Online searches for microplastics and information about how they affect humans and what they do to our bodies are reaching an all-time high. There’s ongoing research into the effects of microplastics on humans that has found links between their presence and conditions such as diabetes and infertility.
Nano and microplastics seem to be everywhere and studies have found particles contaminating human body parts including brains, kidneys, and placentas. There are growing concerns about what microplastics do to the body and how prolonged exposure may affect humans in the years to come.
To visualize how ongoing exposure to microplastics may affect humans in the future we’ve produced images predicting what we might look like. These show the potential effects from low, mid, and high levels of microplastic exposure.
What are microplastics?
Microplastics are extremely small plastic particles that are less than five millimeters long. They’re produced as consumer and commercial products containing plastic break down. Microplastics are more common in our environment than ever before and found in rivers, oceans, and soil. They’re not biodegradable so they stay in the environment for hundreds and thousands of years.
Humans regularly consume and inhale microplastics unaware of it. Some studies suggest we even absorb microplastics through our skin. There’s ongoing research into the effects of microplastics on humans, yet current studies highlight potentially harmful impacts.
Last month research showed the level of microplastics was rising in human brains, with an increase of roughly 50 percent between 2016 and 2024.
What do microplastics do to the body?
Microplastics effects on human bodies are still unknown with research ongoing. However, the amount of exposure to microplastics could impact the severity of its impact on the body. These are the potential effects microplastics could have on the body for someone who experiences low, mid, and high levels of exposure.
High-level exposure to microplastics
Prolonged and consistent microplastic exposure could have the most severe impact on humans. This could occur due to the working environment, drinking poor quality drinking water, or constantly using synthetic fabrics in the home and clothing.
High levels of exposure to microplastics may present as:
- Chronic skin inflammation, rashes, or eczema-like conditions.
- More intense signs of premature aging.
- Blue or purplish skin tones on lips/fingertips (due to reduced lung function).
- Slower reflexes, memory problems, and mental confusion due to possible microplastics in the brain. Potential hand tremors or fine motor difficulties.
- Unexplained weight gain or loss, irregular menstrual cycles.
- Hair thinning or loss due to endocrine disruption.
- Skin discoloration, hard lumps, or lesions that don’t heal properly could indicate cellular damage.
Mid-level exposure to microplastics
Regular consumption of processed food and/or seafood and using or wearing synthetic fabrics commonly may lead to a mid-level exposure to microplastics. People living in areas of high air pollution could also be at risk of mid-level exposure.
The effects of mid-level exposure to microplastics might present as:
- Increased levels of skin irritation, alongside signs of premature ageing such as fine lines and wrinkles due to increased oxidative stress.
- Red and irritated eyes from exposure to microplastics in air pollution.
- Mild breathing difficulties such as coughing and wheezing.
- Hormonal disruption from microplastic chemicals, which leads to weight fluctuation and further digestive discomfort.
- More persistent fatigue and brain fog.
Low-level exposure to microplastics
Food, drink, and the general environment can lead to a low-level of exposure to microplastics. Most symptoms are likely to be internal at this level and might not be visible.
Low levels of microplastic exposure could present as:
- Mild skin changes with some evidence of dryness, redness and irritation caused by microplastics interacting with endocrine disruptors.
- Microplastics could lead to gut microbiome changes, which may cause bloating, stomach discomfort, and irregular digestion.
- Mild fatigue caused by low-level inflammation.
How to reduce microplastic exposure
Microplastics seem to be everywhere. It may be impossible to avoid them but there are a few actions you can take to try and reduce your exposure:
- Avoid single-use plastics – especially food and drink containers. Swap processed foods for organic and whole foods. Even grow your own food if possible.
- Filter water and avoid single-use plastic water bottles or drinks containers.
- Minimize your use of synthetic textiles like nylon and polyester both for clothing and home furnishings. Switch out for natural fabrics.
- Check the labels of cosmetics for any hidden plastics and choose those in glass jars rather than plastic containers where available. Go for naturally formulated products.
- Cut back on how much seafood you eat or by local and sustainable produce that’s not packaged in plastic.
- Consider your cooking – use wooden spoons and glass chopping boards rather than plastic alternatives and be mindful of plastic utensils and reheating food in plastic containers.
Mark Hall, plastic waste expert at BusinessWaste.co.uk, comments: “While much of the research into the effects of microplastics on humans is in the early stages, it’s clear to see there are many worrying signs of how this pollution might affect us. The imagery we have generated is based on the findings of these studies and shows alarming results, but we hope the images will make people sit up and pay attention to the larger issue.
