The most common waste management method of plastic containers and packaging in the United States is landfilling. In 2018, roughly 70 percent of the 14.53 million tons of plastic containers and packaging MSW generated in the U.S. was landfilled. In comparison, just 14 percent was recycled.
Distribution of plastic containers and packaging waste management in the United States in 2018, by method*
Characteristic
Share of waste management
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Environmental Protection Agency. (January 23, 2021). Distribution of plastic containers and packaging waste management in the United States in 2018, by method* [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved August 25, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1228208/us-plastics-container-packaging-waste-treatment-breakdown/
Environmental Protection Agency. "Distribution of plastic containers and packaging waste management in the United States in 2018, by method*." Chart. January 23, 2021. Statista. Accessed August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1228208/us-plastics-container-packaging-waste-treatment-breakdown/
Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Distribution of plastic containers and packaging waste management in the United States in 2018, by method*. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: August 25, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1228208/us-plastics-container-packaging-waste-treatment-breakdown/
Environmental Protection Agency. "Distribution of Plastic Containers and Packaging Waste Management in The United States in 2018, by Method*." Statista, Statista Inc., 23 Jan 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1228208/us-plastics-container-packaging-waste-treatment-breakdown/
Environmental Protection Agency, Distribution of plastic containers and packaging waste management in the United States in 2018, by method* Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1228208/us-plastics-container-packaging-waste-treatment-breakdown/ (last visited August 25, 2024)
Distribution of plastic containers and packaging waste management in the United States in 2018, by method* [Graph], Environmental Protection Agency, January 23, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1228208/us-plastics-container-packaging-waste-treatment-breakdown/