The Plastic Problem: North America's Plastic Pollution Crisis

North America, comprising Canada, the United States, and Mexico, is the world's second-largest plastic-producing region, accounting for 17% of global plastics production in 2022. The United States, in particular, is one of the world's largest consumers of plastics, with plastic use more than tripling since the 1980s. In 2019, the U.S. generated an estimated 73 million metric tons of plastic waste, corresponding to over 220 kilograms per inhabitant, roughly five times the global average. This waste primarily ends up in landfills, with a small portion being recycled or exported to other countries.

Plastic waste generation in the US

Plastic waste is a significant issue in the United States, with the country being one of the world's largest consumers of plastics. The problem has increased dramatically over the years, with US plastic waste generation experiencing a five-fold increase since 1980, when the country produced 7.4 million tons of plastic waste. By 2014, this figure had risen to 35.7 million tons, and in 2016, the US generated 42 million metric tons of plastic waste, or 286 pounds per person. In 2019, the US plastic waste generation was estimated at 73 million metric tons, corresponding to more than 220 kilograms per inhabitant. This was roughly five times the global average per capita.

The recycling rate for plastics in the US is extremely low, with only about 5-6% of plastic waste recycled in 2021, a decrease from the already low rate of 8.7% in 2018. This is partly due to a sharp drop in plastic waste exports, as countries like China and Turkey have banned plastic waste imports, and other countries have set plastic waste contamination limits under the Basel Convention Plastic Waste Amendments. The US does not have the capacity to recycle all its waste domestically and has been exporting large volumes to other countries, particularly in Asia and Africa. However, even the plastic waste that makes it to recycling facilities isn't all recycled, with 30-36% of PET bottles being wasted during the process.

The low recycling rates in the US are attributed to a variety of factors, including the complexity of plastic recycling, the prevalence of single-use plastic, and misinformation campaigns by the petrochemical and plastic industry perpetuating the myth that plastic is recyclable. The situation is further exacerbated by the lack of standardised definitions for recyclability, with different organisations having varying criteria.

The plastic waste generated in the US has severe environmental and health impacts, with plastic pollution reaching land, oceans, and even the air and food supply. The US is the third-largest contributor to plastic pollution in coastal environments, with up to 1 million metric tons of US-generated plastic waste polluting environments beyond its borders. The energy embodied in the waste plastic, indicating the manufacturing energy required, equates to about 12% of the country's energy consumption by the industrial sector.

To address the plastic waste crisis, experts recommend transitioning to systems of reuse and refill instead of relying solely on recycling. Developing new products that utilise specific plastics can encourage their sorting and collection, and advanced sorting technologies can increase the use of recycled materials. Additionally, reducing the consumption of single-use plastics, particularly in the food service industry, is crucial to mitigating the environmental and health impacts of plastic waste.

Plastic waste exports from the US

The United States is one of the world's largest consumers of plastics, with plastic use in the country more than tripling since the 1980s. In 2019, US plastic waste generation was estimated at 73 million metric tons, corresponding to more than 220 kilograms per inhabitant. This was roughly five times the global average per capita plastic waste generation. The US is also the third-largest contributor to plastic pollution in coastal environments.

Despite being one of the largest producers of plastic waste, the US does not have the capacity to recycle all of its waste domestically. In 2021, the US recycled only 5-6% of its plastic waste, with at least 85% going to landfills. The domestic plastic recycling rate has mostly stagnated, and the US exports large volumes of plastic waste every year to countries around the world. In 2023, the US exported around 920 million pounds of scrap plastic, with neighbouring countries Canada and Mexico being the leading destinations. Asian countries such as India, Malaysia, and Vietnam received the second-largest share of US plastic scrap exports.

Previously, China was the main destination for US plastic waste until a total ban on recovered plastic imports was imposed in January 2018. This has put further strain on the already struggling US recycling system, with US plastic waste exports decreasing from 1.84 million tons in 2017 to 0.61 million tons in 2021. In response, the US has started directing its plastic waste exports to countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Thailand. However, these countries have also become overwhelmed by the large amounts of plastic being shipped from developed countries worldwide.

The US continues to export plastic waste to countries with poor waste management systems, contributing to global pollution levels. Up to 1 million metric tons of US-generated plastic waste is estimated to have polluted the environment beyond its borders in 2016. As one of the largest sources of plastic pollution, the US's plastic waste problem extends beyond its own borders and impacts coastal environments worldwide.

Plastic waste in US landfills

Plastic waste is a growing problem in the United States, with the country being one of the world's largest consumers of plastics. In 2019, US plastic waste generation was estimated at 73 million metric tons, which equates to more than 220 kilograms per inhabitant. This was roughly five times the global average per capita. The demand for plastics in the US is not slowing down, and it is projected that US plastic waste generation will surpass 140 million metric tons by 2060.