“Unfortunately, microplastics are abundant in our environment, contaminating everything from the air we breathe to the food we eat. While you can reduce your exposure to certain products, we’ll never fully face the problem until we begin to tackle plastic waste as a larger issue, and look to reduce our reliance on the material.”
The Super Bowl is bigger and better than any football game on earth, from the number of viewers to its legendary halftime show. That also extends to the amount of trash it produces. An average NFL game generates between 30 and 40 tons of solid waste – it almost doubles to 60 tons of trash for the Super Bowl.
Tens of thousands of hot dogs are eaten and hundreds of thousands of beers are drunk inside the stadium. Their wrappers and cups soon become trash. More than 100 million people watch at home and have parties that also create mountains of waste from food, drink, and decorations.
Awareness and action around sustainability at the Super Bowl is growing though with more being done to reduce its environmental impact. Kick off with these facts and statistics about Super Bowl sustainability and then take a punt on hosting a low-waste Super Bowl party with our tips.
Super Bowl trash facts
The Super Bowl produces up to 160,000 pounds of trash, which is double the amount of an average NFL game. That’s just from inside and around the stadium – viewers watching at home, in bars, and at parties create even more waste during their celebrations (and commiserations for fans of the defeated team).
Food, drink, and all the packaging that comes with it are the main sources of garbage associated with the Super Bowl. For example, one in seven Americans order takeout on Super Sunday (and about 60% of these are pizzas). Leftovers, greasy pizza boxes, and dips can all end up in the trash.
Touch down with some more Super Bowl trash facts and statistics:
- Around 2,000 tons of food waste is generated at Super Bowl parties
- At Super Bowl LVII in 2023, an impressive 92.6% of trash was diverted away from landfills
- The other 10% or so was sent to a waste-to-energy incineration plant where it was burned to create electricity
- In 2024 at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, around 12,000 pounds of food waste was collected and donated to local livestock farms and used to feed the animals
- Americans get through loads of food and drink on Super Sunday that create waste:
- 1.25 billion chicken wings – all those bones get thrown away
- 325 million gallons of beer – equivalent to 50 million cases and millions of aluminum cans
- 19 million pounds of chips – 11 million potato chips and 8 million tortilla chips
- 8 million pounds of guacamole – millions of plastic tubs got to trash
- 4 million pounds of popcorn – the bags and packaging become garbage
Super Bowl energy facts
Major sports leagues including the NFL and the NBA are estimated to generate around 35,000 tonnes of CO2 annually. This includes everything from waste to travel to the events by fans. For example, at Super Bowl LVIII in 2024 more than a thousand private jets flew into Las Vegas just for the game.
Powering the Super Bowl requires a lot of energy. Just think about all the electricity needed for the commercials, the halftime show, and to light up the big screens in homes and bars across the country. These are a few facts behind the Super Bowl’s energy usage:
- Watching the Super Bowl results in the consumption of over 11 million kilowatt-hours of energy, according to General Electric
- Super Bowl advertising produced as much carbon dioxide as 100,000 Americans and about two million tons of CO2 in 2021
- Sustainability was a focus for Super Bowl LVIII in 2024 as 621,000 solar panels in the Nevada desert provided 100% of power to the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas
How to have a low-waste
Super Bowl party
Super Bowl parties generate around 2,000 tons of food waste every year, as well as all the packaging and other garbage thrown away after the celebrations. A bit of planning and easy actions can help reduce your environmental impact and ensure everyone enjoys the Super Bowl sustainably if you’re having friends and family round.
Use these tips to host a low-waste Super Bowl party this year:
- Plan ahead – base your catering on the number of people invited to your Super Bowl party to reduce the amount of potential food waste. Check what food and drink guests are bringing to avoid overordering and ending up with loads of leftovers. It also helps ensure you’ve got enough cups, glasses, plates, and cutlery so you don’t have to buy any single-use plastic items.
- Cook your own food – homemade cooking significantly reduces food packaging waste and allows good portion control. Fire up the BBQ or get the pizza oven going. Any leftovers can be reused later in the week or added to a compost pile. Plus, cooking at home reduces carbon emissions compared to ordering takeout.
- Eco-friendly decorations – don’t buy the cheap plastic Super Bowl tat from stores that get used once and then thrown in the trash. Use any football gear like helmets, jerseys, and footballs you’ve already got and place them around your home to boost the atmosphere.
