Plastic waste in the U.S. - statistics & facts
Key insights
- Plastics consumption in the U.S.
- 84.3 Mt
Detailed statistics
Plastics consumption in the United States 1980-2019
- U.S. plastic waste generation
- 73 Mt
Detailed statistics
Projected plastic waste generation in the United States 2019-2060
- Plastics share of U.S. MSW generation
- 12%
Detailed statistics
Breakdown of municipal waste materials generated in the U.S. 2018, by type
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Current statistics on this topic
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Overview
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- Premium Statistic Global plastic production 1950-2022
- Premium Statistic Plastic material production worldwide 2022, by region
- Premium Statistic Share of global plastic waste management 2019-2060, by method
- Premium Statistic Mismanaged plastic waste shares worldwide 2019, by region
- Premium Statistic Plastics consumption in the United States 1980-2019
Overview
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Global plastic production 1950-2022
Global plastic production 1950-2022
Annual production of plastics worldwide from 1950 to 2022 (in million metric tons)
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Plastic material production worldwide 2022, by region
Plastic material production worldwide 2022, by region
Distribution of global plastic materials production in 2022, by region
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Share of global plastic waste management 2019-2060, by method
Share of global plastic waste management 2019-2060, by method
Projected distribution of plastic waste management worldwide in selected years from 2019 to 2060, by method
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Mismanaged plastic waste shares worldwide 2019, by region
Mismanaged plastic waste shares worldwide 2019, by region
Distribution of mismanaged plastic waste worldwide in 2019, by region
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Plastics consumption in the United States 1980-2019
Plastics consumption in the United States 1980-2019
Consumption volume of plastics in the United States from 1980 to 2019 (in million metric tons)
Trade
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- Premium Statistic Scrap plastic exports from the U.S. 2015-2022
- Premium Statistic Plastic waste exports from the U.S. 2022, by destination
- Premium Statistic Share of scrap plastic waste exported by the U.S. 2022, by destination
- Premium Statistic Quarterly plastic waste exports from the United States 2018-2023
- Premium Statistic Quarterly plastic waste imports in the United States 2019-2023
Trade
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Scrap plastic exports from the U.S. 2015-2022
Scrap plastic exports from the U.S. 2015-2022
Exports of scrap plastic from the United States from 2015 to 2022 (in billion pounds)
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Plastic waste exports from the U.S. 2022, by destination
Plastic waste exports from the U.S. 2022, by destination
Plastic scrap exports from the United States in 2022, by destination (in 1,000 metric tons)
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Share of scrap plastic waste exported by the U.S. 2022, by destination
Share of scrap plastic waste exported by the U.S. 2022, by destination
Distribution of scrap plastic exports from the United States in 2022, by destination
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Quarterly plastic waste exports from the United States 2018-2023
Quarterly plastic waste exports from the United States 2018-2023
Plastic scrap exports from the United States from 1st quarter 2018 to 1st quarter 2023 (in 1,000 metric tons)
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Quarterly plastic waste imports in the United States 2019-2023
Quarterly plastic waste imports in the United States 2019-2023
Plastic scrap imports in the United States from 1st quarter 2019 to 1st quarter 2023 (in 1,000 metric tons)
Generation
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- Basic Statistic Breakdown of municipal waste materials generated in the U.S. 2018, by type
- Basic Statistic Plastic municipal solid waste generated in the United States 1960-2018
- Basic Statistic Plastic MSW generated in the U.S. 2018, by type
- Premium Statistic U.S. municipal solid waste plastics generation 2018, by category
- Premium Statistic Plastic containers and packaging waste generated in the U.S. 1960-2018
- Premium Statistic Plastic packaging MSW generation in the U.S. 1960-2018, by product
Generation
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Basic Statistic
Breakdown of municipal waste materials generated in the U.S. 2018, by type
Breakdown of municipal waste materials generated in the U.S. 2018, by type
Distribution of municipal solid waste (MSW) stream generated in the United States in 2018, by material
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Basic Statistic
Plastic municipal solid waste generated in the United States 1960-2018
Plastic municipal solid waste generated in the United States 1960-2018
Plastic municipal solid waste generation in the United States from 1960 to 2018 (in 1,000 short tons)
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Basic Statistic
Plastic MSW generated in the U.S. 2018, by type
Plastic MSW generated in the U.S. 2018, by type
Plastic municipal solid waste generated in the United States in 2018, by resin (in 1,000 tons)
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U.S. municipal solid waste plastics generation 2018, by category
U.S. municipal solid waste plastics generation 2018, by category
