The Plastic Waste Crisis: How Much Do We Throw Away?

Plastic is a valuable resource, but plastic pollution is an unnecessary and unsustainable waste of that resource. Since the 1950s, 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic have been produced, and 79% of this plastic still sits in landfills or the natural environment. In the US, the number of plastic water bottles sold grew from 4 billion in 1997 to an estimated 26 billion in 2005, while the number thrown away increased from 3.4 billion to 22 billion. Americans purchase about 50 billion water bottles per year, and throw away 25 billion Styrofoam coffee cups every year.

Plastic water bottles: 22 billion were thrown away in the US in 2005

Plastic water bottles are a huge contributor to plastic waste. In 2005, 22 billion plastic water bottles were thrown away in the US. This was an increase from 3.4 billion in 1997, and the number sold in the US has also grown from 4 billion in 1997 to an estimated 26 billion in 2005.

The US is not the only country with a plastic bottle waste problem. In 2021, more than 60 million plastic bottles ended up in landfills and incinerators every day worldwide, with a total of about 22 billion for the year. Plastic bottles are clogging the streams and tributaries that feed into America's rivers and are finding their way into the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. From there, they are reaching the shores of island communities and coastal countries that are only just beginning to experience the problems associated with plastic beverage bottle waste.

The problem is not just the amount of plastic being thrown away, but also the fact that it is not being disposed of properly. Plastic is a valuable resource, but plastic pollution is an unnecessary and unsustainable waste of that resource. It is estimated that around 50% of plastic is used just once and thrown away, and packaging accounts for just over 40% of total plastic usage.

To reduce plastic bottle waste, people can use reusable water bottles instead of single-use plastic ones. By using a reusable water bottle, an average of 156 plastic bottles can be saved annually.

Plastic foam: 26 million US tons of polystyrene are produced each year

The issue of plastic waste is not limited to the US. It is a global problem, with 8.3 billion metric tons (9.1 billion US tons) of plastic produced since the 1950s. Of this, 79% still sits in landfills or the natural environment. Americans purchase about 50 billion water bottles per year, and it is estimated that around 50% of plastic is used just once and thrown away. This "disposable" lifestyle is an environmental issue, with packaging accounting for just over 40% of total plastic usage.

Plastic coffee cups: Americans throw away 25 billion Styrofoam cups annually

Plastic is cheap and versatile, but these qualities have also made it an environmental issue. It is estimated that around 50% of plastic is used just once and thrown away. Packaging is the largest end-use market segment, accounting for just over 40% of total plastic usage.

Plastic coffee cups are a prime example of this. Americans throw away around 25 billion Styrofoam cups every year. This is a huge amount, especially when you consider that Styrofoam is not easily recyclable and can take hundreds of years to break down.

The problem of plastic waste is not limited to coffee cups. Plastic water bottles are also a major contributor to plastic pollution. In the US, the number of plastic water bottles sold grew from 4 billion in 1997 to an estimated 26 billion in 2005, while the number thrown away increased from 3.4 billion to 22 billion. More than 60 million plastic bottles end up in landfills and incinerators every day.

This plastic bottle waste is not just a national problem in the US; it's a national disgrace. Without a nationwide system of deposits, expansion of existing deposit laws, or some other dramatic new collection infrastructure, America faces a growing mountain of plastic bottle waste with all of the resulting social and environmental consequences.

Plastic packaging: the largest end-use market segment, accounting for 40% of plastic usage

Plastic packaging is the largest end-use market segment, accounting for just over 40% of total plastic usage. This is a huge problem, as plastic is cheap and versatile, but these qualities have also resulted in it becoming an environmental issue. Plastic is often used just once and thrown away, with around 50% of plastic being single-use.

In the US, plastic bottle waste is a particular problem. The number of plastic water bottles sold in the US grew from 4 billion in 1997 to an estimated 26 billion in 2005, while the number thrown away increased from 3.4 billion to 22 billion. More than 60 million plastic bottles end up in landfills and incinerators every day, and plastic bottles are clogging the streams and tributaries that feed into America's rivers. From there, they are finding their way into the oceans and onto the shores of island communities and coastal countries.

Americans purchase about 50 billion water bottles per year, which averages about 13 bottles per month for every person in the US. This means that by using a reusable water bottle, an average of 156 plastic bottles could be saved annually. Americans also throw away around 25 billion Styrofoam coffee cups every year.

Since the 1950s, 8.3 billion metric tons (9.1 billion US tons) of plastic have been produced. 79% of plastic that has ever been made still sits in landfills or the natural environment, with a small amount being incinerated or recycled.

Plastic pollution: 79% of plastic ever made still sits in landfills or the natural environment

Plastic pollution is a huge problem. Since plastic was introduced in the 1950s, 8.3 billion metric tons (9.1 billion US tons) of plastic have been produced. Of this, 79% still sits in landfills or the natural environment.

The world produces more than 26 million US tons of polystyrene (plastic foam) each year. Americans throw away around 25 billion Styrofoam coffee cups every year. In the US, the number of plastic water bottles sold grew from 4 billion in 1997 to an estimated 26 billion in 2005, while the number thrown away increased from 3.4 billion to 22 billion. More than 60 million plastic bottles end up in landfills and incinerators every day. Six times as many plastic water bottles were thrown away in the US in 2004 as in 1997. Plastic water bottles are clogging the streams and tributaries that feed into America's rivers and are finding their way into the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Around 50% of plastic is used just once and thrown away. Packaging is the largest end-use market segment, accounting for just over 40% of total plastic usage.

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