Recycling Reality: Plastic's Poor Performance

Plastic pollution is a pressing global issue. Despite the fact that only nine per cent of plastic is recycled, 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic has been produced, with 6.3 billion metric tons becoming plastic waste. This waste is accumulating in landfills and the natural environment, with much of it ending up in the oceans.

The US has a lower recycling rate than Europe and China

Only nine per cent of the 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic ever produced has been recycled. The vast majority of plastic waste 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.

The United States ranks behind Europe and China in recycling. While the US has a nine per cent recycling rate, Europe recycles 30 per cent of its plastic waste and China 25 per cent. The US's recycling rate has remained at nine per cent since 2012.

The recycling of some specific types of plastic containers is more significant. The recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1 per cent in 2018, and the rate for HDPE natural bottles was 29.3 per cent in 2018.

Plastic waste is accumulating in landfills and the natural environment

The United States ranks behind Europe (30%) and China (25%) in recycling, with a recycling rate of nine percent since 2012. While the amount of recycled plastics is relatively small, the recycling of some specific types of plastic containers is more significant. For example, the recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1% in 2018, and the rate for HDPE natural bottles was 29.3% in 2018.

The total amount of plastics combusted in MSW in 2018 was 5.6 million tons, which was 16.3% of all MSW combusted with energy recovery that year. This highlights the need for a comprehensive, global approach to managing plastic waste, involving rethinking plastic chemistry, product design, recycling strategies, and consumer use.

Plastic waste will reach 12 billion metric tons by 2050

Plastic is a huge problem for the environment. According to a study published in the peer-reviewed journal *Science Advances*, of the 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic that has been produced, 6.3 billion metric tons has become plastic waste. Of that, only nine per cent has been recycled. The vast majority – 79 per cent – 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. This figure includes both primary and secondary (previously recycled) plastics.

The problem is so large that it calls for a comprehensive, global approach, according to Jambeck. This involves rethinking plastic chemistry, product design, recycling strategies, and consumer use. The United States ranks behind Europe (30 per cent) and China (25 per cent) in recycling, the study found. Recycling in the U.S. has remained at nine per cent since 2012.

Roland Geyer, the study’s lead author, says the team of scientists are trying to create a foundation for better managing plastic products. “You can’t manage what you don’t measure,” he says.

The recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1% in 2018

Only nine per cent of all plastic ever produced has been recycled, according to a study published in the peer-reviewed journal *Science Advances*. The vast majority of plastic waste is accumulating in landfills or sloughing off in the natural environment as litter.

However, the recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1% in 2018, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This is significantly higher than the overall rate for plastic recycling. The EPA used data from the American Chemistry Council, the National Association for PET Container Resources, and the Association of Plastic Recyclers to measure the recycling of plastic.

The recycling rate for HDPE natural bottles was also relatively high in 2018, at 29.3%. The total amount of plastics combusted in municipal solid waste (MSW) in 2018 was 5.6 million tons, or 16.3% of all MSW combusted with energy recovery that year.

The United States ranks behind Europe (30%) and China (25%) in recycling, according to a 2017 study by Jambeck. Recycling in the US has remained at nine per cent since 2012.

The total amount of plastics combusted in MSW in 2018 was 5.6 million tons

Of the 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic that has been produced, only nine percent has been recycled. This means that 91% of plastic is not recycled. The United States has a recycling rate of nine percent, while Europe and China have rates of 30% and 25%, respectively.

In 2018, the recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1%, and the rate for HDPE natural bottles was 29.3%. However, the total amount of plastics combusted in MSW that year was 5.6 million tons, which accounted for 16.3% of all MSW combusted with energy recovery.

The vast majority of plastic waste, 79%, ends up accumulating in landfills or becoming litter in the natural environment. If present trends continue, it is estimated that by 2050, there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic in landfills, which is 35,000 times as heavy as the Empire State Building.

Frequently asked questions