand involves understanding the different methods of waste disposal and their corresponding percentage of usage in the United States. There are two primary means of waste disposal mentioned: landfill and incineration. In 2017, over 40 million tons of food waste were generated, making up 15.2% of all the trash sent to landfills, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. This signifies that a notable portion of waste management in the U.S. involves landfill usage, although the question does not provide exact percentages for incineration or recycling. The challenge with these methods of disposal is that they are not effective for all types of waste, such as plastics and Styrofoam, which do not naturally decompose and can harm the environment.