An estimated 54 million metric tons of global plastic waste was sent to landfills in 2016. Under current trajectories, this figure is expected to increase to 69 million metric tons by 2040. By 2040, plastic recycling will have overtaken landfilling, but will remain well below incineration. The plastic waste crisis is a growing concern worldwide, especially in coastal regions. In 2016, an estimated 11 million metric tons of mismanaged plastic waste entered oceans. This quantity is expected to triple by 2040 to almost 30 million metric tons. Open burning is another harmful way that plastic waste is commonly disposed of, especially in developing countries.
Plastic waste flow worldwide in 2016 with a forecast to 2040 under business-as-usual scenario, by treatment
(in million metric tons)
Characteristic
Recycled content
Landfill
Incineration
Plastic to fuel (P2F)
Terrestrial leakage
Open burning
Ocean leakage
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Exclusive Premium Statistic
To access all Premium Statistics, you need a paid Statista Account
*Business-as-Usual assumes no intervention is made in relation to current plastic-related policy, economics, infrastructure, or materials, and that cultural norms and consumer behaviors do not change.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.
Pew Charitable Trusts. (October 23, 2020). Plastic waste flow worldwide in 2016 with a forecast to 2040 under business-as-usual scenario, by treatment (in million metric tons) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved July 27, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1270092/plastic-waste-treatment-and-disposal-projections-worldwide/
Pew Charitable Trusts. "Plastic waste flow worldwide in 2016 with a forecast to 2040 under business-as-usual scenario, by treatment (in million metric tons)." Chart. October 23, 2020. Statista. Accessed July 27, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1270092/plastic-waste-treatment-and-disposal-projections-worldwide/
Pew Charitable Trusts. (2020). Plastic waste flow worldwide in 2016 with a forecast to 2040 under business-as-usual scenario, by treatment (in million metric tons). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: July 27, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1270092/plastic-waste-treatment-and-disposal-projections-worldwide/
Pew Charitable Trusts. "Plastic Waste Flow Worldwide in 2016 with a Forecast to 2040 under Business-as-usual Scenario, by Treatment (in Million Metric Tons)." Statista, Statista Inc., 23 Oct 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1270092/plastic-waste-treatment-and-disposal-projections-worldwide/
Pew Charitable Trusts, Plastic waste flow worldwide in 2016 with a forecast to 2040 under business-as-usual scenario, by treatment (in million metric tons) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1270092/plastic-waste-treatment-and-disposal-projections-worldwide/ (last visited July 27, 2024)
Plastic waste flow worldwide in 2016 with a forecast to 2040 under business-as-usual scenario, by treatment (in million metric tons) [Graph], Pew Charitable Trusts, October 23, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1270092/plastic-waste-treatment-and-disposal-projections-worldwide/
