Sofia Martinez
Plastic is everywhere and shockingly profitable, but we are all paying the price. Only about 9% of the world's plastic has been recycled, with the rest causing devastation to our seas, communities, environments, and ecosystems. It is estimated that 75 to 199 billion kilograms of plastic is currently in our oceans, with around 0.5% of plastic waste ending up in the ocean each year. Most of it stays close to the shoreline, with only 1% floating on the surface. The rest sinks to the seafloor, degrading into microplastics, or is ingested by marine animals, causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of marine creatures.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total amount of plastic ever created | 11 billion metric tons |
| Amount of plastic waste generated in the US in 2018 | 35.7 million tons |
| Percentage of plastic waste that ends up in the ocean | 0.5% |
| Amount of plastic waste that ends up in the ocean each year | 1-2 million tons |
| Percentage of plastic waste that is mismanaged | 25% |
| Amount of plastic waste that is recycled | 9% |
| Amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills | 49% |
| Amount of plastic waste that is incinerated | 19% |
| Amount of plastic waste that is mismanaged or littered in nature | 22% |
| Percentage of plastic waste that ends up in landfills in the US | 75% |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic waste in landfills
Plastic waste is a rapidly growing segment of municipal solid waste (MSW). In 2018, the United States generated 35.7 million tons of plastic, with containers and packaging constituting the most significant portion, at over 14.5 million tons. While the recycling rate of some specific types of plastic containers is more significant, such as PET bottles and jars at 29.1%, the overall recycling rate of plastics is relatively small, at 8.7% in 2018. As a result, a substantial amount of plastic waste ends up in landfills.
The disposal of plastic waste in landfills has significant environmental and health implications. One primary concern is the formation and spread of microplastics (MPs) from the degradation of plastic waste. As plastic breaks down into smaller particles, including MPs, they can be transported by air and leachate into surrounding environments, leading to increasing pollution of land and water. This leakage can have multisectoral impacts, affecting health, the environment, and the economy.
The degradation of plastic waste in landfills can also result in the release of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) through oxidative photodegradation. These toxic substances pose risks to both the environment and human health. Additionally, the presence of MPs can lead to the accumulation of non-biodegradable pollutants, further exacerbating health risks. In regions with inadequate waste management infrastructure, open burning of plastic waste is a common practice, contributing to air pollution and the release of toxic emissions.
Landfills are designed to prevent any exchange with the surrounding environment. However, unrestricted contaminant release landfills, which are older waste dumps, lack controls on leachate or environmental contamination. Leachate recycling landfills aim to address this issue by capturing and recycling aqueous leachate to prevent or reduce the environmental leakage of potentially harmful waste or degradation residues. Controlled contaminant release landfills allow for the gradual migration of leachate under monitored conditions to ensure no adverse events occur.
While landfills are a common practice for plastic waste disposal, the focus should be on reducing plastic waste generation and improving waste management practices. This includes promoting reusable and recyclable products, finding sustainable alternatives, and increasing circularity by extending the lifespan of products and reusing their materials. Additionally, partnerships between companies and recycling facilities can help establish reliable plastic supply chains for recycling and repurposing.
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Plastic waste in the ocean
Plastic is a rapidly growing component of municipal solid waste (MSW). While it is found across all major MSW categories, the containers and packaging category accounted for the highest plastic tonnage, at over 14.5 million tons in 2018. This category includes bags, sacks, wraps, packaging, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles and jars, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) natural bottles, and other containers.
Plastic waste is a significant issue, with a vast amount ending up in the ocean. A 2020 study published in Nature found that the total amount of plastic created by humans, approximately 11 billion metric tons, surpasses the biomass of all terrestrial and marine animals. The scale of the problem is immense, and it is often hard to comprehend. Even in less polluted areas with organized waste management and recycling systems, such as the East Coast of the United States, land and water are inundated with plastic waste.
The majority of plastic, 72% according to a 2022 report, ends up in landfills or the environment. While recycling is a partial solution, the overall amount of recycled plastic is relatively small. In 2018, the United States recycled 3 million tons of plastic, resulting in an 8.7% recycling rate. Although certain types of plastic containers have higher recycling rates, such as PET bottles and jars at 29.1% and HDPE natural bottles at 29.3% in 2018, the recycling of single-use plastics remains a significant challenge.
To address the issue of plastic waste in the ocean, a combination of approaches is necessary. Firstly, there is a need to drastically reduce the production of single-use plastics and develop more recyclable and sustainable alternatives. Secondly, increasing the circularity of plastic products by extending their useful lifespan and finding ways to reuse their materials is essential. Finally, global cooperation and political commitment are crucial, as evidenced by the United Nations Environment Assembly's resolution to work towards a global treaty to end plastic pollution.
