Key figures about mismanaged plastic waste in the U.S. 2016
The United States generated an estimated 42 million tons of plastic waste in 2016, making it by far the world's biggest plastic waste generator. Of this amount, an estimated 2.24 million tons were mismanaged through practices such as illegal dumping, littering, and exports.
It has long been viewed that plastic waste pollution is more of a problem in Asia. However, it has often not been taken into account the enormous volumes of plastic waste exported by wealthier countries to developing countries without sufficient solid waste infrastructures. In 2016, between 0.15 and 0.99 million tons of plastic waste was collected in the U.S. for recycling, then exported to countries where it was inadequately managed.
The U.S. is also major contributor of plastic pollution into marine environments, with its coastal population generating an estimated 1.45 million tons of mismanaged plastic waste in 2016.
It has long been viewed that plastic waste pollution is more of a problem in Asia. However, it has often not been taken into account the enormous volumes of plastic waste exported by wealthier countries to developing countries without sufficient solid waste infrastructures. In 2016, between 0.15 and 0.99 million tons of plastic waste was collected in the U.S. for recycling, then exported to countries where it was inadequately managed.
The U.S. is also major contributor of plastic pollution into marine environments, with its coastal population generating an estimated 1.45 million tons of mismanaged plastic waste in 2016.
