Maya Ellison
Plastic is everywhere. It's cheap to make and profitable, but we're all paying the price. The world produces about 400 million tons of plastic waste a year, but the recycling rate is low and might even be declining. In the US, the largest plastic polluter globally, only 5% of household plastic waste is recycled, and the picture isn't much better elsewhere. While some types of plastic are widely recycled, like PET and HDPE, many others are labelled as recyclable when they are not. Plastic recycling is challenging, and it's time to re-evaluate our relationship with this material.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of recycled plastic waste in the US in 2018 | 8.7% |
| Amount of plastic waste recycled in the US in 2018 | 3 million tons |
| Amount of plastic waste generated in the US in 2018 | 35.7 million tons |
| Percentage of plastic waste that was PET bottles and jars recycled in 2018 | 29.1% |
| Percentage of plastic waste that was HDPE natural bottles recycled in 2018 | 29.3% |
| Amount of plastic waste combusted in MSW in 2018 | 5.6 million tons |
| Amount of plastic waste sent to landfills in 2018 | 27 million tons |
| Percentage of plastic waste sent to landfills in 2018 | 18.5% |
| Percentage of plastic waste incinerated, landfilled, or mismanaged globally | 91% |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic recycling rates are low, with the US recycling 5% of household plastic waste
- Plastic is challenging to recycle due to its complex composition and contamination
- Plastic waste is often incinerated, landfilled, or mismanaged, contributing to ocean pollution
- Plastic bottles have a recycling rate of 27.2% in 2020, with PET and HDPE being the most recycled
- Plastic recycling is costly and energy-intensive, and many plastics are mislabelled as recyclable
Plastic recycling rates are low, with the US recycling 5% of household plastic waste
Plastic recycling rates are notoriously low, with the US recycling only 5% of its plastic waste in 2021. This is a decrease from a peak recycling rate of 9.5% in 2014 and 8.7% in 2018. The low recycling rates are concerning given the vast amount of plastic waste generated by US households. In 2021, Americans discarded 51 million tons of plastic, which equates to about 309 pounds of plastic per person. The majority of this plastic waste, approximately 95%, ends up in landfills, oceans, or scattered in the atmosphere in the form of tiny toxic particles.
The reasons for the low recycling rates are multifaceted. Firstly, there is a consumer preference for single-use plastics, and low disposal fees in certain parts of the country. Secondly, the US exported large quantities of plastic waste to China, which was often burned or dumped rather than recycled. After China stopped accepting this waste in 2018, the US faced a capacity shortfall, further contributing to the low recycling rates. Additionally, plastic waste is challenging to collect and sort, and the recycling process is often expensive and environmentally harmful.
The situation is made more complex by the fact that no plastic packaging in the US meets the definition of recyclable according to the FTC or the Ellen MacArthur Foundation's New Plastic Economy Initiative. This includes plastic bottles and jugs, which have a recycling rate of less than 30%, far below the required standard. The foundation's standard for recyclability is a 30% recycling rate, which no plastic has ever come close to achieving.
To address the issue of low plastic recycling rates, environmentalists and lawmakers are advocating for a shift towards systems of reuse and refill. They are also pushing for legislation that bans single-use plastics and promotes "bottle bills," which incentivize consumers to return their plastic bottles for recycling. These bills have been successful in certain states, such as Oregon and Michigan, despite resistance from the plastic and oil industries.
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Plastic is challenging to recycle due to its complex composition and contamination
Plastic is one of the most challenging materials to recycle. Its complex composition and the risk of contamination mean that only about one-tenth of all the plastic ever produced has been recycled, with only 1% recycled more than once.
The problem starts with the sheer volume of plastic waste. Plastic is everywhere, and it is often designed for single-use applications, such as packaging. This means that huge quantities of plastic are discarded, and it is often contaminated with food waste or other materials. This contamination can render the plastic waste unfit for recycling, as it is difficult and costly to sort and clean. This is especially true for black plastic food trays, which are hard for sorting machines to identify.
The plastic that does make it through the recycling process is rarely used to make the same product again. This is because different types of plastic don't mix well when melted down, and the long polymer chains that make up plastic shorten each time they are melted, reducing the quality of the plastic. This means that recycled plastic is usually downcycled into products with lower technical and aesthetic qualities. For example, a food-grade plastic bottle might be recycled into a fleece jacket or a park bench.
The market for recycled plastic is also limited. It is often more expensive to produce than new plastic, and the fragmented nature of the market makes it difficult for sellers to find buyers. This, coupled with the fact that most recycling facilities are spread out unevenly, means that in some areas, plastic cannot be recycled at all due to a lack of appropriate machinery.
Finally, the plastic industry is heavily reliant on non-renewable resources, such as petroleum products, which produce greenhouse gas emissions. This means that even recycling plastic contributes to global warming, and a more sustainable solution is needed.
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Plastic waste is often incinerated, landfilled, or mismanaged, contributing to ocean pollution
Plastic is everywhere, and it is cheap to produce and highly profitable. However, the world is struggling to manage the vast quantities of plastic waste being generated. Only 9% of plastic is recycled, with the bulk of it ending up in landfill or being incinerated. This mismanagement of plastic waste is a significant contributor to ocean pollution.
