Plastic Manufacturing In The Us: Understanding The Scale

Plastic is a rapidly growing segment of municipal solid waste (MSW) in the US, with plastic waste generation estimated at 73 million metric tons in 2019, corresponding to more than 220 kilograms per inhabitant. This was roughly five times the global average per capita. As one of the world's largest consumers of plastics, the US is a major contributor to the growing global plastic waste problem. Plastic waste has numerous negative environmental and health impacts, with plastic pollution in oceans affecting marine life, including sea turtles, cetaceans, and marine birds. The US has taken some steps to address plastic pollution, with the EPA releasing a National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution, which aims to reduce pollution during production and improve post-use materials management. However, the recycling rate of plastics in the US remains relatively low, with only about 5% of waste plastic recycled in 2019, while 86% was landfilled.

Plastic waste in the US

Plastic waste has numerous negative environmental and health impacts, with plastic pollution contaminating land, oceans, air, and even food and human blood. One of the most concerning impacts of plastic waste in the US is its effect on marine life. Large amounts of plastic waste leak into the ocean each year, contributing to the death of thousands of sea mammals and fish. Common plastic waste items found along US beaches include cigarette butts, plastic bottle caps, and food wrappers.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized the growing problem of plastic waste and has released strategies to address plastic pollution, including the "National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution." The EPA's estimates show that plastic waste in the US municipal solid waste system has grown continuously since 1960, with the greatest increases occurring between 1980 and 2000. The recycling rate of plastic waste in the US is relatively small, with an overall rate of 8.7% in 2018. However, the recycling rate for specific types of plastic containers is more significant, with PET bottles and jars at 29.1% and HDPE natural bottles at 29.3% in 2018.

Plastic recycling rates

The low recycling rates for plastics in the US are a cause for concern due to the negative environmental and health impacts of plastic waste. Plastic pollution is a major issue, with large amounts of plastic waste leaking into the ocean each year and contributing to the death of thousands of sea mammals and fish. It is also a significant source of land and air pollution, with plastic waste found in all major municipal solid waste (MSW) categories. The containers and packaging category had the most plastic tonnage, with over 14.5 million tons in 2018. This category includes bags, sacks, wraps, and other packaging, as well as PET bottles and jars, and HDPE natural bottles.

The US Plastics Pact, an organization founded in 2020, has set ambitious targets to address the low recycling rates of plastics in the US. These include a goal to have 100% of plastic packaging be reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025, and to effectively recycle or compost 50% of plastic packaging by the same year. However, despite these efforts, the recycling rate for post-consumer plastic waste in the US fell to just 5-6% in 2021, while the per capita generation of plastic waste has increased by 263% since 1980.

With plastics demand showing little sign of slowing down, the US will need to address its low plastic recycling rates and high waste generation to prevent further negative environmental and health impacts.

Plastic production in the US

Plastic production and consumption have soared in the past few decades and are now ubiquitous in daily life. This growth has seen plastic waste become one of the biggest environmental issues worldwide, polluting land, oceans, air, and even food and human blood.

The US is one of the world's largest consumers of plastics, with plastic use in the country more than tripling since the 1980s. North America has the highest annual per capita plastic use in the world at 139 kg, which is 19% of global plastic production and 21% of use. 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 more than the global average per capita plastic waste generation.

The primary data source on the generation of plastics in the US is the American Chemistry Council. In 2018, plastic generation was 35.7 million tons in the US, which was 12.2% of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generation. While the amount of recycled plastics is relatively small, some specific types of plastic containers have a higher recycling rate. For example, the recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1% in 2018, and the rate for HDPE natural bottles was 29.3%.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the "National Strategy to Prevent Plastic Pollution," which focuses on actions to eliminate the release of plastic pollution into the environment. The strategy has three key objectives: reducing pollution during plastic production, improving post-use materials management, and preventing trash and micro/nanoplastics from entering oceans and other natural environments.

Environmental impact of plastic

Plastic pollution is a pressing environmental issue, with plastic waste polluting land, oceans, air, and even food and human blood. As one of the world's largest consumers of plastic, the United States plays a significant role in this global problem. In 2019, U.S. plastic waste generation was estimated at 73 million metric tons, which equates to more than 220 kilograms per person. This is approximately five times the global average per capita.

The environmental impact of plastic waste is far-reaching and poses risks to both human health and nature. Plastic pollution can persist in the environment for 100 to 1,000 years or more, fragmenting into smaller pieces known as microplastics and nanoplastics. These microscopic particles have infiltrated every ecosystem on Earth, from the Antarctic tundra to tropical coral reefs. The infiltration of microplastics and nanoplastics into ecosystems can alter habitats and natural processes, reducing their ability to adapt to climate change. This directly affects the livelihoods, food production capabilities, and social well-being of millions of people.

Marine life is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of plastic pollution. Every day, the equivalent of 2,000 garbage trucks full of plastic is dumped into the oceans, rivers, and lakes worldwide. This plastic waste contributes to the deaths of thousands of sea mammals and fish each year, as they ingest plastic, suffocate, or become entangled in it. More than 1,500 species in marine environments have been found to ingest plastic, highlighting the pervasive nature of this issue.

In addition to its ecological consequences, plastic pollution has economic and social implications. The cleanup of plastic-polluted areas incurs significant costs, and the impact on marine life can disrupt fisheries and aquaculture, affecting food security and livelihoods. Furthermore, the production and conversion of fossil fuels into new plastic products contribute to global greenhouse gas emissions. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) estimated that in 2019, plastic products were responsible for 3.4% of these emissions, with 90% coming from the production and conversion of fossil fuels. Without intervention, the global plastics industry is projected to account for up to 15% of global carbon emissions by 2050.

Plastic use in packaging

Plastic is a versatile, durable, and affordable material that has become indispensable in manufacturing, packaging, and construction. The plastic industry in the US is a cornerstone of the economy, generating over a million jobs.

Plastic packaging is a significant part of the plastic industry, accounting for just over 40% of total plastic usage. The containers and packaging category had the most plastic tonnage at over 14.5 million tons in 2018. This includes bags, sacks, wraps, bottles, jars, and other containers. Plastic resins are used in a variety of packaging products, such as PET beverage bottles, HDPE bottles for milk and water, and other resin types used in plastic containers, bags, sacks, and lids. The demand for these thermoplastic polymers is high, with 113 million pounds produced in 2023.

The use of plastic in packaging has come under scrutiny due to its environmental impact. Plastic waste is a significant issue, with a large portion of plastic packaging being disposed of after one use. This contributes to pollution and has economic costs, with the loss to the economy estimated at up to $120 billion annually. The recycling rate of plastic packaging is relatively low, with only 8.7% of plastic recycled in 2018. However, there are efforts to improve this, with policies and technologies being implemented to increase recycling and reduce plastic waste.

To address the environmental impact of plastic packaging, some manufacturers are redesigning products to use less plastic and be more easily reused or recycled. There is also a push to replace "unnecessary and problematic" plastics with more sustainable alternatives. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) plans are being adopted, requiring producers of plastic packaging to provide funding for the management of these materials after their initial use. The goal is to move towards a circular economy, where plastic waste is reused or recycled instead of virgin plastics.

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