The Plastic Problem: America's Production Crisis

Plastic waste is one of the biggest environmental issues worldwide, polluting land, oceans, air, and even food and human blood. The United States is one of the world's largest consumers of plastics, with plastics use in the country more than tripling since the 1980s. In 2023, North America accounted for 17% of global plastic materials production, with plastics production in the U.S. totalling 130 billion pounds. In 2019, U.S. plastic waste generation was estimated at 73 million metric tons, corresponding to more than 220 kilograms per inhabitant.

Plastic waste exports

The United States is one of the world's largest consumers of plastic, with its use of the material more than tripling since the 1980s. In 2019, the US generated an estimated 73 million metric tons of plastic waste, which equates to more than 220 kilograms per inhabitant. In 2023, North America accounted for 17% of global plastic materials production, with plastics production in the US totalling 130 billion pounds. Of this amount, 113 million pounds were thermoplastic polymers such as Polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

The US has a significant plastic waste problem, with plastic waste increasing five-fold between 1980 and 2018. In 1980, the US produced 7.4 million tons of plastic waste, which grew to 35.7 million tons in 2018. This increase in plastic waste has resulted in the US becoming a major contributor to the growing global plastic waste problem. Combined with waste exports, the US contributed 2.25 million metric tons of plastic to global pollution levels, with 1.5 million tons ending up in coastal environments that directly feed into the ocean.

The US has struggled to recycle its own plastic waste, with only 5% of its plastic waste being recycled in 2021. The US has relied on other countries, such as China, to accept its waste exports. However, as countries have begun to cease accepting America's waste, the US has seen a decrease in its plastic waste exports, from 1.84 million tons in 2017 to 0.61 million tons in 2021.

Despite the decrease in waste exports, the US continues to face challenges in recycling its own plastic waste due to a lack of recycling facilities and the water-intensive nature of the recycling process. This has resulted in the majority of US plastic waste ending up in landfills, with 85% of plastic waste going to landfills in 2021.

Plastic pollution

The U.S. has played a major role in the global plastics industry, with many of the world's largest plastic manufacturers based in the country, such as Dow Chemical and ExxonMobil. In 2023, North America accounted for 17% of global plastic materials production, with plastics production in the U.S. totalling 130 billion pounds. Of this amount, 113 million pounds were thermoplastic polymers like Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which was the most sought-after polymer worldwide in 2022.

Despite being a major producer and consumer of plastics, the U.S. lacks the infrastructure to recycle all of its own plastic waste. In 2021, it was reported that 85% of U.S. plastic waste went to landfills, with only 5% being recycled. This is partly due to the water-intensive nature of plastic recycling and the lack of recycling facilities in the U.S. As a result, the U.S. has contributed significantly to global plastic pollution levels, with 2.25 million metric tons of plastic ending up in coastal environments that directly feed into the ocean.

Plastic manufacturers

The US is one of the world's largest consumers of plastics, with plastic use in the country more than tripling since the 1980s. This has contributed to the growing global plastic waste problem, with the US generating an estimated 73 million metric tons of plastic waste in 2019, corresponding to more than 220 kilograms per inhabitant. In 2018, plastic generation in the US was 35.7 million tons, which decreased to 35.7 million tons in 2021. The US has also contributed to global plastic pollution levels, with 2.25 million metric tons of plastic ending up in coastal environments that directly feed into the ocean.

Despite a lack of recycling facilities, plastic waste in the US has increased significantly over the years. In 1980, the US produced 7.4 million tons of plastic waste, which grew to 35.7 million tons in 2018. The US doesn't have the capability to recycle all of its own plastic, and the recycling rates have decreased as countries such as China have ceased to accept America's waste.

Plastic recycling

Despite being a major producer of plastic, the U.S. struggles with plastic waste management and recycling. In 2018, plastics generation in the United States was 35.7 million tons, and this number is estimated to have grown to 73 million metric tons in 2019. This corresponds to more than 220 kilograms of plastic waste per inhabitant. The U.S. has also been a significant contributor to global plastic pollution, with 2.25 million metric tons of plastic ending up in coastal environments that directly feed into the ocean.

One of the challenges the U.S. faces is the lack of infrastructure to recycle plastic waste domestically. As countries like China have stopped accepting America's plastic waste, the U.S. has had to reduce its waste exports. However, the U.S. doesn't have the factories or the water resources to build more plastic recycling facilities. This has resulted in a significant increase in plastic waste ending up in landfills, with an estimated 85% of U.S. plastic waste going to landfills in 2021.

To address the plastic waste crisis, the U.S. needs to invest in domestic recycling infrastructure and promote sustainable alternatives to plastic. Improving recycling rates and reducing plastic consumption can help mitigate the environmental impact of plastic waste, which has polluted land, oceans, air, and even food and human blood. By taking proactive measures, the U.S. can reduce its contribution to the global plastic waste problem and protect the environment for future generations.

Plastic waste generation

The U.S. has played a major role in the global plastics industry, with many of the world's largest plastic manufacturers based in the country, such as Dow Chemical and ExxonMobil. In 2023, North America accounted for 17% of global plastic materials production, with U.S. plastics production totalling 130 billion pounds. Of this, 113 million pounds were thermoplastic polymers like Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which was the most sought-after type of polymer worldwide in 2022.

Despite being a major producer and consumer of plastics, the U.S. lacks the infrastructure to recycle all of its own plastic waste. In 2021, it was reported that 85% of U.S. plastic waste ended up in landfills, with only 5% being recycled domestically. The U.S. has historically exported a significant portion of its plastic waste, but this has decreased in recent years as countries like China have stopped accepting America's waste. As a result, the U.S. is a major contributor to global plastic pollution, with 2.25 million metric tons of plastic waste ending up in coastal environments that directly feed into the ocean.

To address the issue of plastic waste generation, the U.S. needs to reduce its consumption of single-use plastics and invest in developing more efficient recycling facilities. By promoting reusable alternatives and implementing policies to reduce plastic waste, the U.S. can help mitigate the environmental impact of plastic pollution on a global scale.

Frequently asked questions