The Heavy Cost Of Plastic: Tonnes And Dollars

Plastic is a huge problem for the environment. Humans have created 8.3 billion metric tons of plastics since the 1950s, and most of it now resides in landfills or the natural environment. Global production of plastics increased from 2 million metric tons in 1950 to over 400 million metric tons in 2015. But how much is a metric ton of plastic worth?

The total amount of plastic ever produced

Since large-scale production of plastic began in the early 1950s, humans have created 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic. Global production of plastic increased from 2 million metric tons in 1950 to over 400 million metric tons in 2015. By 2015, 6.3 billion metric tons had become waste, of which only 9% had been recycled. The vast majority (79%) is accumulating in landfills or sloughing off in the natural environment as litter. If present trends continue, by 2050, there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic in landfills. That amount is 35,000 times as heavy as the Empire State Building.

Even with immediate action, 710 million metric tons of plastic will enter the environment in the next two decades. Humans are now unloading 29 million metric tons of bottles, bags, and microplastics (little bits smaller than 5mm) into the oceans annually. That means for every metre of coastline, 50kg of plastic is entering the sea every year.

The amount of plastic waste

Since the 1950s, humans have created 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic, 6.3 billion tons of which have become waste. This is according to a study published in the journal Science Advances. Global production of plastics increased from 2 million metric tons in 1950 to over 400 million metric tons in 2015.

The study, led by a team of scientists from the University of Georgia, the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Sea Education Association, is the first global analysis of the production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made. It found that only nine per cent of plastic waste has been recycled, with the vast majority (79 per cent) accumulating in landfills or sloughing off in the natural environment as litter.

If present trends continue, by 2050, there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic in landfills – 35,000 times as heavy as the Empire State Building. Even with immediate action, 710 million metric tons of plastic will enter the environment in the next two decades, according to scientists. This means that for every metre of coastline, 50 kilograms of plastic is entering the sea every year.

The amount of plastic that ends up in the ocean

It is estimated that between 1 and 2 million tonnes of plastic enter the oceans each year. This equates to around 0.5% of the world's plastic waste.

The fate of plastics once they enter the ocean has puzzled researchers. While at least one million tonnes of plastic enters the ocean each year, the amount of plastic floating on the surface offshore is significantly less. This is because plastic waste is often mismanaged, meaning it is not recycled, incinerated, or stored in sealed landfills. This makes it vulnerable to polluting the environment. Rich countries tend to produce the most plastic waste per person, but the mismanagement of waste tends to be much higher in low-to-middle-income countries due to poorer waste management infrastructure.

The probability that mismanaged plastic waste will enter the ocean varies across the world, depending on factors such as the location and length of river systems, proximity to coastlines, terrain, and precipitation patterns. It is estimated that nearly one-quarter of the world's plastic waste is mismanaged or littered, which equates to around 82 million tonnes.

The amount of plastic that is recycled

Since the early 1950s, humans have created 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic. By 2015, 6.3 billion metric tons of this had become waste, with only nine per cent of it being recycled. The vast majority (79 per cent) is accumulating in landfills or sloughing off in the natural environment as litter.

If current trends continue, by 2050 there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic in landfills. That's 35,000 times as heavy as the Empire State Building. Even with immediate action, 710 million metric tons of plastic will enter the environment in the next two decades.

Global production of plastics increased from 2 million metric tons in 1950 to over 400 million metric tons in 2015.

The amount of plastic that will be produced in the future

Plastic production has sharply increased over the last 70 years. In 1950, the world produced just two million metric tons of plastic. By 2015, this had increased to over 400 million metric tons. In 2018, plastics generation was 35.7 million metric tons in the United States alone.

If present trends continue, by 2050, there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic in landfills. That amount is 35,000 times as heavy as the Empire State Building. By 2060, the amount of plastic waste produced globally could be as high as 265 million metric tons per year.

Even with immediate action, 710 million metric tons of plastic will enter the environment in the next two decades. This is due to the continued increase in plastic production and waste, as well as the linear plastic economy, which sees 90% of plastic products used once and then discarded.

The demand for plastic is only expected to increase, which will also increase the demand for fossil fuels and energy, as well as associated carbon emissions. By 2050, plastic manufacturing and processing may account for as much as 20% of petroleum consumed globally and 15% of the annual carbon emissions budget.

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