Us Plastic Waste: A Troubling Environmental Concern

Plastic waste is a huge environmental issue, polluting land, oceans, air, food and even human blood. The US is one of the world's largest consumers of plastics, with its use more than tripling since the 1980s. In 2019, the US generated an estimated 73 million metric tons of plastic waste, corresponding to more than 220 kilograms per inhabitant. This is roughly five times more than the global average per capita.

Plastic waste in the US is projected to surpass 140 million metric tons by 2060

In 2019, US plastic waste generation was estimated at 73 million metric tons, which corresponds to more than 220 kilograms per inhabitant. This is more than five times the global average per capita plastic waste generation. The US's plastic waste generation has increased five-fold since 1980, and the country does not have the capacity to recycle all its waste domestically. As a result, the US exports large volumes of plastic waste every year, with Canada and Mexico being the main destinations. However, US plastic waste exports have fallen considerably in recent years due to restrictions on foreign waste imports by China and other Asian countries.

The NREL estimates that the amount of plastic waste in the US is currently 44 million metric tons. Of the 40 million tons of municipal plastic waste estimated to be generated in the US in 2021, at least 80% was expected to be sent to landfill sites. Plastic waste is becoming one of the biggest environmental issues worldwide, polluting land, oceans, air, and even food and human blood.

Plastic use in the US is prevalent in various sectors, including building and construction, transportation, and vehicles. In 2017, 12% of plastics in the US went into building and construction, primarily as PVC and HDPE used for piping, house wraps, and siding. The transportation sector used over 4% of plastics in the US in 2017, and the amount of plastic in vehicles increased to 8.6% of the material weight of North American light vehicles in the same year. The cost of collection, separation, and cleaning often exceeds the virgin material cost, resulting in most automotive plastics being landfilled at the end of their life.

The US is a major contributor to the growing global plastic waste problem

The US has seen a significant increase in plastic waste generation over the past few decades, with plastic use in the country more than tripling since the 1980s. This growth has turned plastic waste into one of the biggest environmental issues worldwide, polluting land, oceans, air, and even food and human blood. As one of the world's largest consumers of plastics, the US is a major contributor to the global plastic waste crisis.

The US also struggles with domestic plastic recycling, as the recycling rate has largely stagnated. While the country generates a significant amount of municipal plastic waste, it does not have the capacity to recycle all of it domestically. As a result, the US exports large volumes of plastic waste to other countries, with Canada and Mexico being the main destinations. However, these exports have decreased in recent years due to restrictions on foreign waste imports by China and other Asian countries.

Plastic waste in the US is not limited to the municipal sector. In 2017, 12% of plastics in the US were used in building and construction, and this percentage is increasing. Plastic is also used in the transportation sector, with over 4% of plastics in the US in 2017 being utilised in vehicle production. The variety of plastics used and the cost of collection, separation, and cleaning often result in these plastics being landfilled rather than recycled.

The US exports large volumes of plastic waste to other countries

Canada is the leading destination for scrap plastic exports from the US, with 154 thousand metric tons imported in 2023. Mexico is the second-largest importer of US plastic waste, with 76.2 thousand tons imported in the same year. China was once the main export destination for much of the world's plastic scrap, but in 2018 it introduced a ban on the import of such materials. Since then, plastic waste exports from the US have dropped considerably.

Plastic use in buildings is increasing

The U.S. has a significant plastic problem, with plastic waste becoming one of the biggest environmental issues worldwide. Global plastic production has soared in the past half-century, and plastic use in the U.S. has more than tripled since the 1980s. In 2019, U.S. plastic waste generation was estimated at 73 million metric tons, corresponding to more than 220 kilograms per inhabitant. Of the 40 million tons of municipal plastic waste estimated to be generated in the U.S. in 2021, at least 80% was expected to be sent to landfill sites. The domestic plastic recycling rate has stagnated, and the U.S. does not have the capacity to recycle all its waste domestically. As a result, the U.S. exports large volumes of plastic waste to other countries, with Canada and Mexico being the main destinations.

The problem of plastic waste in the U.S. is bigger than previously believed. NREL estimates the amount of plastic waste in the United States at 44 million metric tons. With plastics demand showing little sign of slowing down, U.S. plastic waste generation is projected to surpass 140 million metric tons by 2060. This growth in plastic waste generation is contributing to the growing global plastic waste problem, polluting land, oceans, air, and even food and human blood.

Plastic waste in vehicles is increasing

Plastic waste in the United States is a significant issue, with the country being one of the world's largest consumers of plastics. In 2019, U.S. plastic waste generation was estimated at 73 million metric tons, corresponding to more than 220 kilograms per inhabitant. This is a five-fold increase since 1980, and the problem is only projected to get worse, with U.S. plastic waste generation expected to surpass 140 million metric tons by 2060.

The transportation sector is a major contributor to this growing problem, with the amount of plastic in vehicles increasing. In 2017, the transportation sector used over 4% of plastics in the U.S., primarily in the production of vehicles. The large variety of plastics used and the cost of collection, separation, and cleaning often mean that most automotive plastics end up in landfills at the end of their life.

The use of plastic in buildings is also increasing, with 12% of plastics in the U.S. in 2017 going into building and construction. This plastic is primarily used as PVC and HDPE for piping, house wraps, and siding, as well as PUR for insulation. The recovery of these materials at the end of their life is challenging, as building demolition often produces mixed waste with low fractions of plastics, and some types of plastics used in construction, such as PVC and PUR thermosets, cannot be easily recycled.

As a result of these increasing sources of plastic waste, the U.S. is struggling to keep up with the demand for recycling. While the domestic plastic recycling rate has mostly stagnated, the U.S. exports large volumes of plastic waste every year to other countries, with Canada and Mexico being the main destinations. However, these exports have fallen in recent years as many countries, led by China, have restricted foreign waste imports. This has left the U.S. with a growing plastic waste problem and a lack of capacity to recycle all its waste domestically.

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