- Avoid single-use items – use your own cutlery, plates, cups, tablecloths, bowls, and other items rather than forking out for single-use plastic ones that are hard to recycle.
- Encourage car shares – help arrange any car pools depending on who’s coming to your party. This reduces emissions and also makes parking easier if space is limited.
- Watch together – it may be tempting to have a TV for the kids in one room, one in the kitchen, and another in the lounge but this triples your electricity consumption. Watch together on one screen for efficiency and fun!
Budgeting for waste management costs is vital for every business, regardless of its size, industry, and location in the US. It’s a service that’s easy to forget about but one that you must set aside enough money to cover. Otherwise, you could end up with trash building up on your site or face fines for improper disposal.
Factoring waste removal costs into your budget should be done from the start, while regularly reviewing rates helps ensure you’re not paying over the odds for commercial garbage removal. Waste management prices vary across professional collection companies and the costs depend on many other aspects.
Create a cost-effective commercial waste collection plan for your organization with our expert advice. Discover how much waste management could cost your business, the factors that affect prices, and how to reduce your expenditure for better budgeting.
How much does trash removal
cost businesses?
Commercial trash removal costs businesses in the US more than $50 billion each year. This estimate includes dumpster rental, collection fees, and disposal costs to get rid of all types of business waste. How much every company pays for waste removal depends on lots of different aspects though, as every business has unique garbage management needs.
Many factors affect the cost of trash removal for businesses. These are:
- Waste types – prices to collect and dispose of different waste materials vary. Common streams like food waste, paper and cardboard, and solid waste are often cheaper than other materials. The likes of hazardous waste are more expensive as they undergo greater regulation and require specialist handling.
- Dumpster sizes – the size and number of containers you use to store commercial trash affects dumpster rental costs. Generally, using bigger dumpsters and bins is costlier (although some companies may offer discounts if you rent in bulk).
- Collection frequencies – the more often your commercial waste is collected, the higher the costs. Extra trash removal trips require additional fuel and labor costs, which increases the price. The number and size of dumpsters and garbage volume affect how regularly you need waste collected.
- Location – any state or local regulations and charges can impact waste removal costs based on your company’s location. The space you have also impacts the size and number of dumpsters you can use, which affects how often you need collections and the associated costs.
- Transfer and disposal costs – costs to remove and transport commercial waste vary greatly due to the type and volume of trash. The disposal costs also depend on the location and method, alongside any tipping fees and landfill costs. Operations and maintenance costs for waste management facilities factor into the total price.
- Waste management companies – there are many professional waste management companies that can remove commercial trash, but what they charge can vary. Factors such as whether they operate locally and/or nationally, the size of their business, and availability may impact their prices.
Are commercial waste management
costs worth it?
Some businesses manage their own waste removal and disposal to try and reduce the costs involved. However, this can be expensive, time-consuming, and risky. You need to purchase dumpsters, containers, and trucks as well as have the appropriate licenses in place. Any mistakes could result in large fines and further penalties.
Paying professionals to manage your commercial garbage is worth it. Waste management companies have all the relevant dumpsters, vehicles, fully licensed professionals, knowledge, and experience to manage your commercial waste properly. Operating on a large scale enables them to charge lower fees for a cost-effective solution compared to doing it yourself.
How to reduce commercial
waste collection costs
Cutting commercial waste collection costs is a common way to improve budgeting for any business. Paying for professional trash removal is unavoidable and you’re usually stuck with the prices waste management companies charge though. It’s possible to create a cost-effective solution with a couple of small actions.
These are a few ways to reduce the cost of waste management:
- Combine bigger dumpsters with less frequent pickups to save on collection costs
- Reduce waste by recycling more and donating old items where possible
- Review your current waste production and identify areas to minimize trash
- Switch suppliers to those with minimal and/or recyclable packaging
- Use a waste broker to compare prices and source bespoke solutions
Save on your commercial waste removal
costs with Business Waste
As a leading waste broker, we work with local suppliers in your area to provide some of the best possible waste collection prices. Let us know the types and volume of trash your business produces, and we’ll work to offer a bespoke and cost-effective option.
Save money with affordable dumpster rental and a collection schedule that meets your needs. There’s no paying for half-empty container removals or experiencing overflowing bins. Get a free no-obligation quote for commercial waste collection today – call 888 584 2118 or contact us online.
More than two billion tons of waste are dumped every year globally – enough to go around the world 24 times if it was all loaded up into garbage trucks. That’s an incredible amount and it’s hard to visualize. Current waste statistics show that the amount of garbage homes and business produce is growing.
