Plastic municipal solid waste generated in the United States 1960-2018
The United States generated 35.7 million short tons of plastic waste in 2018. The amount of plastic waste generated in the U.S. municipal solid waste stream has increased dramatically over the last few decades. In 1970, the U.S. generated 2.9 million short tons of plastic waste, and by 2000 this figure had increased to 25.5 million short tons. In recent years the U.S. has generated more than 30 million short tons of plastic waste a year.