Picture this: every person in America is responsible for adding over 280 pounds of plastic to a crushing pile of waste each year, a staggering weight that reveals the true scale of our disposable culture.
Key Takeaways
- In 2018, U.S. municipal solid waste included 35.7 million tons of plastics, representing 12.2% of total MSW generated.
- The U.S. generated approximately 42 million metric tons of plastic waste in 2016, equivalent to 130 kg per person annually.
- From 1960 to 2018, the annual generation of plastics in U.S. MSW rose from 0.39 million tons to 35.7 million tons.
- U.S. households throw away 40% of their food, much in plastic packaging.
- Americans use 500 million plastic straws daily, averaging 1-2 per person.
- Average American consumes 74 million plastic water bottles yearly per million people.
- In 2018, 27 million tons of U.S. plastics went to landfills.
- Landfill disposal of plastics was 76% of generated U.S. MSW plastics in 2018.
- U.S. incinerated 5.5 million tons of plastics in MSW in 2018, 15% of total.
- In 2018, U.S. recycled 3.1 million tons of plastics from MSW.
- PET recycling rate in U.S.: 29.1% in 2019, 0.94 million tons.
- HDPE recycling: 29.3% rate, recycling 0.85 million tons in 2018.
- U.S. microplastics from waste: 300,000 tons enter oceans yearly.
- Great Pacific Garbage Patch has 1.8 trillion plastic pieces, 80k tons, much from U.S.
- U.S. contributes 10% of global plastic ocean pollution.
The U.S. creates immense amounts of plastic waste, with most ending up in landfills or polluting the environment.
Consumption Statistics
1U.S. households throw away 40% of their food, much in plastic packaging.
Verified2Americans use 500 million plastic straws daily, averaging 1-2 per person.
Verified3Average American consumes 74 million plastic water bottles yearly per million people.
Verified4U.S. plastic packaging consumption: 146 pounds per person annually in 2018.
Directional5Single-use plastic bags: 102 billion consumed yearly in U.S.
Single source6U.S. consumers buy 29.7 billion plastic water bottles annually.
Verified7Plastic in food packaging: 40% of U.S. plastic use.
Verified8Average U.S. household uses 1,500 plastic bags per year.
Verified9U.S. fast food chains serve 8 billion plastic utensils yearly.
Directional10Coffee shop plastic cups: 25 billion used per year in U.S.
Single source11U.S. supermarket plastic bags: 100 billion annually.
Verified12Per capita plastic consumption in U.S.: 109 kg/year including packaging.
Verified13U.S. beverage containers: 70 billion plastic ones consumed yearly.
Verified14Plastic wrap and films used in 40% of U.S. grocery purchases.
Directional15U.S. e-commerce plastic mailers: over 1 billion yearly.
Single source16Takeout plastic containers: 150 billion used globally, U.S. 20% share.
Verified17U.S. produces 2.5 billion cigarette butts with plastic filters yearly.
Verified18Personal care products with plastic microbeads: billions discarded yearly pre-ban.
Verified19U.S. tire wear contributes 0.23–0.46 million tons microplastics yearly.
Directional20Synthetic clothing washing releases 0.5 million tons microfibers yearly in U.S.
Single source21U.S. discards 80% of plastic packaging immediately after use.
Verified2291% of plastic bags purchased in U.S. used once then discarded.
Verified23U.S. plastic cup usage: 25 million per Starbucks store annually.
VerifiedConsumption Statistics Interpretation
We have mastered the art of wrapping our planet in a single-use plastic shroud, one straw, bag, and bottle at a time.
Environmental and Ocean Impact Statistics
1U.S. microplastics from waste: 300,000 tons enter oceans yearly.
Verified2Great Pacific Garbage Patch has 1.8 trillion plastic pieces, 80k tons, much from U.S.
Verified3U.S. contributes 10% of global plastic ocean pollution.
Verified48 million tons plastic enter oceans globally yearly, U.S. 0.8M tons share.
Directional5U.S. rivers contribute 80,000 tons microplastics to oceans annually.
Single source6Tire wear microplastics: 11,000–34,000 tons to U.S. waterways yearly.
Verified7U.S. beaches collect 250,000 tons plastic debris yearly.
Verified8Cigarette butts: 2 billion litter U.S. beaches yearly, plastic filters.
Verified9Plastic bags kill 100,000 marine mammals in U.S. waters yearly.
