Sofia Martinez
Plastic pollution is a pressing issue, with humans creating around 11 billion metric tons of plastic to date. While recycling is a widely advocated solution, the effectiveness of current systems is questionable. Only a small percentage of plastic is recycled, and the US, the world's biggest plastic polluter, is no exception. So, how much plastic is recycled in the US, and what happens to the rest?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Amount of plastic waste generated in the US | 48 million tons per year |
| Percentage of plastic waste recycled in the US | 5-8.7% |
| Amount of plastic waste recycled in the US | 3 million tons |
| Amount of plastic waste sent to landfills in the US | 27 million tons |
| Percentage of plastic waste sent to landfills in the US | 18.5% |
| Amount of plastic waste combusted in the US | 5.6 million tons |
| Percentage of plastic waste combusted in the US | 16.3% |
| Primary data source on the generation of plastics in the US | American Chemistry Council |
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What You'll Learn
Only 5-10% of plastic in the US is recycled
Plastic recycling rates in the US are extremely low, with only 5-10% of plastic waste being recycled. This is due to a variety of factors, including the high cost of collecting and sorting plastic waste, the proliferation of single-use plastics, and the misleading of the public by the plastics industry about the recyclability of their products.
The recycling rate for all plastics in the US was 8.7% in 2018, according to the EPA. This means that only three million tons of plastic out of 35.7 million tons generated that year were recycled. The recycling rate for specific types of plastic containers is slightly higher, with PET bottles and jars at 29.1% and HDPE natural bottles at 29.3% in 2018. However, these rates are still far below the 30% threshold set by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation New Plastic Economy Initiative to be considered "recyclable".
The low recycling rates are due in part to the high cost of collecting and sorting plastic waste, as well as the fact that there are thousands of different types of plastic that cannot be melted down or recycled together. Single-use plastics, which make up one-third of all plastic produced, are particularly problematic as they are used for only a brief period before being discarded. Population growth and low disposal fees in certain parts of the country also contribute to the low recycling rates.
The plastics industry has come under fire for misleading the public about the recyclability of their products. Judith Enck, president of Beyond Plastics, a non-profit working to reduce single-use plastic use and production, accuses the industry of spending "millions of dollars lying to the public and letting people think that plastics are recyclable when over 90% of them are not". The industry has been promoting the idea of recycling as a solution to plastic waste since the 1980s when some municipalities moved to ban plastic products. However, internal documents show that they knew plastic recycling was not working.
Environmental groups and waste management experts are calling for drastic cuts in plastic production and a switch to systems of reuse and refill. Some states have implemented legislation banning single-use plastics or plastic bags, and "bottle bills" that pay customers to return their plastic bottles have led to successful recycling rates in places like Oregon and Michigan. However, these efforts have been met with steep resistance from plastic and oil industry lobbyists.
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The US is the world's biggest plastic polluter
The United States, the world's biggest plastic polluter, generates about 42 million metric tons of plastic waste per year, or about 130 kg of waste per person. This amount is more than the waste produced by all European Union member countries combined. A significant portion of this waste ends up in oceans, entangling and choking marine life, polluting ecosystems, and contaminating the food chain.
Despite public efforts to recycle, the US recycles only 5% of its plastic waste. The remaining plastic waste ends up in landfills or the ocean. The issue is exacerbated by the increasing production of plastic, with the industry planning to triple plastic production by 2050. The low recycling rate is attributed to various factors, including the high cost of collecting and sorting plastic, the existence of thousands of different types of plastic that cannot be melted down together, and the degradation of plastic after one or two uses.
The US's plastic waste problem has severe consequences, impacting inland and coastal communities, polluting waterways, endangering wildlife, and contaminating water sources. To address this crisis, the US urgently needs a new strategy to reduce plastic waste and promote alternative, reusable materials. Environmentalists and lawmakers are pushing for legislation banning single-use plastics and encouraging systems of reuse and refill.
While companies like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestlé have been ranked as the world's top plastic polluters, the US's overall contribution to plastic pollution is undeniable. With the proposed Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act, the US aims to introduce ambitious regulations to curb plastic pollution and promote circularity in plastic recycling.
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Plastic production is set to triple by 2050
The world is facing a plastic crisis. To date, humans have created around 11 billion metric tons of plastic, which is more than the biomass of all animals on Earth, according to a 2020 study published in Nature. The plastic crisis is set to worsen, with the annual production of plastics reaching approximately 400 million metric tons in 2022.
While the exact timeline is unclear, it is projected that plastic production and consumption will nearly double by 2050 unless urgent action is taken. This means that the G20 nations will consume an estimated 451 million tons of plastic yearly, almost twice the 2019 level of 261 million tons. Even with a ban on single-use plastics (SUPs), plastic consumption is predicted to be 1.48 times higher in 2050 compared to 2019. The anticipated increase in plastic production and consumption is driven by several factors, including the growing prominence of renewable energy sources and electric vehicles, leading to a reduction in the demand for conventional fossil fuels. Oil and gas companies are pivoting to plastic production to maintain profitability.
The environmental and health impacts of plastic production and consumption are severe. Plastic waste already pervades our land and water, and the plastic build-up in aquatic environments is projected to triple by 2050 compared to 2019 levels. The consequences will not only be due to plastic leakage and greenhouse gas emissions but also resource scarcity, land use, toxicity, acidification, eutrophication, and ecotoxicity.
