Alexei Volkov
Plastic waste is a pressing issue in the United States, with the country's plastic waste increasing five-fold from 1980 to 2018. The US has 633 materials recycling facilities that can process 100,000 tons of recyclables daily. However, the number of enterprises in the recycling facilities industry is expected to reach 1,072 by 2025. Despite these facilities, only 5-6% of the 40 million tons of plastic waste generated in the US in 2021 was recycled, with 85% ending up in landfills and 10% being incinerated. The low recycling rate is attributed to various factors, including contamination, a lack of public education, and the challenges posed by single-stream recycling systems. To address the issue, 18 states have passed laws encouraging chemical recycling, but this approach has sparked debate among environmentalists.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of recycling facilities in the US | 633 (as of 2018) |
| Number of enterprises in the recycling facilities industry in the US (as of 2025) | 1,072 |
| Percentage of plastic waste that went to landfills in 2021 | 85% |
| Percentage of plastic waste that was incinerated in 2021 | 10% |
| Percentage of plastic waste that was recycled in 2021 | 5-6% |
| Percentage of plastic waste that went to landfills in 2018 | 75% |
| Percentage of plastic waste that was burned in waste-to-energy facilities in 2015 | 15% |
| Percentage of plastic waste that was recycled in 2015 | Less than 10% |
| Percentage of plastic waste that was recycled in 2014 | 9.5% |
| Percentage of plastic waste that was recycled in 1980 | 21.3% |
| Number of US states that have passed laws to encourage the chemical recycling of plastic | 18 |
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What You'll Learn
The US has 633 materials recycling facilities
The United States currently has 633 materials recycling facilities, which can process 100,000 tons of recyclables per day. However, the US recycling industry has been facing significant challenges in recent years.
The industry was heavily reliant on China as the main buyer of its plastic scrap market. However, in late 2017, China implemented stricter policies and significantly reduced its imports of foreign scrap materials, including plastics. This left the US scrambling for alternative solutions to deal with its plastic waste.
The closure of the Chinese market had a significant impact on the US recycling industry. The loss of a key revenue stream led to financial difficulties for recycling facilities and municipalities, with some having to pay more for recycling services or even discard waste altogether. This resulted in a decrease in the US plastic recycling rate, which was already low compared to other countries. In 2015, only about 10% of discarded plastics entered the recycling stream in the US, compared to 39.1% in the EU and 22% in China.
The US has been investing in new and improved facilities, incorporating advanced technologies such as robotics and optical sorting to enhance the recycling process. Additionally, 18 states have passed laws to encourage chemical recycling, also known as advanced recycling, which involves converting plastics into fuels or other products. However, environmentalists have questioned whether this process truly constitutes recycling, as it may involve polluting methods akin to incineration.
The issues within the US recycling industry highlight the need for improved public education about recycling practices and the importance of proper waste sorting and cleaning. With growing public concern over plastic waste and its environmental impact, there is an opportunity for the US to innovate and enhance its recycling systems, potentially reducing the country's reliance on single-use plastics.
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85% of US plastic waste went to landfills in 2021
Plastic waste is a growing problem in the United States, with the country generating 40 million tons of plastic waste in 2021. Despite the presence of 633 materials recycling facilities, the US recycled only 5-6% of its plastic waste in 2021, according to a report by environmental groups Beyond Plastics and The Last Beach Cleanup. This means that a staggering 85% of US plastic waste ended up in landfills that year, with 10% being incinerated and the remaining 5-6% recycled.
The low recycling rate in the US is due to a variety of factors. Firstly, there is a lack of public education about cleaning and preparing plastics for recycling. The US also relies on single-stream recycling systems, where all recyclables are placed in the same receptacle, which produces a mixed stream of materials that is difficult and costly to sort and clean at recycling facilities. Additionally, there is a problem of contamination, where recyclable plastics are co-mingled with non-recyclable plastics, resulting in loads that are typically sent to landfills or incineration.
Another issue is the decline in US plastic waste exports. In the past, the US shipped large volumes of plastic waste overseas, particularly to Asia, due to the low cost of shipping and the demand for recyclable materials in those countries. However, in recent years, many countries, including China, have restricted foreign waste imports, leading to a decrease in US plastic waste exports and putting further strain on the already struggling US recycling system.
To address the plastic waste problem, there have been calls for new laws to reduce plastic packaging and the consumption of single-use plastics. Some states have also passed laws to encourage chemical recycling, or advanced recycling, of plastics, which involves converting plastics into fuels or other products. However, environmentalists have questioned whether this process truly constitutes recycling, as it may not reduce the demand for virgin plastic and can have negative environmental impacts.
Overall, the issue of plastic waste in the US is complex and multifaceted, requiring a range of solutions, including improved recycling infrastructure, public education, and reduced consumption of single-use plastics.
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Plastic waste has increased five-fold in the US since 1980
Plastic waste in the US has increased fivefold since 1980, from 7.4 million tons in 1980 to 35.7 million tons in 2018. This increase has put pressure on the US's 633 recycling facilities, which are already struggling to keep up with the volume of plastic waste being generated.
