The United States exported 1.21 billion pounds of scrap plastic in 2021, a decrease of roughly 167 million pounds compared with the previous year. The volume of scrap plastic exported by the U.S. has fallen considerably since 2015, when shipments totaled 4.5 billion pounds. In previous years China was the main destination for U.S. plastic waste, but in 2017 it introduced restrictions, leading to a decrease in U.S. exports. Then, in 2018, China imposed a ban on recovered plastic imports, which saw U.S. exports plummet further to 2.4 billion pounds. Canada is now the top destination for
Exports of scrap plastic from the United States from 2015 to 2021* (in billion pounds)
Basic Account
Get to know the platform
You only have access to basic statistics.
This statistic is not included in your account.
Starter Account
The ideal entry-level account for individual users
- Instant access to 1m statistics
- Download in XLS, PDF & PNG format
- Detailed references
$59 USD $39 USD / Month *
in the first 12 months
Professional Account
Full access
Corporate solution including all features.
* Prices do not include sales tax.
Statistics on Plastic waste in the U.S.
Overview
5
- Premium Statistic Global plastic production 1950-2021
- Premium Statistic Global plastic use shares 2019, by region
- Premium Statistic Mismanaged plastic waste shares worldwide 2019, by region
- Premium Statistic Plastics consumption in the United States 1980-2019
- Basic Statistic Breakdown of municipal waste materials generated in the U.S. 2018, by type
Trade
6
- Premium Statistic Scrap plastic exports from the U.S. 2015-2021
- Premium Statistic Share of scrap plastic waste exported by the U.S. 2021, by destination
- Premium Statistic U.S. plastic waste exports 2020-2021, by destination
- Premium Statistic Quarterly plastic waste exports from the United States 2018-2022
- Premium Statistic Quarterly plastic waste imports in the United States 2019-2022
- Premium Statistic U.S plastic scrap exports in H1 2022, by destination
Generation
5
- Basic Statistic Volume of U.S. plastic municipal solid waste generated 1960-2018
- Basic Statistic Volume of plastic MSW generated in the U.S. 2018, by type
- Premium Statistic U.S. municipal solid waste: plastics generation by category 2018
- Premium Statistic Plastic containers and packaging MSW generated in the U.S. 1960-2018
- Premium Statistic Plastic packaging MSW generation in the U.S. 1960-2018, by product
Waste management
6
- Premium Statistic Share of plastic waste management in the U.S. 2018-2021, by method and scenario
- Premium Statistic Plastic waste managed in the U.S. 2018-2021, by method and scenario
- Premium Statistic Plastic containers and packaging MSW landfilled in the U.S. 1960-2018
- Premium Statistic Plastic bottle recycling rates in the U.S. 2019-2020, by material type
- Premium Statistic Share of recycled-non bottle rigid plastic in the U.S. 2020, by source
- Premium Statistic Household plastic waste recycling habits in the United States 2020-2022
Pollution
5
- Premium Statistic Coastal mismanaged plastic waste generation worldwide 2016, by select country
- Premium Statistic Waste items found along beaches in the U.S. 2021
- Premium Statistic Waste items found along beaches in the U.S. 2021, by state
- Premium Statistic Concerns about negative impacts of plastic waste in the U.S. 2020-2022, by issue
- Premium Statistic Plastics and plastic waste opinions in the U.S. 2020-2022, by statement
Outlook
4
- Premium Statistic Global plastic waste generation projections 2019-2060, by disposal method
- Premium Statistic Projected plastics use in the United States 2019-2060
- Premium Statistic Projected plastic waste generation in the United States 2019-2060
- Premium Statistic Plastic waste generation per capita in the U.S. 2019-2060
Further related statistics
16
- U.S. recycling of postconsumer bottles 2010-2017
- Breakdown of select global plastic waste importers 2018
- Volume of global plastic waste import by select country 2016-2018
- Weight of U.S. plastic waste exports by country 2017-2018
- Canada's plastic waste flow by disposal method 2016
- Global recycled plastic and plastic waste-to-oil market value 2014 & 2024
- Global volume of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch by material 2015
- Global industrial plastic waste generation by sector 2015
- Collection of plastic waste in Europe 2006-2016, by type of treatment
- Global flow of plastic polymer material 2016
- U.S. post-consumer recycling companies based on volume 2015
- Plastic waste imports worldwide 2021, by destination
- U.S. import volume of waste plastics 2006-2015
- Global data on plastic production and waste 1950-2017
- Global actions to decrease non-recyclable plastic waste 2019
- Global market value of post-consumer recycled plastics 2019 & 2024
Further Content: You might find this interesting as well
Statistics
- U.S. recycling of postconsumer bottles 2010-2017
- Breakdown of select global plastic waste importers 2018
- Volume of global plastic waste import by select country 2016-2018
- Weight of U.S. plastic waste exports by country 2017-2018
- Canada's plastic waste flow by disposal method 2016
- Global recycled plastic and plastic waste-to-oil market value 2014 & 2024
- Global volume of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch by material 2015
- Global industrial plastic waste generation by sector 2015
- Collection of plastic waste in Europe 2006-2016, by type of treatment
- Global flow of plastic polymer material 2016
- U.S. post-consumer recycling companies based on volume 2015
- Plastic waste imports worldwide 2021, by destination
- U.S. import volume of waste plastics 2006-2015
- Global data on plastic production and waste 1950-2017
- Global actions to decrease non-recyclable plastic waste 2019
- Global market value of post-consumer recycled plastics 2019 & 2024
Resource Recycling Inc.. (March 2, 2022). Exports of scrap plastic from the United States from 2015 to 2021* (in billion pounds) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved January 26, 2023, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1097245/us-scrap-plastic-exports/
Resource Recycling Inc.. "Exports of scrap plastic from the United States from 2015 to 2021* (in billion pounds)." Chart. March 2, 2022. Statista. Accessed January 26, 2023. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1097245/us-scrap-plastic-exports/
Resource Recycling Inc.. (2022). Exports of scrap plastic from the United States from 2015 to 2021* (in billion pounds). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: January 26, 2023. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1097245/us-scrap-plastic-exports/
Resource Recycling Inc.. "Exports of Scrap Plastic from The United States from 2015 to 2021* (in Billion Pounds)." Statista, Statista Inc., 2 Mar 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1097245/us-scrap-plastic-exports/
Resource Recycling Inc., Exports of scrap plastic from the United States from 2015 to 2021* (in billion pounds) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1097245/us-scrap-plastic-exports/ (last visited January 26, 2023)
Exports of scrap plastic from the United States from 2015 to 2021* (in billion pounds) [Graph], Resource Recycling Inc., March 2, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1097245/us-scrap-plastic-exports/