Plastic Waste Facts
The use of plastic has risen dramatically over the past 50 years by businesses, homes, and consumers. So too has the plastic waste it creates. It’s estimated that in total around 7 billion tons of plastic waste has been produced across the world – yet less than 10% of this was recycled.
There are many types of plastics that have their own distinct properties and material makeup. These differences are what make plastic recycling more complex than recycling other materials such as glass. Various kinds of plastic are used to create plastic bags, toys, electronics, and even clothing, which are all eventually thrown away.
About half of all plastic has a single-use purpose, like disposable plastic cups, takeout food containers, and other types of plastic packaging. Discover the size of the plastic waste problem in the US and the wider world with these important plastic waste facts and statistics.
How much plastic waste is
produced each year?
Around 400 million tons of plastic waste is produced each year across the world, according to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). That’s a huge increase in the estimated two million tons of plastic waste that the world was producing annually in 1950. There are expectations that plastic waste generation will keep growing.
If current growth trends continue then the world may create 1.1 billion tons of waste plastic by 2050. The UN predicts that current rates of plastic trash production may triple by 2060 unless positive changes to reduce and recycle the materials are made in the coming years and decades across the planet.
Plastic waste statistics
The first synthetic plastic produced was Bakelite in 1907. From the 1950s onwards plastic use (and associated waste) then became more common. Over the last two years, plastic production has almost doubled, and the associated plastic waste creation has become a huge challenge for countries and industries across the world.
These plastic waste statistics highlight the scale of the problem:
- Plastic waste generation more than trebled between the 1970s and 1990s
- Estimated annual losses are between $80 and $120 billion for the value of plastic packaging waste that’s not recycled (burned, dumped, or entered the environment) during sorting and processing
- The US creates more than 35 million tons of plastic waste annually, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- About 27 million tons of plastic go to landfills in the USA every year
- More than 14.5 million tons of plastic waste are packaging and containers in the USA
- 36% of plastic produced is used to create packaging products
- Five trillion plastic bags are used globally each year
- 85% of plastic packaging ends up in landfills or becomes unregulated waste
- Around 98% of single-use plastic products are made from fossil fuels (virgin feedstock)
- China (60 million tons) produces the most plastic waste in the world annually, followed by the USA (42 million tons), and Brazil (11 million tons)
Plastic recycling facts
Recycling plastic is possible and a sustainable solution to manage waste. However, due to the many different plastic types (such as PET, PVC, and HDPE), they often need separating and processing at specialist recycling facilities. This can involve more complex processes and costs compared to recycling other materials, which is why adoption has been slower.
Dumping plastic in landfills is bad for the environment as it can take hundreds of years to break down. Toxins from the plastics may then leach into nearby ground and waterways, as well as contributing to the greenhouse gases and pollution the landfill site releases. Recycling is a much better solution.
Understand the current state with these plastic recycling facts and statistics:
- 15% of plastic is collected for recycling worldwide
- It’s estimated that only 10% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled
- Between 5 to 10% of plastic in the USA is recycled – lots are shipped overseas
- Sadly, around 40% of global plastic waste collected for recycling is disposed of improperly (landfills, incineration, or mismanaged)
- Plastic can take more than 500 years to decompose fully, which is why recycling is so important
- Many types of plastic are only recyclable two or three times before the quality degrades and they can’t be recycled again
Plastic bottle waste statistics
Plastic bottles are one of the most common kinds of plastic waste across the world. They’re cheap, lightweight, and flexible which is why plastic bottles are used for everything from water and soda to milk and other liquids. Yet many plastic bottles are disposed of after one use, which creates lots of waste.
See how many we chuck out with these plastic bottle waste statistics:
- Every minute around the world one million plastic bottles are bought
- In total more than 500 billion plastic bottles are used each year worldwide
- Unfortunately, around 80% of plastic bottles end up in landfills around the world
- And it’s estimated 8 million tons of plastic bottle waste ends up in our oceans annually
- Recycling just one plastic bottle saves enough energy to power a lightbulb for three hours
- In the USA the recycling rates for both PET and HDPE plastic bottles are over 29%
- Every hour about 5 million plastic bottles are thrown away in the USA
- Norway has a 97% recycling rate for PET plastic bottles– the best in the world currently
Facts about plastic waste
in the ocean
Sadly, lots of plastic waste makes its way into our oceans and waterways. It can trap and choke sea creatures, get tangled up in coral reefs, and release chemicals and toxins. The amount of plastic in the oceans has built up over many years and is a huge environmental problem across the planet.
These facts about plastic waste in the ocean show the scale of the issue:
- Between 19 and 23 million tons of plastic waste leaks into the planet’s oceans every year
- It’s estimated that more than five trillion pieces of plastic are in the oceans
- About 70% of plastics in the seas sink into ocean ecosystems while 15% float and the other 15% wash up on beaches and shorelines
- 5% of plastic waste ends up in the ocean – although lots remain close to the shoreline
- Between 75 and 200 million tons of plastic waste could be in the world’s oceans in total
- At the current rate, the amount of plastic entering oceans may reach up to 37 million tons annually by 2040
- 1,000 rivers are responsible for 80% of plastic emissions that end up in our oceans
- Research found that around 74% of trash in the Mississippi is plastic
Reduce and recycle plastic waste
Hopefully, these plastic waste facts and statistics highlight the importance of reducing and recycling plastic waste. If your business produces lots of waste plastic – whether it’s packaging, manufacturing offcuts, or anything else – we can help. Find out more about our plastic waste collection and recycling services.
Get a free no-obligation quote today for collection and recycling of any type and amount of plastic waste. We can arrange dumpster rental to store your used plastics safely and removals on a convenient schedule with all plastic disposed of away from landfills. Call 888 584 2118 or contact us online for your free quote.
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