Maya Ellison
Plastic recycling in the United States is a complex issue, with most plastic waste ending up in landfills, oceans, and other countries. While the US does not have a federal recycling program, various states and communities implement their own initiatives, leading to inconsistent practices and low recycling rates. Only 8% of plastics were recycled in 2017, and the rate was slightly higher at 8.7% in 2018. The recycling process is challenging due to plastic degradation, contamination by other materials, and the existence of thousands of different types of plastic that cannot be melted down together. Additionally, the recycling industry faces scrutiny for its environmental impact and the challenges of operating across oceans and continents. Despite these complexities, there are ongoing efforts to improve domestic recycling markets, develop better sorting technologies, and increase demand for recycled products.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of plastic recycled in the US | 8.7% in 2018 |
| Recycling rate of PET bottles and jars in 2018 | 29.1% |
| Recycling rate of HDPE natural bottles in 2018 | 29.3% |
| Percentage of plastic waste combusted in MSW in 2018 | 16.3% |
| Percentage of MSW landfilled in 2018 that was plastic | 18.5% |
| Percentage of municipal solid waste generated by Americans in 2017 that was recycled or composted | 35.2% |
| Percentage of plastic recycled in the US | 5-8% |
| Percentage of plastic that is recyclable | 5% |
| Percentage of plastic that is recyclable according to Judith Enck, president of Beyond Plastics | 5-6% |
| Percentage of plastic that is recyclable according to Enck, vice president of Plastics | Over 90% |
| Location of recycled plastics | Asia, specifically Vietnam, Cambodia, and China |
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What You'll Learn
The majority of recycled plastic ends up in landfills and oceans
Despite the efforts of many Americans to recycle their plastic waste, the reality is that the majority of it does not get recycled at all. In fact, it ends up in landfills and oceans, among other places. This is due to a combination of factors, including the complexity of the plastic recycling process, the lack of a federal recycling program in the US, and the challenges posed by the different types of plastic.
According to a report by Greenpeace, most of the plastic that Americans put into their recycling bins is ultimately destined for landfills. This is because many recycling facilities are unable to process certain types of plastic, and because the recycling industry itself is fraught with issues. For example, plastic often becomes contaminated by other materials, making it unsuitable for recycling. Additionally, there is a lack of demand for recycled plastic, as companies are reluctant to purchase it unless it is as pure as virgin plastic.
The recycling process for plastic is extremely complex, involving a trading network that crosses oceans and traverses continents. This network is often nefarious, with unscrupulous operators setting up shop with no regard for the environment or local residents. Furthermore, the US does not have a federal recycling program, leaving recycling decision-making in the hands of 20,000 communities across the country, each with its own rules and regulations. This lack of standardization makes it difficult to establish an efficient recycling system.
Another challenge is the sheer variety of plastic types. There are now thousands of different types of plastic, and they cannot be melted down together. Plastic also degrades after one or two uses and becomes more toxic each time it is reused. This means that even when plastic is recycled, it may not be suitable for reuse after a certain number of uses. All of these factors contribute to the low reprocessing rates of plastic, which stand in stark contrast to the plans and promises made by the oil and gas industry to achieve a 100% recycling rate by 2040.
The fate of recycled plastic in the US is a complex issue that involves a multitude of factors. While the majority of it does indeed end up in landfills and oceans, there are also efforts being made to improve the recycling process and develop the domestic market for recycled plastic. However, until significant changes are made to the way plastic is produced, recycled, and regulated, the problem of plastic waste will continue to persist.
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Plastic is shipped to Asia to be recycled
Hong Kong-based businessman Steve Wong is one of the middlemen who connects US recycling with international buyers. He said, "At one time, I was one of the biggest exporters in the world," adding that his company, Fukutomi Recycling, is now deep in debt.
The US produces more plastic waste than any other country in the world. In 2025, more than 35,000 tons of it were shipped to Malaysia, which received more plastic from rich nations than any other developing country. However, in June of that year, Malaysia banned future shipments.
Malaysia's decision was praised by waste advocates and environmental groups, who are working to reduce the international movement of contaminated, non-recyclable plastic from economically advantaged countries to less advantaged nations.
In 2022, California exported 11.3 million tons of recyclable materials overseas, including 100 million pounds of scrap plastic. This was sent to various countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Mexico, and Canada.
The consequences of US plastic exports on receiving countries are severe, including contaminated water supplies, crop death, respiratory illness from exposure to burning plastic, and the rise of organized crime.
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Plastic is hard to recycle because it's often contaminated by other materials
Plastic is 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, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and jars, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bottles, and other containers.
While almost all plastic can be recycled in principle, there are a variety of barriers that make it difficult to recycle in practice. One major issue is contamination by other materials. Plastic can be contaminated by food and other substances, making the resins not clean enough to be reused. For example, polypropylene recycling is difficult and expensive, and it is hard to get rid of the smell of the product previously contained in the plastic. Recycled polypropylene also tends to be black or grey, making it unsuitable for packaging use.
