A Month's Plastic Trail: One Person's Trash Legacy

Plastic is a relatively new invention, with some of the first examples dating back to the late 1800s. However, its versatility, durability, and low production cost have made it one of the most widely used materials in modern times. The average person in western Europe consumes around 150kg of plastic annually, more than twice the global average of 60kg. This plastic waste often ends up in landfills or the natural environment, contributing to pollution and climate change. While there are efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastic, it is estimated that each person in the US consumes about 13 plastic water bottles per month, highlighting the magnitude of the problem.

Plastic consumption in Western Europe

Plastic consumption has increased rapidly since the 1950s due to its desirable properties, such as a high strength-to-weight ratio, impermeability to liquids, and resistance to degradation. It is a versatile and inexpensive material used in various sectors, including construction, healthcare, food packaging, furniture, and textiles. The production of plastic is projected to continue increasing, with global annual production expected to reach up to 1.2 billion tonnes by 2050.

The consequences of this high plastic consumption are significant. Plastic waste has become a major environmental concern, polluting seas, soils, rivers, and oceans. In 2019, about 22 million tonnes of plastic ended up in these ecosystems, and this leakage is projected to double by 2060. The durability of plastics means that discarded items persist in the environment for generations, contributing to the growing issue of plastic pollution.

To address this issue, the European Union (EU) has implemented strategies to reduce plastic waste and promote circularity. The EU's plastics strategy, as part of the circular economy action plan, includes targets such as reducing plastic litter at sea by 50% and microplastics released into the environment by 30%. The EU has also set targets for recycled content in plastic bottles and overall packaging waste reduction. Additionally, the Green Deal aims for 55% of plastic packaging waste to be recycled by 2030.

However, the EU faces challenges in plastic waste management. Currently, the most common method of disposing of plastic waste in Europe is energy recovery through incineration, while recycling is the second most common method. The low recycling rate in the EU results in significant economic and environmental losses, with only about 9% of plastics ever produced being recycled globally. To improve recycling rates, the EU has adopted new rules, such as stricter requirements for waste shipments outside the EU and prohibiting plastic waste exports to non-OECD countries.

Plastic waste in the US

Plastic waste is a critical global issue, with the material now ubiquitous in daily life. The US is one of the world's largest consumers of plastic, with a high per-capita waste generation rate. In 2019, the US generated an estimated 73 million metric tons of plastic waste, equating to over 220 kilograms per person. This was approximately five times the global average per capita.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the amount of plastic waste in the country's municipal solid waste system has grown continuously since 1960, with the most significant increases between 1980 and 2000. Plastic waste increased from 0.4% of total municipal solid waste in 1960 to 12.2% in 2018, reaching 13.2% in 2017. This waste predominantly consists of containers and packaging, including single-use products like bags, wraps, and bottles.

The production, use, and disposal of mono-material and multi-material plastic products result in plastic waste. Mono-material products are made from a single resin type, while multi-material products contain multiple resin types, paper, or metal. Plastic resins are used in various containers and packaging, such as beverage bottles, milk and water bottles, bags, sacks, wraps, and lids. Nondurable goods, like plastic plates, cups, trash bags, and disposable diapers, have a lifespan of less than three years. Durable goods, such as appliances, furniture, carpets, and consumer electronics, are used for more than three years.

The US has taken some steps to address plastic pollution. The US EPA has created a National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution, aiming to reduce pollution during production, improve post-use materials management, and prevent trash and micro/nanoplastics from entering the environment. By encouraging a circular economy for plastics, where they are reused and recycled, the US could significantly reduce the volume of plastics entering oceans and emissions by 2040.

Plastic in the ocean

Plastic has become an integral part of our lives, with its use in construction, home appliances, medical instruments, and food packaging. However, this convenience comes at a cost to the environment, especially our oceans.

The world produces over 450 million tons of plastic annually, with a sharp increase in production over the last 70 years. While plastic has added value to our lives, it becomes an environmental pollutant when not adequately managed. Rich countries produce the most plastic waste per person, but the mismanagement of waste, which leads to pollution, is more common in low-to-middle-income countries. This mismanagement includes the failure to recycle, incinerate, or store plastic waste in sealed landfills. As a result, plastic ends up in the ocean, with an estimated 1-2 million tons of plastic entering the oceans each year.

