Chloe Zhang
Plastic is everywhere, and it's a major problem. As one of the world's largest consumers of plastic, the US is a significant contributor to the growing global plastic waste crisis. Despite the fact that plastic recycling rates have been low for years, plastic production is ramping up, and the amount of plastic waste generated in the US is projected to surpass 140 million metric tons by 2060. So, how much plastic do Americans recycle each year?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total amount of plastics recycled in the US in 2018 | 3 million tons |
| Recycling rate of PET bottles and jars in 2018 | 29.1% |
| Recycling rate of HDPE natural bottles in 2018 | 29.3% |
| Total amount of plastics combusted in MSW in 2018 | 5.6 million tons |
| Percentage of all MSW combusted with energy recovery that year | 16.3% |
| Amount of plastic sent to landfills in 2018 | 27 million tons |
| Percentage of all MSW landfilled | 18.5% |
| US plastic waste generation in 2019 | 73 million metric tons |
| US plastic waste generation in 2021 | 40 million tons |
| Amount of plastic recycled in 2021 | 2 million tons |
| Recycling rate of plastic bottles in Oregon and Michigan | Successful |
| Amount of plastic recycled in 2014 | 9.5% |
| Amount of plastic recycled in 2018 | 8.7% |
| Amount of plastic recycled in 2021 | 5-6% |
| Amount of plastic recycled in 2000 | 22.1% |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic recycling rates in the US
The US is one of the world's largest consumers of plastic, with plastic use more than tripling since the 1980s. In 2019, US plastic waste generation was estimated at 73 million metric tons, or more than 220 kilograms per inhabitant. This was five times the global average per capita. Plastic accounts for roughly 12% of US municipal solid waste generation, with plastic containers and packaging being the main sources of plastic waste.
Despite the low recycling rates, there is evidence that recycling certain types of plastic containers is more significant. For example, the recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1% in 2018, up from 22.1% in 2000. The rate for HDPE natural bottles in 2018 was 29.3%. However, it is important to note that even plastics that make it to recycling facilities are not all recycled. For example, 30-36% of PET bottles are wasted during the recycling process.
The US does not have the capacity to recycle all its waste domestically and exports large volumes of plastic waste to other countries, mainly Canada and Mexico. However, with China and many other Asian countries restricting foreign waste imports, the US recycling system is under further strain.
The plastic waste crisis is a serious environmental and health issue, particularly concerning its impact on marine life. Large amounts of plastic waste leak into the ocean each year, contributing to the deaths of thousands of sea mammals and fish.
There are calls for drastic change to address the problem, including reducing single-use plastics and implementing "bottle bills" that pay customers to return their plastic bottles. Some states are pushing for legislation to ban single-use plastics, but this has faced resistance from the plastic and oil industries.
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Plastic waste exports
Plastic waste is one of the biggest environmental crises facing the planet, with the concentration of microplastics in oceans threatening biodiversity and the health of marine life and humans. As one of the world's largest consumers of plastics, the US is a major contributor to the growing global plastic waste problem. In 2019, US plastic waste generation was estimated at 73 million metric tons, which corresponds to more than 220 kilograms per inhabitant. This was roughly five times more than the global average per capita plastic waste generation.
The US exports large volumes of plastic waste every year to countries around the world, with Canada and Mexico being the main destinations. In 2023, these two countries accounted for more than half of US plastic scrap exports. Asian countries such as India, Malaysia, and Vietnam, received the second-largest share of US plastic scrap exports. Until 2017, China was the primary destination for US plastic waste, but a total ban on recovered plastic imports imposed in 2018 led to a 92% drop in US plastic waste exports to China.
The plastic waste trade makes sense from an economic standpoint, as low-income nations can benefit from a cost-effective material supply, while industrialized nations lacking the infrastructure to recycle plastic domestically can ship their waste to countries with lower energy and labor costs. However, despite only accounting for two percent of the plastic waste generated, exports of plastic waste worldwide can lead to concerning environmental and health risks, especially as a large amount of plastic scrap exported from the US does not get recycled but ends up as waste or leaks into the ocean.
In the US, the recycling rate for plastic is relatively small, with three million tons recycled for an 8.7% recycling rate in 2018. While the recycling rate for some specific types of plastic containers is more significant, such as PET bottles and jars (29.1% in 2018), the overall stagnation of the domestic plastic recycling rate, coupled with increasing plastic waste generation, has put further strain on the already struggling US recycling system.
To address the plastic waste crisis, governments, corporations, and individuals must get creative in finding solutions to reduce and repurpose plastic waste. Environmental groups are pushing for a switch to systems of reuse and refill, as well as legislation banning single-use plastics and encouraging the return of plastic bottles through "bottle bills". Corporations are also taking action, with companies like Starbucks pledging to eliminate plastic straws and Evian committing to using 100% recycled material for their bottles.