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Plastic waste incineration
Incineration involves burning plastic waste, which can generate electricity. However, this process releases various pollutants, including microplastics, bisphenols, and phthalates, dioxins, and heavy metals. These toxins can have detrimental effects on neurodevelopment, endocrine, and reproductive functions. Additionally, the air pollution caused by incineration can harm human health and the environment.
The issue of plastic waste incineration is complex. In some cases, it may be the only feasible option for waste management in certain regions. For example, in Guatemala, 71% of households burn waste as their primary means of disposal due to a lack of solid waste disposal options. Similarly, sovereign tribal nations like the Navajo Nation, the Crow Nation, and the Cheyenne River Sioux face challenges with open dumping and waste burning due to limited waste management alternatives.
Despite its convenience, plastic waste incineration contributes to pollution and can have negative health consequences for nearby communities. A study found that 80% of incinerators in the United States are located near low-income communities, highlighting the social and economic disparities associated with incinerator placement. Furthermore, the constant feeding required by incinerators can lead to a competition for waste with recycling and composting facilities, hindering efforts to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastic waste.
To address the plastic waste crisis effectively, it is crucial to focus on reducing plastic production and increasing circularity by reusing and recycling materials. While incineration may play a role in waste management, it should not be promoted as a "`green` solution," as it contributes to air pollution and climate change.
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Plastic recycling rates
The recycling of some specific types of plastic containers is more significant. 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% in 2018. However, the overall amount of recycled plastics is relatively small, with an 8.7% recycling rate in 2018 in the United States.
There are several reasons why recycling levels are so low. Some plastics cannot be recycled because of their composition, and local infrastructure also prevents some materials from being recycled properly. Education challenges, funding, and a lack of standardization also make things difficult. In addition, plastic is cheap and easy to produce, so it's often more economically viable to produce new plastic than to recycle.
Waste management strategies vary across regions. Incineration is high in Europe, while three-quarters of plastics in the United States go to landfills. In low-to-middle-income countries, plastic waste is more likely to be mismanaged due to poorer waste management infrastructure. As a result, most of the plastic flowing into the ocean today comes from middle-income countries, particularly in Asia.
Despite the low recycling rates, there is some hope for improvement. Environmentalists and lawmakers in some states are pushing for legislation that bans single-use plastics and promotes systems of reuse and refill. South Korea and China are leading the way in plastic recycling, with average recycling rates of 34% and 31% respectively.
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Plastic waste in the environment
Plastic waste is a significant environmental concern, with its presence in natural habitats posing risks to wildlife and ecosystems. According to a 2022 report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), 72% of the plastic we produce ends up in landfills or the environment. This waste often finds its way into our oceans, rivers, and lakes, impacting aquatic life and contributing to the growing problem of plastic pollution.
The fate of plastic waste varies globally, with different regions employing diverse waste management strategies. While some countries incinerate or landfill a significant portion of their plastic waste, others struggle with inadequate infrastructure, leading to mismanagement and environmental leakage. Rich nations typically generate more plastic waste per person, but the mismanagement of waste in low- to middle-income countries contributes significantly to ocean plastic pollution.
In the United States, for instance, plastics constitute a substantial portion of municipal solid waste (MSW). In 2018, the containers and packaging category alone accounted for over 14.5 million tons of plastic waste. While recycling efforts exist, the overall recycling rate for plastics in the US was only 8.7% in 2018, with specific types of containers, like PET bottles and jars, achieving higher recycling rates of around 29%.
The challenges associated with plastic waste extend beyond geographic boundaries. The production of plastic is inexpensive and highly profitable, creating a strong incentive for continued manufacturing. However, the complexity and cost of collecting and sorting plastic waste, coupled with the thousands of different types of plastic, each requiring unique recycling methods, hinder effective recycling initiatives.
The presence of plastic in the environment has far-reaching consequences. Plastic waste can contaminate soil and water systems, persisting for hundreds of years and breaking down into microplastics that are difficult to remove. The accumulation of plastic waste in oceans, carried by currents, poses a significant threat to marine life, with wildlife inadvertently ingesting plastic items and microplastics.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic waste ends up in landfills, incineration, or the environment, including oceans, rivers, and lakes.
Humans have created around 11 billion metric tons of plastic so far.
According to the OECD, only 9% of the world's plastic is recycled. However, recycling rates vary depending on the type of plastic and country. For example, the recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was 29.1% in the US in 2018, while South Korea recycled 34% of its plastic waste on average.
Plastic waste may not be recycled due to challenges with waste management infrastructure, education, funding, and a lack of standardization. Additionally, some plastics cannot be recycled due to their composition, and recycling is often not economically viable compared to producing new plastic.
Improving waste management strategies and developing better, more recyclable products are crucial to increasing plastic recycling and reducing plastic pollution. Environmentalists and lawmakers are also pushing for legislation banning single-use plastics and encouraging systems of reuse and refill.
