Plastic Pollution Crisis: Pounds Of Plastic In Landfills

Plastic waste is a growing environmental concern, with an estimated 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic produced globally, and mass production of plastics accelerating rapidly. While plastic waste has multiple fates, including recycling, incineration, and landfills, the majority of plastic waste ends up in landfills and the natural environment. In the United States, it is estimated that 40 million tons of plastic waste were generated in 2021, with 85% ending up in landfills. This is a significant issue as plastic waste in landfills contributes to environmental degradation and represents a loss of energy and economic value. Scientists estimate that if current trends continue, there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic in landfills by 2050, highlighting the urgent need for improved plastic waste management and reduced plastic consumption.

Plastic waste in the US: 44 million tons

Plastic waste is a significant issue in the United States, with the country being one of the world's largest consumers of plastic. In 2019, the US generated an estimated 73 million metric tons of plastic waste, which equates to more than 220 kilograms per person. This was approximately five times the global average per capita. The problem is projected only to worsen, with an estimated generation of 140 million metric tons of plastic waste by 2060.

The US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) calculated that the amount of plastic waste in the US is 44 million metric tons. This plastic has a market value of between $4.5 billion and $9.9 billion, or $7.2 billion on average. The energy value of this plastic waste is significant, enough to supply 5% of the power used by the country's transportation sector or 5.5% for the industrial sector.

The majority of this plastic waste ends up in landfills, with only a small percentage being recycled. In 2019, about 86% of plastic waste was sent to landfills, while only 5% was recycled. The low recycling rate is due to several factors, including consumer preference for single-use plastics, low disposal fees in certain areas, and the challenge of effectively separating and recycling specific types of plastics.

The US has seen a five-fold increase in plastic waste from 1980 to 2018, with a peak recycling rate of only 9.5% in 2014. Plastic containers and packaging are the main sources of plastic waste, with over 14.5 million tons generated in 2018. This includes items such as bags, sacks, wraps, bottles, jars, and other containers.

The issue of plastic waste in the US is a pressing one, with economic and environmental implications. The development of new recycling techniques and a reduction in the use of single-use plastics are crucial steps towards addressing this problem.

US recycling rate: 5-8.7%

The recycling rate for plastic waste in the US is extremely low, estimated to be between 5% and 8.7%. This is in contrast to materials like paper, which is recycled at a rate of 66%. While some specific types of plastic containers have higher recycling rates, such as PET bottles and jars at 29.1% and HDPE natural bottles at 29.3%, the overall rate for plastic waste is significantly lower.

The low recycling rate for plastic in the US is concerning, especially considering the high generation of plastic waste. The per capita generation of plastic waste has increased by 263% since 1980, and plastic waste is a rapidly growing segment of municipal solid waste (MSW). In 2018, containers and packaging made up the majority of plastic tonnage in MSW, with over 14.5 million tons. This category includes items such as bags, sacks, wraps, other packaging, and plastic bottles and jars.

The US Plastics Pact has set ambitious goals to address the low recycling rate and reduce plastic waste. They aim to make 100% of plastic packaging reusable, recyclable, or compostable by 2025. Additionally, they plan to recycle or compost 50% of plastic packaging and achieve an average of 30% recycled content or responsibly sourced bio-based content in plastic packaging by the same year.

Despite these efforts, the recycling of plastic waste in the US faces significant challenges. One issue is the failure to properly recycle plastic waste, with millions of tons of plastic waste being exported to other countries like China and counted as recycled without proper infrastructure and processes in place. Improving the recycling process, increasing public awareness, and implementing policies for reusable and recyclable packaging are crucial steps in addressing the low recycling rate and reducing plastic pollution in the US.

Plastic in oceans: 1-2 million tons yearly

Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental issues currently faced by our planet. It is a significant cause of marine species extinction, health problems for humans and animals, and ecosystem destruction. Plastic waste makes up 80% of all marine pollution, and around 1-2 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year.

