The Plastic Problem: America's Addiction To Single-Use Plastics

Americans throw away around 25 billion Styrofoam coffee cups every year. In 2017, packaging production constituted the highest-demanded use for plastic, with 146 million metric tons used. The average American consumes more than 70,000 microplastic particles a year. Women, people in households making more than $50,000 annually, and college graduates were more likely to report a decrease in how often they used single-use plastics in the last five years.

Plastic waste generation

The average American consumes more than 70,000 microplastic particles annually. These tiny plastic particles are present in the air, water, and food we consume. They can come from plastic bottles, for example, with an estimated additional 90,000 microplastic particles consumed by those who drink only bottled water.

The presence of microplastics in our environment and daily lives is concerning. As plastic breaks down, it can settle out of the air onto food sources, and when it ends up in landfills, it breaks down into toxic particles that contaminate the soil and waterways, entering the food chain when animals ingest them.

While the health risks of microplastics are still being studied, their prevalence in our lives underscores the need for action to reduce plastic waste generation. This includes improving infrastructure to prevent plastic pollution, such as sanitary landfills, incineration facilities, and recycling capacity, as well as promoting a reduction in the use of single-use plastics.

Overall, the United States faces a significant challenge in addressing plastic waste generation, with far-reaching implications for the environment and public health.

Plastic recycling

Americans use a lot of plastic. In 2018, the average American used 218 pounds of plastic per year, up from 60 pounds in 1980. In 2016, the U.S. created 46 million tons of plastic waste.

Americans also throw away a lot of plastic. In 2017, packaging production was the highest-demanded use for plastic, with 146 million metric tons used. At least 14 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean every year.

Microplastics are all around us, in the soil, air, sea and food. The average American consumes more than 70,000 microplastic particles a year, and this could be an underestimate. People who only drink bottled water could consume an additional 90,000 microplastic particles per year.

According to the Container Recycling Institute, 100.7 billion plastic beverage bottles were sold in the U.S. in 2014, or 315 bottles per person. 57% of those units were plastic water bottles: 57.3 billion sold in 2014. This is up from 3.8 billion plastic water bottles sold in 1996, the earliest year for available data.

However, some Americans are trying to reduce their plastic usage. A 2024 PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll found that women, people in households making more than $50,000 annually, and college graduates were more likely to report a decrease in how often they used single-use plastics in the last five years.

Plastic production

The US is one of the biggest producers and users of plastic products, with the amount of plastic used in the country having roughly tripled since the 1980s to over 80 million metric tons annually. In 2017, packaging production constituted the highest-demanded use for plastic, with 146 million metric tons used.

Many of the world's largest plastic manufacturers are based in the US, such as Dow Chemical and the ExxonMobil chemical division.

Plastic demand

The average American consumes more than 70,000 microplastic particles a year. People who only drink bottled water could consume an additional 90,000 microplastic particles per year. Microplastics are in the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. They are also in the soil and waterways, entering the food chain when animals ingest them.

Despite this high demand, some Americans are trying to reduce their plastic usage. According to a PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll, 1 in 3 Americans have reduced how much plastic they use. Women, people in households earning more than $50,000 per year, and college graduates were more likely to report a decrease in single-use plastic usage.

Plastic manufacturers

The American Chemistry Council's Plastics Division represents America's Plastic Makers and the half a million scientists, engineers, technicians, and other innovators who make plastics for essential and lifesaving products. America's Plastic Makers are committed to linking innovation with sustainability, deploying next-generation technologies to make plastics lighter, stronger, more efficient, and more recyclable. Their goal is for 100% of U.S. plastic packaging to be reused, recycled, or recovered by 2040.

In 2018, plastics generation in the United States was 35.7 million tons, which was 12.2% of MSW generation. While the overall amount of recycled plastics is relatively small, the recycling of specific types of plastic containers is more significant. For example, the recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1% in 2018, while the rate for HDPE natural bottles was 29.3%.

As one of the world's largest consumers of plastics, the United States has seen its plastic waste generation increase significantly. In 2019, U.S. plastic waste generation was estimated at 73 million metric tons, corresponding to more than 220 kilograms per inhabitant. With plastics demand showing little sign of slowing down, U.S. plastic waste generation is projected to surpass 140 million metric tons by 2060.

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