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Plastic waste generation
Plastic containers and packaging are the primary sources of plastic waste in the US. In 2021, the country produced 40 million tons of plastic waste, with 80% destined for landfill sites. The recycling rate for plastic waste in the US has been low and declining. In 2021, only about 5-6% of plastic waste was recycled, a decrease from the 8.7% recycling rate in 2018. The low recycling rate is attributed to a variety of factors, including the difficulty and cost of collecting and sorting plastic, the presence of thousands of different types of plastic that cannot be melted down together, and the degradation of plastic after one or two uses.
The majority of plastic waste in the US ends up in landfills or is incinerated. A significant amount of plastic also leaks into the ocean each year, contributing to the death of thousands of marine animals. The US exports large volumes of plastic waste to other countries, particularly Canada and Mexico, as it lacks the capacity to recycle all its waste domestically. However, with many Asian countries restricting foreign waste imports, the US recycling system is under increasing strain.
The plastic industry has been criticized for perpetuating the myth that plastic is recyclable. Despite this claim, plastic recycling rates have remained low, and the industry plans to triple plastic production by 2050. Environmentalists and lawmakers are pushing for legislation to ban single-use plastics and promote systems of reuse and refill. Greenpeace USA's senior plastic campaigner, Lisa Ramsden, emphasizes the need for drastic change to address the worsening plastic waste crisis.
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Plastic bottle recycling
The low recycling rates are also attributed to the challenges associated with plastic recycling. There are now thousands of different types of plastic, and none of them can be melted down together. Plastic also degrades after one or two uses, and it is expensive to collect and sort. Additionally, even plastics that make it to recycling facilities aren't always recycled, with 30 to 36% of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles being wasted during the process.
Some US states, such as Oregon and Michigan, have implemented successful plastic bottle recycling programs through "bottle bills," which pay customers to bring back their plastic bottles. However, these types of initiatives have faced steep resistance from plastic and oil industry lobbyists. Environmental groups advocate for a switch to systems of reuse and refill to reduce plastic pollution.
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Plastic production
Plastic manufacturing is pivotal to the US economy, with applications in manufacturing, packaging, and construction. The industry generates over a million jobs and contributes to the nation's economic resilience and competitiveness. The US imported $1.8 billion worth of plastics machinery in 2023, indicating a robust plastic conversion process. However, the US also faces challenges in recycling plastic waste, with a small percentage of plastic being recycled.
The American Chemistry Council's Plastics Division represents America's plastic manufacturers and the innovators behind these products. They aim to integrate innovation with sustainability, using next-generation technologies to enhance the recyclability of plastics. Their goal is to have all US plastic packaging reused, recycled, or recovered by 2040.
Despite these efforts, the US still struggles with plastic waste management. In 2018, the US generated 35.7 million tons of plastic, with an 8.7% recycling rate, translating to three million tons of recycled plastic. While specific types of plastic containers have higher recycling rates, such as PET bottles and jars, and HDPE natural bottles, the overall recycling rate is relatively low.
The problem is exacerbated by the increasing variety of plastics, making it challenging and expensive to collect, sort, and recycle. Additionally, plastic degrades after a few uses, and reusing it can lead to increased toxicity. The production of plastic, on the other hand, remains cheap and easy, resulting in a growing plastic waste problem.
The US has been exporting large volumes of plastic waste to other countries, particularly Canada and Mexico, but this has decreased due to restrictions on foreign waste imports. With plastic demand projected to increase, the US must address its plastic waste management and recycling systems to prevent further environmental and health impacts, especially concerning marine life.
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Frequently asked questions
It is difficult to determine the exact number of pounds of plastic that Americans recycle each year. However, according to a report by Beyond Plastics and The Last Beach Cleanup, in 2021, of the 40 million tons of plastic waste generated in the US, only about 2 million tons were recycled, which equates to roughly 4 billion pounds. This means that the US plastic recycling rate was between 5 and 6 percent in 2021, a decrease from 8.7 percent in 2018.
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles were recycled at a rate of 29.1 percent in 2018, up from 22.1 percent in 2000. However, it is important to note that 30 to 36 percent of PET bottles are wasted during the recycling process.
In 2019, the US generated an estimated 73 million metric tons of plastic waste, which equates to more than 220 kilograms per person. This was about five times the global average per capita.
Unfortunately, most of the plastic placed in recycling bins ends up in landfills or is incinerated. This is due to the challenges and costs associated with collecting, sorting, and recycling plastic, as well as the presence of thousands of different types of plastic that cannot be melted down together.
Environmentalists and lawmakers are pushing for legislation to ban single-use plastics and promote systems of reuse and refill. "Bottle bills" that pay customers to return their plastic bottles have led to successful recycling rates in some states. Additionally, circularity, which involves reusing, recycling, or employing alternatives, is being explored as a potential solution.