Plastics found in products in the municipal solid waste stream in the United States in 2018, by category (in 1,000 tons)
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Plastic containers and packaging waste generated in the U.S. 1960-2018
Plastic containers and packaging waste generated in the U.S. 1960-2018
Plastic containers and packaging municipal solid waste generated in the United States from 1960 to 2018 (in 1,000 short tons)
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Plastic packaging MSW generation in the U.S. 1960-2018, by product
Plastic packaging MSW generation in the U.S. 1960-2018, by product
Plastic containers and packaging MSW generated in the United States from 1960 to 2018, by product (in 1,000 short tons)
Waste management
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- Premium Statistic Plastic waste managed in the U.S. 2018-2021, by method and scenario
- Premium Statistic Share of plastic waste management in the U.S. 2018-2021, by method and scenario
- Premium Statistic Plastic waste recycling habits in the United States 2020-2022
- Premium Statistic Frustrations with realities of recycling plastic in the United States 2022
- 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 Plastic containers and packaging waste landfilled in the U.S. 1960-2018
Waste management
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Plastic waste managed in the U.S. 2018-2021, by method and scenario
Plastic waste managed in the U.S. 2018-2021, by method and scenario
Plastic waste management in the United States in 2018 with estimates for 2021, by method and scenario (in million tons)
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Share of plastic waste management in the U.S. 2018-2021, by method and scenario
Share of plastic waste management in the U.S. 2018-2021, by method and scenario
Distribution of plastic waste management in the United States in 2018 with estimates for 2021, by method and scenario
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Plastic waste recycling habits in the United States 2020-2022
Plastic waste recycling habits in the United States 2020-2022
Household plastic waste recycling habits in the United States in 2020 and 2022
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Frustrations with realities of recycling plastic in the United States 2022
Frustrations with realities of recycling plastic in the United States 2022
Extent of frustration with plastic recycling realities in the United States in 2022
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Plastic bottle recycling rates in the U.S. 2019-2020, by material type
Plastic bottle recycling rates in the U.S. 2019-2020, by material type
Recycling rates of post-consumer plastic bottles sourced in the United States in 2019 and 2020, by material type
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Share of recycled-non bottle rigid plastic in the U.S. 2020, by source
Share of recycled-non bottle rigid plastic in the U.S. 2020, by source
Distribution of post-consumer non-bottle rigid plastic recovered for recycling sourced in the United States in 2020, by source
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Plastic containers and packaging waste landfilled in the U.S. 1960-2018
Plastic containers and packaging waste landfilled in the U.S. 1960-2018
Plastic containers and packaging municipal solid waste landfilled in the United States from 1960 to 2018 (in 1,000 short tons)
Pollution
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- Premium Statistic Number of waste items found along beaches in the U.S. 2022, by type
- Premium Statistic Waste items found along beaches in the U.S. 2022, by type and 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
Pollution
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Number of waste items found along beaches in the U.S. 2022, by type
Number of waste items found along beaches in the U.S. 2022, by type
Most common waste items found along beaches in the United States in 2022
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Waste items found along beaches in the U.S. 2022, by type and state
Waste items found along beaches in the U.S. 2022, by type and state
Most common waste items found along beaches in the United States in 2022, by select state
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Concerns about negative impacts of plastic waste in the U.S. 2020-2022, by issue
Concerns about negative impacts of plastic waste in the U.S. 2020-2022, by issue
Biggest concerns about the negative impacts of plastic waste in the United States in 2020 and 2022
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Plastics and plastic waste opinions in the U.S. 2020-2022, by statement
Plastics and plastic waste opinions in the U.S. 2020-2022, by statement
Opinions on plastics and plastic waste in the United States in 2020 and 2022, by statement
Outlook
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Projected plastics use in the United States 2019-2060
Projected plastics use in the United States 2019-2060
Plastics use in the United States in 2019, with projections to 2060 (in million metric tons)
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Projected plastic waste generation in the United States 2019-2060
Projected plastic waste generation in the United States 2019-2060
Plastic waste generation in the United States in 2019, with projections for 2030 and 2060 (in million metric tons)
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Plastic waste generation per capita in the U.S. 2019-2060
Plastic waste generation per capita in the U.S. 2019-2060
Per capita plastic waste generation in the United States in 2019, with projections for 2030 and 2060 (in kilograms)
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