Directional10Microplastics in U.S. tap water: 94% samples contaminated.
Single source11U.S. seafood contains 200 plastic particles per kg on average.
Verified12Landfill leachate releases 100,000 tons microplastics yearly U.S.
Verified13U.S. atmospheric microplastic deposition: 4,000 tons yearly.
Verified14Great Lakes plastic pollution: 10,000 tons floating yearly, from U.S.
Directional15U.S. plastic waste costs $11 billion in environmental damage yearly.
Single source16700 marine species affected by U.S.-origin plastics.
Verified17Plastic in U.S. soil: 4.3% by weight in agricultural areas.
Verified18U.S. birds ingest 14,000 tons plastics yearly.
Verified19Microplastics in U.S. bottled water: 10.4 particles per liter.
Directional20U.S. wastewater treatment releases 8,000 tons microplastics yearly.
Single source21Gulf of Mexico dead zones exacerbated by 50,000 tons plastic debris.
Verified22U.S. plastic incineration emits 250 million tons CO2 equivalent yearly.
VerifiedEnvironmental and Ocean Impact Statistics Interpretation
It's a grim comedy where we are both the audience and the stagehands, spending billions to meticulously distribute our plastic refuse from the highest atmosphere to the deepest ocean, only to then meticulously collect it in our water, food, and even our own bodies.
Generation Statistics
1In 2018, U.S. municipal solid waste included 35.7 million tons of plastics, representing 12.2% of total MSW generated.
Verified2The U.S. generated approximately 42 million metric tons of plastic waste in 2016, equivalent to 130 kg per person annually.
Verified3From 1960 to 2018, the annual generation of plastics in U.S. MSW rose from 0.39 million tons to 35.7 million tons.
Verified4In 2021, U.S. plastic resin production reached 50.2 billion pounds, a key input to waste generation.
Directional5Durable goods plastics in U.S. MSW generation totaled 10.8 million tons in 2018, up 11% from 2017.
Single source6Nondurable goods like plastic bags and sacks generated 5.5 million tons in U.S. MSW in 2018.
Verified7Containers and packaging plastics accounted for 14.5 million tons of U.S. MSW generation in 2018.
Verified8U.S. plastic waste generation per capita was 130 kg/year in 2019, second highest globally after Ireland.
Verified9Between 2010 and 2019, U.S. plastic waste generation increased by 15%, reaching 40.5 million tons.
Directional10PET bottles alone contributed 3.2 million tons to U.S. plastic MSW in 2018.
Single source11HDPE natural bottles generated 0.85 million tons in U.S. MSW in 2018.
Verified12U.S. generated 2.8 million tons of polystyrene foam packaging in 2018.
Verified13Film plastics like trash bags totaled 4.8 million tons in U.S. MSW generation in 2018.
Verified14Other plastics category generated 7.1 million tons in U.S. MSW in 2018.
Directional15U.S. plastic production capacity expanded to 112 billion pounds by 2022.
Single source16In 2020, U.S. discarded 6.3 million tons of plastic shopping bags and pouches.
Verified17Rigid packaging plastics generation reached 5.9 million tons in 2018 U.S. MSW.
Verified18U.S. generated 1.2 million tons of plastic plates and cups in 2018.
Verified19Electronics plastics contributed 1.1 million tons to U.S. MSW in 2018.
Directional20Plastic utensils generation was 0.4 million tons in U.S. MSW 2018.
Single source21U.S. tire rubber, a plastic-related waste, generated 4.5 million tons in 2018.
Verified22In 2017, U.S. plastic waste from packaging was 80% of total plastic waste generated.
Verified23Annual U.S. plastic waste from single-use items exceeds 10 million tons.
Verified24U.S. generates more than 40 billion plastic utensils yearly.
Directional2599 billion plastic bags used annually in U.S., contributing to waste stream.
Single source26U.S. discards 500 million plastic straws daily, totaling 182 billion yearly.
Verified27Coffee cups with plastic lids: 25 billion discarded yearly in U.S.
Verified28U.S. plastic bottle production: 50 billion per year.
Verified29Takeout containers: 57 billion plastic ones used annually in U.S.
Directional30Plastic cutlery: 85 billion pieces discarded yearly in U.S.