The US's heavy reliance on single-use plastics has contributed significantly to this issue. Despite public awareness and campaigns to reduce, reuse, and recycle, the US still generates a staggering amount of plastic waste. Single-use plastics, such as straws, grocery bags, and food packaging, are designed for convenience and short-term use, but their environmental impact is long-lasting.
The US has historically relied on exporting its plastic waste to other countries, particularly China, which was once the main buyer of US plastic scrap. However, China's National Sword policy sharply reduced imports of foreign scrap materials, including plastics. This restriction, implemented in late 2017, was due to growing environmental and health concerns in China. Since then, US plastic waste has been shipped to other countries, such as Malaysia, which often lack the infrastructure to handle the influx of waste adequately.
The US's plastic waste crisis has significant implications for the environment and public health. Plastic can take anywhere from five to 600 years to break down, and during this time, it can degrade into microplastics that contaminate oceans, waterways, and even food sources. The negative consequences of plastic waste have led to growing support for banning or restricting single-use plastics and improving domestic recycling capabilities.
Some states have passed laws to encourage chemical recycling, or advanced recycling, which involves converting plastics into fuels or other products. However, environmentalists have questioned whether this process truly constitutes recycling, as it may not reduce the demand for virgin plastic and can have polluting effects. Overall, the fivefold increase in plastic waste since 1980 underscores the urgent need for the US to address its plastic consumption and disposal practices.
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China's ban on foreign scrap materials has impacted the US
China's ban on foreign scrap materials has had a significant impact on the US. Previously, it was economically viable for the US to ship its plastic waste to China for recycling. However, China's ban on foreign scrap materials, implemented in late 2017, has disrupted this arrangement. The ban, known as the "National Sword" policy, has resulted in a buildup of plastic waste in US ports and recycling facilities.
The US has approximately 633 materials recycling facilities, which can process 100,000 tons of recyclables per day. However, even before the ban, these facilities were struggling to keep up with the volume of waste being generated. The ban has only exacerbated this issue, with US plastic waste now being shipped to other countries that may not have the capacity or infrastructure to handle it effectively.
The ban has also had economic implications for the US. The scrap industry supported 155,000 jobs and exported scrap worth $5.6 billion to China in 2016. With China no longer accepting this scrap, a key revenue stream for municipal governments has been lost. This has resulted in some waste collection agencies suspending curbside pickup or raising prices, affecting all 50 states.
In response to the ban, some US recycling companies have invested in new equipment and hired more workers to improve their contamination rates and meet China's stricter standards. Additionally, some facilities that previously exported plastic to China have re-tooled and expanded their capacity to process the waste themselves. This has created opportunities for domestic recycling and encouraged the US to get serious about managing its own waste.
Furthermore, the ban has spurred support for banning or restricting single-use consumer plastics, such as straws and grocery bags, and increased interest in improving plastic recycling rates in the US. Legislators in 18 states have passed laws to encourage chemical recycling, also known as advanced recycling, which involves converting plastic into fuels or other plastics. However, environmentalists have questioned whether this process truly constitutes recycling, as it may not reduce the demand for virgin plastic.
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Chemical recycling is being encouraged in 18 US states
The United States currently has 633 materials recycling facilities, which can clean, sort, and bale a total of 100,000 tons of recyclables per day. However, the US has been facing a growing plastic waste crisis, with over 70% of plastic waste going to landfills.
In response to this crisis, legislators in 18 states have passed laws to encourage chemical recycling, also known as advanced recycling. These laws classify chemical recycling facilities as manufacturers, rather than waste-handling facilities. This classification can provide government financial incentives and less stringent regulation for these facilities.
Environmental advocates have questioned the effectiveness of these laws, arguing that they promote the processing of plastics into fuels through polluting methods that amount to incineration, which is not true recycling. They also argue that these laws fail to curb the demand for virgin plastic.
However, the chemical industry maintains that market demand for recycled content in plastic is increasing and that chemical recycling facilities are selling their products to polymer makers for feedstock. They also seek to loosen federal Clean Air Act regulation of facilities that use pyrolysis and gasification.
Some states with laws that allow incentives to turn plastics into fuels and other plastics include Iowa, Ohio, and Texas.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2025, there are predicted to be 1,072 enterprises in the recycling facilities industry in the USA, up from 633 in 2018.
Plastic recycling facilities are plants where plastic waste is sorted, cleaned, and baled.
After being sorted, cleaned, and baled, plastic is sold to recycling brokers who search for buyers that will melt the plastic down, turn it into pellets, and make it into something new.
Plastic recycling facilities often have to deal with contaminated materials, which can prevent large batches of material from being recycled. Many items that are collected, such as plastic straws, bags, and yogurt containers, often cannot be recycled and are incinerated, deposited in landfills, or washed into the ocean.
In 2023, legislators in 18 states passed laws to encourage the chemical recycling of plastic, also known as advanced recycling. However, environmentalists are concerned that these laws promote the processing of discarded plastics into fuel through polluting processes that are not recycling.