Another issue is that there are thousands of different types of plastic, and none of them can be melted down together. Plastics of the same type often contain different combinations of additives, resulting in recycled material with unpredictable and often suboptimal additive combinations. The long polymer chains that make up these materials become slightly shorter each time they are melted down, further reducing the quality of the recycled material.
The low quality of recycled plastic means that it is usually downcycled into products with less stringent technical or aesthetic qualities. For example, a food-grade plastic beverage bottle might be recycled into a fleece garment or a component for a park bench. Because manufacturers can’t make many products with recycled plastic, the market for it is limited.
The recycling of plastic is also hindered by economic factors. Plastic is cheap to produce and has low value as a waste product, so there is little economic incentive to collect and recycle it, especially in remote locations. Recycling facilities are costly to build and operate, and small quantities of plastic can make recycling unprofitable due to low efficiencies and high costs.
As a result of these challenges, most plastic ends up in landfills rather than being recycled. A Greenpeace report found that people may be putting plastic into recycling bins, but almost none of it is actually recycled. This is despite the fact that many communities tell their residents to put plastic in recycling containers.
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Plastic degrades after one or two uses
Plastic is a rapidly growing segment of municipal solid waste (MSW). While it is found across all major MSW categories, the containers and packaging category had the most plastic tonnage at over 14.5 million tons in 2018. This category includes bags, sacks, and wraps, as well as other packaging, bottles, and jars.
The recycling of plastic is a complex issue. While plastic is widely recycled, it often ends up in landfills or is shipped overseas. In 2018, the recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1%, while the rate for HDPE natural bottles was 29.3%. However, experts estimate that 20-70% of plastic entering recycling facilities is discarded as unusable waste. This waste is sometimes shipped to other countries, leading to environmental and social issues.
The issue of plastic waste is further compounded by the fact that plastic degrades after one or two uses. Plastic is designed to be durable and long-lasting, but this very property makes it challenging to recycle. As plastic degrades, it can release toxins into the soil, creating additional environmental concerns.
The recycling process itself is energy-intensive and costly. New plastic is cheap and easy to produce, making it more economically viable than recycled plastic. This has led to a surplus of plastic waste, with thousands of shipping containers of recyclable plastics piling up in the United States.
Despite these challenges, efforts are being made to address the problem. Some companies are working to connect recycling brokers with international buyers, although this has faced criticism for simply moving the waste rather than addressing the core issue. Additionally, innovations in biodegradable plastics and the discovery of plastic-eating bacteria offer potential solutions to improve the recyclability of plastics.
Overall, while plastic recycling rates are low, the issue of plastic waste is gaining attention, and new solutions are being explored to address this complex problem.
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Plastic recycling is left to local communities to decide
Plastic recycling in the USA is a complex issue, with a recent report by Greenpeace revealing that most plastic ends up in landfills or is exported to other countries, despite consumers' efforts to recycle. While the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) measures the recycling of plastic, the process is largely left to local communities to decide and manage.
Community-based solutions have emerged as an effective approach to tackling plastic waste, with initiatives such as Precious Plastic providing easily replicable and repairable machines, tutorials, and designs to enable local communities to start plastic recycling projects. These local initiatives have a significant impact, not only on reducing plastic waste but also on improving the quality of life for community members. For instance, TONTOTON's plastic credit system in Cambodia not only prevents plastic waste from entering the oceans but also provides waste pickers with a higher income, positively impacting their families.
However, the success of community-based projects depends on proper design and implementation. Poorer communities, which are often the most vulnerable to climate change, face challenges due to a lack of proper waste management systems, improper waste practices, and the export of waste from developed countries. Additionally, the recycling process is complex, with different types of plastics having varying markets and recyclability.
The recycling industry itself faces pressures due to increasing energy and labour costs, and investors are hesitant to support the sector's growth. Despite these challenges, local communities continue to play a crucial role in addressing plastic waste issues through innovative solutions and global collaborations.
Overall, while plastic recycling in the USA faces challenges and complexities, local communities are empowered to make a significant impact through their dedicated efforts and initiatives.
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Frequently asked questions
It is estimated that about 50% of plastic waste from the USA ends up in landfills. A large amount of plastic scrap exported from the USA ends up as waste in countries with poor waste management practices, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Cambodia.
The US has been criticised for offloading its plastic waste to poorer countries that lack the infrastructure and regulation to effectively and sustainably sort, process, and recycle plastic waste. This has led to environmental pollution and health hazards for the people living in these countries.
The US has been facing a dilemma as more and more countries stop importing waste. One solution is to reduce the consumption of single-use plastics and promote reusable alternatives. Another option is to improve domestic recycling infrastructure and capacity to manage the large amounts of plastic waste generated by US consumers.
Plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental crises facing the planet. The concentration of microplastics in oceans threatens biodiversity and the health of marine life and humans. Landfills containing plastic waste can also pose threats to the ecosystem, as the decomposition process can form a toxic liquid called leachate that can contaminate soil and groundwater.