The plastic in the ocean comes mostly from land. It flows downstream through rivers to the sea, where it may stay in coastal waters before being picked up by rotating ocean currents called gyres and transported anywhere in the world. The biggest garbage patch, the Great Pacific garbage patch, is located between Hawaii and California.

The presence of plastic in the ocean is increasing, despite growing awareness of the dangers it poses. This is due in part to the fact that only about 10% of the plastic produced is recycled. The rest is either incinerated, or sent to landfills, from where it can easily leak into rivers, lakes, and the ocean.

The amount of plastic waste in landfills is also increasing due to low recycling rates, population growth, consumer preference for single-use plastics, and low disposal fees in certain areas. The economic costs of plastic in the ocean are estimated to be between $6-19 billion USD annually, affecting tourism, fisheries, aquaculture, and clean-up operations.

To reduce plastic pollution, waste management strategies need to be improved, and new recycling techniques need to be developed.

Plastic in landfills: 4.9 billion tons

Plastic pollution is a pressing issue, with landfills and the natural environment being the final destinations for over three-quarters of non-degradable plastic trash. As of 2017, the amount of plastic debris in landfills and natural environments was estimated to be 4.9 billion metric tons, with projections indicating that this figure will more than double by 2050 if current trends in plastic production and waste management persist.

The fate of plastic waste falls into three categories: recycling, thermal destruction, and landfills. While recycling is a desirable outcome, the reality is that only a small fraction of plastic waste is recycled effectively. Low recycling rates, consumer preference for single-use plastics, and inadequate disposal fees contribute to the overwhelming presence of plastic in landfills.

In 2019, it was estimated that only about 5% of plastic waste in the United States was recycled, with a staggering 86% ending up in landfills. The remaining 9% was burned to generate electricity. This trend is not unique to the United States; globally, only 9% of plastic waste is recycled, with half going straight to landfills and another fifth being mismanaged, increasing the risk of leakage into rivers, lakes, and oceans.

The presence of plastic in landfills has significant economic implications. The market value of landfilled plastic in the United States ranges from $4.5 billion to $9.9 billion, or $7.2 billion on average. Communities across the country spent about $2.3 billion on plastic waste disposal in 2019 alone. The environmental costs are also considerable, as the production and disposal of plastic contribute to energy consumption and pollution.

Addressing the issue of plastic in landfills requires a multifaceted approach. Strategies should include improving waste management practices, reducing the use of single-use plastics, developing new recycling techniques, and implementing policies to support circular economic models. By tackling these challenges, we can work towards reducing the vast amount of plastic waste that currently resides in landfills.

Plastic waste by state

Plastic waste is a growing problem in the United States. In 1980, the country produced 7.4 million tons of plastic waste, which increased to 35.7 million tons in 2018, and 40 million tons in 2021. The plastic recycling rate has decreased since its peak in 2014, reaching only 9.5%. In 2021, only 5-6% of plastic waste was recycled, with 85% ending up in landfills and 10% being incinerated.

The amount of plastic waste varies across states, with California, Texas, and Florida, the most populous states, also having the largest amount of landfilled plastic waste. New York, the fourth most populous state, exports much of its waste outside its borders. While the 10 recycling refund states account for only 27% of the US population, they contribute 47% of all packaging recycled and 51% of all beverage containers recycled.

The low recycling rates are attributed to misinformation campaigns perpetuating the myth that plastic is recyclable, and consumer confusion about which types of plastics are accepted by municipalities. Additionally, the development of new recycling techniques is hindered by the low cost of virgin plastic feedstocks and the challenges of recycling combinations of plastic resins, plastics with additives, and contaminated plastics.

The economic impact of landfilled plastic waste is significant, with an estimated loss of $7.2 billion in market value in 2019. Furthermore, the energy embodied in the waste plastic equates to about 12% of the country's energy consumption by the industrial sector.

To address the plastic waste problem, there is a need for new laws to reduce plastic packaging, design and reuse strategies, recycled content standards, virgin resin taxes, and tradable permits to increase the service life of plastic products.

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