The impact of this plastic pollution on marine life is devastating. It is estimated that thousands of seabirds, sea turtles, seals, and other marine mammals die each year from ingesting plastic or becoming entangled in it. Plastic ingestion reduces the storage volume of the stomach, leading to starvation in seabirds. Endangered species, such as the Hawaiian monk seal and the Pacific loggerhead sea turtle, are among the nearly 700 species that eat and get caught in plastic litter. Microplastics, particles 5 millimeters or less in width, are a significant concern as they can mimic fish eggs and other tiny organisms, leading to consumption by marine life. These microplastics can absorb harmful pollutants like pesticides and dyes, releasing them into the ocean.

To address this crisis, a combination of individual actions and systemic change is necessary. Individuals can reduce their plastic use, reuse and recycle plastic items, and participate in cleanup efforts. However, the most significant impact will come from large-scale actions led by governments and industries. By implementing policies and regulations, such as the U.S. National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution, and transitioning to a circular economy for plastics, we can significantly reduce the volume of plastics entering our oceans.

Plastic recycling

While I wasn't able to find an exact figure for how much plastic one person produces in a month, I can provide some information on plastic recycling.

The global use of plastic exceeds that of most other man-made materials in nearly all industrial sectors, including transportation, food delivery, construction, home appliances, and medical instruments. The production of plastic has sharply increased over the last 70 years, growing from 2 million tonnes in 1950 to over 450 million tonnes today. The design potential, diversity, flexibility, low cost, and durability of plastics have led to their widespread adoption.

However, plastic waste often ends up in landfills or the natural environment at the end of its life. Plastic waste can also be incinerated or recycled, but only about 9% of all the plastic waste ever produced has been recycled, and only about 1% has been recycled more than once. The remaining waste is either sent to landfills, incinerated, openly burned, dumped in unsanitary landfills, or leaked into the environment.

To improve plastic recycling rates, some regulations and initiatives have been implemented. For example, the U.S. EPA has created a National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution, which aims to reduce pollution during plastic production, improve post-use materials management, and prevent trash and micro/nanoplastics from entering the environment. Additionally, the U.S. Society of the Plastics Industry created the Council for Solid Waste Solutions in 1988 to promote plastic recycling to the public and lobby for the expansion of plastic waste collection programs.

To optimize the lifespan of plastics, individuals can reuse and recycle plastic items as many times as possible. Plastic bottles, for instance, are usually made from two types of plastic that are easy to recycle: PET and HDPE. Many local authorities now offer collection facilities for plastic bottles, and some also accept mixed plastics packaging such as pots, tubs, and trays. Additionally, some supermarkets and retailers have started collecting a wider range of plastic bags and wrappings, or "soft plastics," for recycling.

Plastic production

The proliferation of plastic products in the last several decades has been extraordinary. Humans are addicted to this versatile, sterile, and incredibly cheap material. It is used in a tremendous array of products and technological advances, providing many societal benefits. Plastic has a high performance-to-weight ratio, making it ideal for transportation and food delivery. It is also used in construction, home appliances, medical instruments, and food packaging.

However, the durability of plastics means that discarded items remain in the environment for generations. Plastic waste is a significant issue, with over 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic produced since the 1950s. Of this, 79% still sits in landfills or the natural environment, with only a small amount being incinerated or recycled. The mismanagement of plastic waste, including improper recycling, incineration, or disposal in sealed landfills, leads to environmental pollution. It is estimated that between one and two million tonnes of plastic enter our oceans yearly, with plastic constituting 85% of marine litter from land-based sources.

To address this problem, the U.S. EPA has created a National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution, aiming to reduce pollution during production, improve post-use materials management, and prevent plastic from entering the environment. Similarly, the EU is taking action to tackle plastic pollution and marine litter through its plastics strategy and Zero Pollution Action Plan. By transitioning to a circular economy, where plastic is reused and recycled, significant reductions in plastic pollution, GHG emissions, and waste management costs can be achieved.

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