Plastic Recycling In The Usa: How Much Is Actually Recycled?

Plastic pollution is a pressing environmental issue, and the United States has a poor record when it comes to recycling plastic waste. In 2021, only about 5% of 51 million tons of plastic waste in the US was recycled, according to a Greenpeace report. This figure has been declining in recent years, and the recycling rate for two of the most common forms of plastic in the US is also low, at under 20.9% and 10.3% respectively. With the rise of single-use plastics and low disposal fees, the issue of plastic waste in the US is a growing concern.

The US recycled 5% of plastic waste in 2021

In 2021, the US recycled only 5% of its plastic waste, according to a study by environmental advocacy group Greenpeace. This amounts to just over 2 million tons of plastic waste out of 51 million tons.

The US Department of Energy reached the same conclusion in a research paper analysing data from 2019.

The recycling rate for two of the most common forms of plastic in America, polyethylene terephthalate and high-density polyethylene, is also low. Despite being frequently referred to as recyclable, their recycling rates stand at about 20.9% and 10.3% respectively. The reprocessing rate for all other forms of plastic is lower still, at under 5%.

Judith Enck, president of Beyond Plastics, a non-profit that aims to reduce single-use plastic use and production, has said that "only 5% to 6% of plastics actually gets recycled in the United States". She attributes this to the misleading arrow symbol, which leads consumers to overwhelm recycling plants with plastic items they can't process.

Landfilled plastic waste is on the rise

The low recycling rates are due to a number of factors, including population growth, consumer preference for single-use plastics, and low disposal fees in certain parts of the country. In addition, the misleading arrow symbol leads consumers to overwhelm recycling plants with plastic items they can’t process, according to Judith Enck, president of Beyond Plastics, a non-profit that aims to reduce single-use plastic use and production.

Two of the most common forms of plastic in America, polyethylene terephthalate and high-density polyethylene, are frequently referred to as recyclable, but the report determined that despite their frequent delivery to recycling plants, they are not actually recycled enough to meet the standard. Their recycling rate stands at about 20.9% and 10.3%, respectively. The reprocessing rate for all other forms of plastic is lower still, at under 5%.

The recycling symbol is misleading

In 2021, only about 5% of 51 million tons of plastic waste in the USA was recycled. This is a decline from a high of 9.5% in 2014 and 8.7% in 2018.

Two of the most common forms of plastic in America, polyethylene terephthalate and high-density polyethylene, are frequently referred to as recyclable, but they are not actually recycled enough to meet the standard. Their recycling rate stands at about 20.9% and 10.3% respectively. The reprocessing rate for all other forms of plastic is lower still, at under 5%.

The low recycling rates of plastic in the USA are due to a number of factors, including population growth, consumer preference for single-use plastics, and low disposal fees in certain parts of the country.

The recycling rate of polyethylene terephthalate is 20.9%

In 2021, only about 5% of the USA's plastic waste was recycled, according to a Greenpeace report. This amounts to a little over 2 million tons of plastic waste. The recycling rate has been steadily declining over the years, reaching a high of 9.5% in 2014 and 8.7% in 2018.

Two of the most common forms of plastic in the USA are polyethylene terephthalate and high-density polyethylene. Despite being frequently referred to as recyclable, they are not recycled enough to meet the standard. The recycling rate of polyethylene terephthalate is 20.9%, while that of high-density polyethylene is 10.3%. The reprocessing rate for all other forms of plastic is even lower, at under 5%.

The low recycling rates of plastic in the USA can be attributed to various factors, including population growth, consumer preference for single-use plastics, and low disposal fees in certain parts of the country. The misleading arrow symbol on plastic products has also led consumers to overwhelm recycling plants with items that cannot be processed.

The challenges in recycling plastics arise from the diverse range of chemical additives used to impart specific properties, such as softness or fire resistance. These additives make it nearly impossible to recycle different types of plastics together.

The recycling rate of high-density polyethylene is 10.3%

Only 5% of plastic in the US is recycled. However, the recycling rate of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) is 10.3%. HDPE is a popular plastic type due to its strength and flexibility. It is commonly referred to as polyethylene, but is marginally different from low-density polyethylene (LDPE). HDPE is used to make everything from milk and shampoo bottles to pipes and wheelie bins. It is a tough, hard-wearing plastic with high tensile strength that resists tearing or bursting.

HDPE can be recycled numerous times before it is no longer of value. Recycled HDPE is just as useful as it can be used for a wide range of products. It is often recycled into bottles, pens, plastic lumber, picnic tables, rope, toys, piping, decking, bike racks, plastic fencing, benches, furniture, recycling bins, and trash cans, to name a few.

Businesses, plants, and manufacturing facilities must invest time and resources into establishing a closed-loop HDPE recycling system that benefits the environment. Many high-density recycling companies offer pick-up services for companies that produce HDPE at large rates. In fact, you may even be able to sell your scrap HDPE for a profit as this material is in high demand!

Frequently asked questions