There are many different types of waste produced, the way countries manage them varies, and recycling rates range across the world. We’ve compiled some interesting facts about trash in the US and globally to give an idea of the issue and why reducing how much garbage we generate and responsible waste management is important.
Understand how much garbage we produce as businesses and households with the following wide range of facts about trash and waste statistics.
World waste facts
For a sense of how much trash businesses and homes create these world waste statistics give a good insight. There’s a strong correlation between high-income countries producing higher volumes of trash than low-income and developing nations. However, the way waste is managed also varies, which affects recycling rates and disposal methods.
Get to grips with these global waste statistics:
- The average amount of waste generated per person per day in the world is 1.6 pounds (0.74kg) – but it varies greatly from 0.24 pounds (11kg) to 10 pounds (4.54kg)
- By 2050 it’s expected that global waste generation will be 3.4 billion tons per year
- Global solid waste treatment and disposal is responsible for 5% of global emissions – 6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) greenhouse gases
- Garbage from about four billion people goes to unregulated or illegal dumpsites that hold more than 40% of global waste
- The USA generates around 12% of global waste despite having only 4% of the world’s population
- Roughly one-third of food goes to waste that’s produced globally (about 1.3 billion tons every year)
- Sadly, more than 14 billion pounds of garbage ends up in the world’s oceans every year
- About 50 million tons of e-waste is produced annually
US waste facts
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been recording and reporting waste management statistics for the USA for more than 35 years. Various other organizations also collect data and trash statistics across the US. As one of the largest countries in the world, it’s no surprise that the USA generates high volumes of many waste types.
Here are some key waste statistics for the US:
- The US produced 292.4 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) in 2018
- This is a big increase over the past three decades as in 1990 the US generated 208.3 million tons of MSW
- US citizens create 4.9 pounds of trash per person per day – the highest volume per person of any country
- About $200 billion a year is spent on solid waste management in the States
- 75% of American trash is recyclable yet only around 30% is recycled
- Paper and paperboard make up around two-thirds (67%) of all the MSW recycled in the US
- $11.4 billion worth of recyclable containers and packaging are thrown out in the USA every year
- Nevada has the most tons of waste per person in landfills with 38.4 tons
- Idaho has the least tons of waste per person in landfills with 4.1 tons
- It’s believed that 40% of the heavy metals in US landfill sites are from electronic waste
Waste disposal facts
What happens to our trash and where it ends up depends on the material and where you are in the world. Sadly, lots of waste still goes to landfill sites, which have a negative environmental impact. These waste disposal facts provide an idea of where trash from homes and businesses goes.
Learn what happens to garbage in the US and around the world with these waste disposal facts and statistics:
- Landfilling is the most popular method of waste disposal – it accounts for more than 60% of the total waste management market
- There are more than 3,000 active landfill sites in the USA – and more than 10,000 closed municipal landfills
- It’s estimated that 80% of trash buried in landfills are recyclable
- In 2018 in the USA around 94 million tons of MSW were recycled and composted (32.1% of the total amount)
- More than 146 million tons of MSW (50%) went to landfills
- 35 million tons of MSW (11.8%) were combusted with energy recovery
- 7 million tons of food waste (6% of MSW) were disposed of as animal feed, via biochemical processing, anaerobic digestion, and other methods
Waste management facts
How waste management processes work are also different across the world. Richer nations generally have more regulations and processes in place to deal with trash responsibly. Waste management covers a wide area and includes everything from the ways trash is stored to collection and disposal.
Understand how it varies globally with these waste management facts:
- Two-thirds of countries have legislation and regulations for solid waste management in place
- 62% of global waste is collected in controlled at municipal facilities – the other 38% of global trash is dumped, burned, or discarded irresponsibly
- Waste collection rates vary by region – Europe, Central Asia and North America collect at least 90% of waste, but Sub-Saharan Africa collects about 44% of waste
- It’s estimated that cities will produce three times as much trash in 2025 compared to 2009
- One of the biggest landfill sites in the world is the Bantar Gebang dump in Bekasi, Indonesia – it manages up to 40 million tons of waste with a further 230,000 tons of household waste added every year
Have these facts about waste and garbage statistics inspired you to improve your business waste management? Ensure responsible commercial trash management with our waste services.
A waste broker is a professional business that organizes the collection, disposal, and other trash management services for a company. They act as an intermediary for the company between other waste haulers and garbage collection firms. Sourcing, optimizing, and decreasing commercial trash costs and resource recovery are their main roles.