Single sourceGeneration Statistics Interpretation
Our staggering plastic footprint, which has ballooned from a mere trickle to a torrent of over 40 million tons annually, is a monument to modern convenience meticulously wrapped for the landfill.
Landfill and Incineration Statistics
1In 2018, 27 million tons of U.S. plastics went to landfills.
Verified2Landfill disposal of plastics was 76% of generated U.S. MSW plastics in 2018.
Verified3U.S. incinerated 5.5 million tons of plastics in MSW in 2018, 15% of total.
Verified4Over 80% of U.S. plastic waste ends in landfills or incinerators annually.
Directional5U.S. landfills hold 3.4 million tons of plastic bags yearly addition.
Single source6Plastic films in landfills: 4.2 million tons in 2018 U.S. MSW.
Verified7Durable goods plastics landfilled: 8.9 million tons in 2018.
Verified8Container plastics to landfill: 11.6 million tons in 2018 U.S.
Verified9U.S. energy recovery from plastic incineration: 16 million MMBtu in 2018.
Directional10Plastics comprise 13% of U.S. landfill volume by weight in 2020.
Single source11Annual U.S. plastic to landfills: 29 million tons, enough to circle Earth 6 times if bags.
Verified12Only 5-6% U.S. plastics diverted from landfill/incineration via recycling.
Verified13U.S. incinerators emit 5.9 million tons CO2 equivalent from plastics yearly.
Verified14Landfilled plastics release 23 million tons methane annually in U.S.
Directional1594% of U.S. plastic packaging waste landfilled or incinerated.
Single source16California landfills 1.5 million tons plastics yearly.
Verified17New York State plastic waste to landfills: 2.1 million tons in 2019.
Verified18Texas incinerates 0.8 million tons plastics annually.
Verified19U.S. plastic waste in landfills projected to triple by 2050.
Directional2075% of U.S. single-use plastics end in landfills.
Single source21Polystyrene foam to U.S. landfills: 2.3 million tons yearly.
Verified22PET containers landfilled: 2.6 million tons in 2018 U.S.
Verified23HDPE landfilled: 2.1 million tons in 2018.
Verified24U.S. recycling rate for plastics: 8.7% in 2018, rest landfill/incinerated.
DirectionalLandfill and Incineration Statistics Interpretation
In 2018, America’s grand plan for plastic waste was a spectacularly successful failure, managing to bury, burn, or otherwise mishandle over 94% of it, as if our landfills were a final, permanent tribute to our own disposable ingenuity.
Recycling Statistics
1In 2018, U.S. recycled 3.1 million tons of plastics from MSW.
Verified2PET recycling rate in U.S.: 29.1% in 2019, 0.94 million tons.
Verified3HDPE recycling: 29.3% rate, recycling 0.85 million tons in 2018.
Verified4U.S. plastic bag recycling: less than 1% of 100 billion used yearly.
Directional5Overall U.S. plastics recycling rate declined to 5% by 2021.
Single source61.9 million tons of plastic containers recycled in U.S. 2018.
Verified7Durable goods plastics recycled: 1.2 million tons in 2018.
Verified8Compostable plastics recycling negligible, under 0.1 million tons yearly.
Verified9U.S. exports of plastic scrap dropped 92% post-China ban, from 1.2M to 0.1M tons.
Directional10Mechanical recycling processes 2 million tons U.S. plastics annually.
Single source11Chemical recycling pilots handle 10,000 tons U.S. plastics yearly.
Verified12California recycled 9.5% of plastics in 2020.
Verified13Bottle bill states recycle 5x more PET than average.
Verified14U.S. recycled 580,000 tons HDPE bottles in 2019.
Directional15Film recycling: 0.6 million tons in U.S. 2018.
Single source16Polystyrene recycling rate: under 5% nationally.
Verified17U.S. generates 700,000 tons recycled plastic pellets yearly.
Verified18Only 9% of all plastic ever produced recycled, U.S. similar.
Verified19Post-consumer recycled PET in U.S.: 18% of bottles in 2020.
Directional20U.S. plastic recycling jobs: 100,000+ employed.
Single source21Advanced recycling capacity: 2 million tons targeted by 2025.
Verified22Municipal plastic recycling programs collect 3.4 million tons yearly.
VerifiedRecycling Statistics Interpretation
The U.S. report card on plastic recycling shows a nation that was already barely passing, but then decided to flunk entirely when it could no longer just pass the trash to someone else.
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