Plastics are a rapidly growing segment of municipal solid waste (MSW). In 2018, the containers and packaging category had the most plastic tonnage at over 14.5 million tons. This category includes bags, sacks, wraps, other packaging, bottles, and jars. Plastic waste has increased five-fold in the US from 1980 to 2018, with the country producing 7.4 million tons of plastic waste in 1980, and 35.7 million tons in 2018.

The US does not have the capacity to recycle all its waste domestically and has to export large volumes of plastic waste to other countries. In 2019, only about 5% of waste plastic in the US was recycled, while 86% was sent to landfills. The rate of plastic recycling decreased from 8.7% in 2018 to 5-6% in 2021. The low level of plastic recycling is partly due to a "decades-long misinformation campaign to perpetuate the myth that plastic is recyclable." The three-arrow recycling symbol is misleading, as most municipalities recycle only certain types of plastics.

The amount of plastic waste in landfills correlates with population size. California, Texas, and Florida are the three most populous states and also have the largest amount of landfilled plastic waste. New York, the fourth most populous state, ships much of its waste outside the state. The market value of landfilled plastic ranges from $4.5 billion to $9.9 billion, or $7.2 billion on average. The energy embodied in the waste plastic equates to about 12% of the country's energy consumption by the industrial sector.

The economic opportunities of recovering the value of plastic waste through different processes could be a solution to the problem. Developing new recycling techniques for plastics would encourage a circular economy, where discarded items are reused instead of virgin plastics.

Plastic recycling rates in the US

The low recycling rates for plastics in the US are particularly concerning given the country's high consumption and generation of plastic waste. In 2018, plastics generation in the US was 35.7 million tons, accounting for 12.2% of municipal solid waste (MSW) generation. The containers and packaging category had the most plastic tonnage, with over 14.5 million tons. This includes items such as bags, sacks, wraps, bottles, and jars.

The US is one of the world's largest consumers of plastics, with plastic use more than tripling since the 1980s. In 2019, US plastic waste generation was estimated at 73 million metric tons, corresponding to more than 220 kilograms per inhabitant. This was roughly five times the global average per capita. With plastics demand expected to continue rising, US plastic waste generation is projected to exceed 140 million metric tons by 2060.

The domestic plastic recycling capacity in the US has not kept pace with the increasing plastic waste generation. As a result, the US has been exporting large volumes of plastic waste to other countries, particularly China, and more recently to its North American neighbours, Canada and Mexico. However, with China's restriction on foreign waste imports, the US's already struggling recycling system has faced further challenges.

To address the growing plastic waste problem, the US has taken some initiatives, such as the National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution by the EPA, and the U.S. Plastics Pact, which aims to create a circular economy for plastic packaging. These efforts focus on reducing non-recyclable plastic packaging, increasing the use of post-consumer recycled content, improving recycling technologies, and enhancing communication to educate Americans about recycling plastic packaging effectively.

Plastic waste pollution in the US

Plastic waste is a significant environmental issue in the US, with the country being one of the world's largest consumers of plastics. In 2019, US plastic waste generation was estimated at 73 million metric tons, which equates to more than 220 kilograms per person. This was approximately five times the global average per capita.

The US has increased its plastic waste generation by five times since 1980, with plastic use more than tripling since the 1980s. This makes the US a major contributor to the growing global plastic waste problem. The demand for plastics is not showing any signs of slowing down, and it is projected that US plastic waste generation will surpass 140 million metric tons by 2060.

The US does not have the capacity to recycle all of its plastic waste domestically. In 2021, the US recycled only 5-6% of its plastic waste, with at least 80% sent to landfill sites. The US exports large volumes of plastic waste to other countries, with Canada and Mexico being the main destinations. However, with China restricting foreign waste imports, the US has seen a decrease in its exports of plastic waste. This has put a strain on the already struggling US recycling system.

Plastic waste has severe environmental and health impacts. It pollutes land, oceans, air, food, and even human blood. Marine life is particularly affected by plastic pollution, with thousands of sea mammals and fish dying each year due to plastic waste in the ocean. Plastic waste from land-based sources, such as littering, mismanaged waste, and industrial activities, ends up in oceans and waterways, contributing to the pollution.

To address the issue of plastic waste pollution, the US has joined other countries in adopting a resolution on plastic pollution at the United Nations Environmental Assembly (UNEA) in 2022. The resolution aims to develop a new international agreement on plastic pollution by the end of 2024. Additionally, the US has funded community-led projects in Central America and the Dominican Republic to improve waste management and address land-based sources of marine debris.

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