Waste brokers work with a network of local and national suppliers and vendors. These are verified and vetted waste management companies that actually deliver and collect dumpsters and garbage cans from your business. The waste broker determines which are the best and most cost-effective ones to use based on your commercial trash needs.
Find out more about how waste brokers operate, the ways they can save businesses money and time, and what to look for if you’re considering using a trash broker.
What is a trash broker?
A trash broker (also known as a waste broker) helps businesses find the most cost-effective and efficient options to manage commercial garbage. They have a network of waste connections to compare options and source the best solution. Trash brokers deal directly with waste haulers, dumpster rental, and garbage collection companies so you don’t have to.
Their industry connections and expert knowledge means they can offer solutions for efficient commercial waste management. Access to a wide network of specialist waste haulers, such as those that collect and dispose of hazardous waste, enables brokers to find and provide specialist services you may otherwise struggle to source.
The role of a trash broker can be tailored to your needs. They can consult and provide waste audits to advise on the best options for your unique circumstances, ensure compliance with relevant regulations, and arrange timely delivery and pickup of your company’s trash. Waste brokers provide the sole point of contact too.
What does a waste broker do?
Waste broker companies help businesses of any size that operate in any industry manage their waste storage, collection, and disposal efficiently and cost-effectively. They use their expertise to compare waste haulers and their services, scrutinize fees and charges, and source the best options for your business.
Waste brokers have a network of vetted and verified suppliers. These range from national franchises to independent local haulers and those that specialize in collecting and disposing of certain materials. Once you tell a waste broker some details about your trash and business, they’ll determine the most appropriate and cost-effective suppliers to use.
The main roles of a waste broker include to:
- Understand business waste needs – good waste brokers will discuss the types and volumes of trash your business produces as well as the size and location of your site to get an insight into your management needs. Their expertise helps determine the best dumpsters, collection frequencies, and recycling or disposal methods tailored to your company.
- Compare suppliers – with an understanding of your requirements, they’ll find suitable suppliers from their network that provide efficient and affordable services. Factors including cost, location, reliability, environmental impact, and regulatory compliance will be considered.
- Offer custom solutions – services and strategies are customized to meet your needs, such as providing suitable dumpster types and sizes to segregate waste materials and collection frequencies to avoid them from overflowing or being removed when they’re only half full.
- Manage logistics – trash brokers schedule the delivery and collection of dumpsters at convenient times. They also deal directly with suppliers to tackle any potential problems in the supply chain or process, saving you time and effort.
- Ensure legal compliance – all suppliers should be vetted and checked that waste is managed and disposed of in line with relevant regulations (depending on the location and waste material). Any required documentation should be passed on to you.
- Deal with invoices – waste brokers streamline contracts and payments by consolidating them where possible for simple budgeting. Their industry expertise ensures cost-effective pricing and easy invoicing.
- Provide consistent customer service – a waste broker is your only point of contact as they deal with the suppliers. They can address any issues, answer your questions, and provide regular updates.
Why use a waste management broker?
Most businesses don’t have a dedicated role or specialist for managing their trash. This involves everything from comparing quotes and determining the best dumpster sizes and numbers to organizing collections and segregating materials. Using a waste management broker puts these tasks into the hands of an expert for the best possible results.
These are the main benefits of using a waste management broker:
- Save money as waste brokers compare prices from a wide range of suppliers to provide competitive quotes bespoke to your specific needs.
- Save time with everything from getting quotes, arranging pickups, and dealing with bills handled by the waste broker, freeing up your team’s time to focus on their tasks.
- Improve your environmental impact by organizing professional recycling services and responsible disposal methods to avoid sending trash to landfills.
- Access expert analysis for better decision-making for your commercial waste management.
- Centralize customer service with one point of contact for all your waste streams that also manages everything from invoicing to complaints, reports, and more.
- Reduce risks to ensure you comply with relevant regulations and avoid any fines or legal issues.
Start using a commercial
trash broker
Business Waste is a leading trash broker with a wide network of verified suppliers in the USA. We can help companies of any size and industry organize smooth and affordable commercial waste management with customized solutions and services. See how much you could save with a free no-obligation quote.
One of our friendly experts can listen to and discuss your needs and outline the next best steps. Services include everything from dumpster rental to regular waste collection and recycling (with all waste kept away from landfills). Get in touch with us today – call 888 584 2118 or contact us online for more information.