Plastic Waste In America: An Annual Tragedy

Americans throw out 4.9 pounds of trash per person every day, which equates to nearly 1,800 pounds of materials per American every year. In 2018, more than 91% of this waste was landfilled or incinerated. Every 15.5 hours, Americans throw out enough plastic to fill the largest NFL stadium in the country, AT&T Stadium, and the pile grows larger every year.

Plastic bottles: 70 million plastic bottles are thrown away daily in the US

Americans throw out 4.9 pounds of trash per person every day, which equates to nearly 1,800 pounds of materials per American every year. In 2018, more than 91% of plastic was landfilled or incinerated. Every 15.5 hours, Americans throw out enough plastic to fill the largest NFL stadium in the country, AT&T Stadium, and the pile grows larger every year.

Plastic bottles are a huge contributor to this waste. More than 70 million plastic bottles are thrown away each day in the US, with more than 60 million ending up in landfills and incinerators. In 2004, six times as many plastic water bottles were thrown away in the US compared to 1997.

The world produces more than 26 million US tons of polystyrene (plastic foam) each year, and Americans throw away around 25 billion Styrofoam coffee cups annually. In 2017, packaging production was the highest-demanded use for plastic, with 146 million metric tons used.

With plastic demand showing little sign of slowing down, US plastic waste generation is projected to surpass 140 million metric tons by 2060.

Plastic cups: 25 billion Styrofoam coffee cups are thrown away by Americans each year

Americans throw out 4.9 pounds of trash per person every day, which amounts to nearly 1,800 pounds of materials per American every year. The majority of this waste (62%) is dumped into landfills or burned in incinerators. In 2018, more than 91% of plastic was landfilled or incinerated.

The United States' plastic waste generation is projected to surpass 140 million metric tons by 2060. This is roughly five times more than the global average per capita plastic waste generation.

In 2017, packaging production constituted the highest-demanded use for plastic, with 146 million metric tons used. At least 14 million tons of plastic end up in our oceans every year.

Americans throw away 25 billion Styrofoam coffee cups every year. This is a significant contributor to the country's plastic waste problem. These cups are made of polystyrene, a type of plastic foam that is difficult to recycle. As a result, many of these cups end up in landfills, where they break down into tiny toxic particles that contaminate the soil and waterways and enter the food chain when animals accidentally ingest them.

Plastic waste: Americans throw out 4.9 pounds of trash per person every day

Americans throw out 4.9 pounds of trash per person every day, which equates to nearly 1,800 pounds of materials per American every year. This means that every 15.5 hours, Americans throw out enough plastic to fill the largest NFL stadium in the country, AT&T Stadium. The majority of waste (62%) discarded by homes and businesses in the U.S. is ultimately dumped into landfills or burned in incinerators. In 2018, more than 91% of plastic was landfilled or incinerated.

The U.S. threw out over 292 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) in 2018. This is the materials discarded by homes, businesses and institutions, such as universities and libraries.

The world produces more than 26 million US tons of polystyrene (plastic foam) each year. Americans alone throw away around 25 billion Styrofoam coffee cups every year. In 2017, packaging production constituted the highest-demanded use for plastic, with 146 million metric tons used. At least 14 million tons of plastic end up in our oceans every year.

Health-conscious Americans are consuming water from disposable plastic bottles at a rate of more than 70 million bottles each day. More than 60 million plastic bottles end up in landfills and incinerators every day – a total of about 22 billion last year. Six times as many plastic water bottles were thrown away in the US in 2004 as in 1997. With plastics demand showing little signs of slowing down, U.S. plastic waste generation is projected to surpass 140 million metric tons by 2060.

Plastic pollution: 14 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year

Americans throw out 4.9 pounds of trash per person every day, which equates to nearly 1,800 pounds of materials per American every year. In 2018, more than 91% of this waste was landfilled or incinerated. Every 15.5 hours, Americans throw out enough plastic to fill the largest NFL stadium in the country, AT&T Stadium, and the pile grows larger every year.

In 2017, packaging production constituted the highest-demanded use for plastic, with 146 million metric tons used. At least 14 million tons of plastic end up in our oceans every year. Many countries lack the infrastructure to prevent plastic pollution, such as sanitary landfills, incineration facilities, recycling capacity, and circular economy infrastructure. When plastics end up in landfills, they break down into tiny toxic particles that contaminate the soil and waterways and enter the food chain when animals accidentally ingest them.

Health-conscious Americans are consuming water from disposable plastic bottles at a rate of more than 70 million bottles each day, with more than 60 million plastic bottles ending up in landfills and incinerators every day. This amounts to a total of about 22 billion bottles last year. Six times as many plastic water bottles were thrown away in the US in 2004 as in 1997.

With plastics demand showing little sign of slowing down, US plastic waste generation is projected to surpass 140 million metric tons by 2060.

Plastic demand: US plastic waste generation is projected to surpass 140 million metric tons by 2060

Americans throw out 4.9 pounds of trash per person every day, which equates to nearly 1,800 pounds of materials per American every year. In 2018, more than 91% of plastic was landfilled or incinerated. Every 15.5 hours, Americans throw out enough plastic to fill the largest NFL stadium in the country, AT&T Stadium, and the pile grows larger every year.

In 2017, packaging production constituted the highest-demanded use for plastic, with 146 million metric tons used. At least 14 million tons of plastic end up in our oceans every year. The world produces more than 26 million US tons of polystyrene (plastic foam) each year, and Americans throw away around 25 billion Styrofoam coffee cups every year.

Health-conscious Americans are consuming water from disposable plastic bottles at a rate of more than 70 million bottles each day. More than 60 million plastic bottles end up in landfills and incinerators every day, a total of about 22 billion last year.

With plastics demand showing little sign of slowing down, US plastic waste generation is projected to surpass 140 million metric tons by 2060. This is roughly five times more than the global average per capita plastic waste generation.

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