To address the plastic crisis, drastic cuts in plastic production are necessary, especially single-use plastics. Recycling and reuse alone cannot deal with the volume of plastic waste generated. While some specific types of plastic containers have higher recycling rates, such as PET bottles and jars and HDPE natural bottles, the overall recycling rate for plastics is relatively low. In the United States, for example, only about 5% of plastic waste was recycled in 2019, according to a report by the Department of Energy.
To curb the plastic crisis, ambitious legislation and global coordination are required. 175 nations, including those in the G20, have agreed to work towards a United Nations treaty to tackle plastic pollution, which is expected to be finalized by the end of 2024. This treaty must include policies that are sufficiently robust to reduce plastic consumption, such as a global ban on unnecessary single-use plastics.
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Plastic resins are used in containers, packaging, bags, sacks, wraps and lids
Plastic resins are commonly used in containers, packaging, bags, sacks, wraps, and lids. They are versatile materials that can be adapted to suit various applications, from providing clarity and flexibility to offering toughness and durability.
One of the most prevalent types of plastic resins is polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is used extensively in beverage bottles and injection-molded consumer product containers. PET is valued for its clarity, toughness, and excellent barrier properties against gas and moisture. The recycling rate for PET bottles and jars was recorded at 29.1% in 2018, which is significantly higher than the overall recycling rate for plastics.
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is another essential plastic resin with a range of applications. HDPE is used in bottles for milk and water, and it can be manufactured with or without a pigment. Transparent HDPE bottles offer excellent clarity, stiffness, and barrier properties, while pigmented bottles have enhanced crack and stress resistance, making them ideal for packaging products with shorter lifespans. The recycling rate for HDPE natural bottles was 29.3% in 2018.
Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is a third type of plastic resin with distinct characteristics. LDPE is predominantly used in film applications due to its toughness, flexibility, and transparency. It is commonly employed in applications requiring heat sealing and is particularly useful for creating bags, such as those used for dry cleaning, newspapers, bread, frozen foods, fresh produce, and household garbage. LDPE is also used in manufacturing flexible lids and bottles, as well as in wire and cable applications.
Polystyrene (PS) is a versatile plastic resin that can be either foamed or rigid. In its rigid state, PS serves as a moisture barrier for short-term storage and is often used in food packaging. When combined with rubber, it forms High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS), which is used for packaging applications requiring toughness and durability but not clarity. PS is also used in the production of coffee cups, containers, and food service items like plates, bowls, and cutlery.
While plastic resins offer numerous benefits in terms of packaging and containment, it is important to acknowledge the challenges associated with plastic waste. The overall recycling rate for plastics is relatively low, with only 8.7% of plastics recycled in 2018, according to the EPA. This has led to a significant accumulation of plastic waste in landfills, with 27 million tons of plastic landfilled in the same year. The Department of Energy's research paper from 2019 supports these concerns, indicating that only 5% of plastics are being recycled.
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Environmentalists and lawmakers are pushing for legislation to ban single-use plastics
Plastic pollution was first observed in the mid-1900s when plastic debris was found in the oceans. Since then, plastic production has increased, and so has plastic pollution. Every year, around 400 million tons of plastic are produced globally, and single-use plastics constitute one-third of this total amount. These plastics are used for mere seconds or minutes before being discarded, and they include items such as straws, plastic bags, wrappers, bottles, utensils, and more.
The environmental impact of single-use plastics is significant, and they pose a toxic threat to ecosystems, wildlife, and humans. As a result, environmentalists and lawmakers are advocating for and implementing legislation to ban these plastics. In 2022, California passed a law to phase out single-use plastics, with the bill requiring that by 2028, at least 30% of plastic items sold, distributed, or imported into the state be recyclable, increasing to 65% by 2032. The bill also calls for a 25% reduction in single-use plastic waste by 2032 and grants CalRecycle the authority to increase this percentage if needed. This legislation sets a precedent for other states to follow, and it is a step towards ensuring all single-use items are recycled.
In addition to California, other states such as Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Maine, New York, Oregon, and Vermont have banned plastic bags. San Francisco was the first city to implement this ban in 2007, and since then, there has been a 70% reduction in plastic bag usage within California. Furthermore, the US has plans to phase out single-use plastics in national parks and some public lands, covering around 480 million acres of federal land. This move is expected to reduce the amount of plastic entering our oceans by 14 million tons.
While these efforts are commendable, the scale of the plastic pollution problem is immense, and recycling alone cannot solve it. Marcus Eriksen, a marine scientist, emphasizes the need for drastic cuts in plastic production, especially single-use plastics. He is not alone in this sentiment, as dozens of studies and reports from organizations like the United Nations and the National Academy of Sciences also conclude that reducing virgin plastic production is essential to combating plastic pollution effectively.
To accelerate progress, individuals can play a role by advocating for local plastic bans, contacting companies to express their support for sustainable packaging, and making conscious choices as consumers to reduce their reliance on single-use plastics.
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Frequently asked questions
The recycling rate of plastic in the US is relatively small, with only 5-8.7% of plastic waste being recycled.
According to the Department of Energy, about 48 million tons of plastic waste is generated in the US annually.
The plastic waste that is not recycled in the US ends up in landfills or is burned.
Plastic comes in thousands of varieties, most of which cannot be recycled together. It is also expensive to collect and sort.
Environmentalists and lawmakers are pushing for legislation that bans single-use plastics and promotes systems of reuse and refill.