In 2019, 6.1 million tonnes of plastic waste entered aquatic environments, with 1.7 million tonnes flowing into the oceans. This is a conservative estimate, with previous estimates as high as 8 million tonnes. It is estimated that there is now 30 million tonnes of plastic waste in the oceans, with a further 109 million tonnes accumulated in rivers, which will continue to leak into the ocean for decades to come.
The mismanagement of plastic waste is a global issue. A 2017 study estimated that Asian countries contributed 86% of plastic emissions to the ocean. However, rich countries tend to produce the most plastic waste per person. Around one-quarter of the world's plastic waste is mismanaged or littered, meaning it is not recycled, incinerated, or stored in secure landfills. This mismanagement leads to plastic leaking into rivers, lakes, and oceans, affecting wildlife and ecosystems.
To address the plastic pollution crisis, it is essential to reduce plastic consumption and improve waste management practices. This includes investing in new recycling technologies and incentivising recycling through landfill and incineration taxes. Some companies are exploring refill and reuse schemes, offering products in reusable containers to eliminate the "poverty tax" that lower-income people often face when unable to buy in bulk. It is also important to replace "unnecessary and problematic" plastics with more sustainable alternatives. For example, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which breaks down into toxic components, could be replaced with polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA), a biodegradable bio-polyester.
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Plastic bottles have a recycling rate of 27.2% in 2020, with PET and HDPE being the most recycled
Plastic is a rapidly growing component of municipal solid waste (MSW). In 2018, the United States generated 35.7 million tons of plastic waste, accounting for 12.2% of all MSW. While the overall recycling rate for plastic was only 8.7% that year, certain types of plastic containers have higher recycling rates.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and jars, for example, had a recycling rate of 29.1% in 2018. This rate decreased slightly to 27.1% in 2020. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles are another commonly recycled plastic item, with a recycling rate of 29.3% in 2018. The recycling rate for HDPE bottles in 2020 is not readily available, but it was reported to be 28.9% in 2021.
PET and HDPE bottles are the most recycled plastic items, with PET bottles accounting for 65% of all US-sourced post-consumer bottles recovered for recycling in 2020. The total weight of PET bottles recycled in 2021 was 1.93 billion pounds, an increase of 9.3% from 2020. While the weight of recycled HDPE bottles decreased by 1.7% during the same period, it still amounted to 927 million pounds.
The United States is one of the largest exporters of plastic waste, with scrap plastic exports totalling 1.21 billion pounds in 2021. However, US exports of plastic waste have decreased in recent years due to import bans by countries like China. To improve recycling rates and achieve true recyclability, public policies and systemic changes are necessary, alongside increased demand for recycled plastics.
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Plastic recycling is costly and energy-intensive, and many plastics are mislabelled as recyclable
Plastic recycling is a challenging and complex process that carries significant environmental and economic implications. While recycling plastic can reduce oil usage and emissions of greenhouse gases associated with virgin polymer production, it is important to acknowledge the challenges and limitations of the process.
One of the primary challenges of plastic recycling is the cost and energy intensity of the process. Recycling plastic requires substantial energy to separate, sort, and process the materials, often making it more expensive than creating new plastic. The low price of petrochemical feedstock, which is used to create new plastic, makes the economic justification for recycling plastic waste challenging. Additionally, the variety of plastic types, each with its own chemical composition and properties, further complicates the recycling process. As a result, most plastic ends up in landfills, contributing to environmental degradation.
The recycling symbols on plastic containers, known as the international recycling symbol, have contributed to the misconception that plastic is widely recycled. However, the presence of these symbols does not necessarily indicate that a particular type of plastic is recyclable. In fact, a Greenpeace report found that no plastic meets the threshold to be considered recyclable according to standards set by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation New Plastic Economy Initiative, which requires a recycling rate of 30%. This discrepancy between public perception and the reality of plastic recycling underscores the need for improved education and transparency in the industry.
Furthermore, the production and usage of plastic have increased significantly over the years, outpacing the development of sustainable alternatives and effective recycling technologies. Plastic is inexpensive, lightweight, and durable, making it a popular choice for various applications. However, the disposal of plastic generates environmental problems, with substantial quantities of discarded plastic accumulating as debris in landfills and natural habitats worldwide. The challenge is further exacerbated by the presence of thousands of different types of plastic, each requiring specific recycling methods, and the degradation of plastic after one or two uses.
While some specific types of plastic containers, such as PET bottles and jars, have higher recycling rates, the overall recycling rate for plastic remains relatively low. For instance, in 2018, the recycling rate for PET bottles and jars was 29.1%, while the overall recycling rate for plastic containers and packaging was 8.7% in the United States. This highlights the need for improved recycling infrastructure and the development of more sustainable alternatives to conventional plastic.
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Frequently asked questions
In 2018, the United States recycled 3 million tons of plastic out of 35.7 million tons of plastic waste, which equates to a recycling rate of 8.7%.
The two most commonly recycled plastics are PET (#1) and HDPE (#2).
29.1% of PET bottles and jars were recycled in 2018.
91% of plastic waste is incinerated, landfilled, or mismanaged.
