In the United States, the vast majority of plastic in the municipal solid waste stream is landfilled. In 2018, U.S. plastic waste generation totaled 35.7 million tons, of which approximately 27 million tons was disposed of at landfill sites.
While the volume of plastic waste that is recycled has increased significantly since the 1980's, just 3.09 million tons was recycled in 2018.
Volume of plastic in municipal solid waste stream in the U.S. from 1960 to 2018, by disposal method
(in 1,000 tons)
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Environmental Protection Agency. (January 23, 2021). Volume of plastic in municipal solid waste stream in the U.S. from 1960 to 2018, by disposal method (in 1,000 tons) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved November 21, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/946227/disposal-of-us-plastic-waste-weight/
Environmental Protection Agency. "Volume of plastic in municipal solid waste stream in the U.S. from 1960 to 2018, by disposal method (in 1,000 tons)." Chart. January 23, 2021. Statista. Accessed November 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/946227/disposal-of-us-plastic-waste-weight/
Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Volume of plastic in municipal solid waste stream in the U.S. from 1960 to 2018, by disposal method (in 1,000 tons). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: November 21, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/946227/disposal-of-us-plastic-waste-weight/
Environmental Protection Agency. "Volume of Plastic in Municipal Solid Waste Stream in The U.S. from 1960 to 2018, by Disposal Method (in 1,000 Tons)." Statista, Statista Inc., 23 Jan 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/946227/disposal-of-us-plastic-waste-weight/
Environmental Protection Agency, Volume of plastic in municipal solid waste stream in the U.S. from 1960 to 2018, by disposal method (in 1,000 tons) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/946227/disposal-of-us-plastic-waste-weight/ (last visited November 21, 2024)
Volume of plastic in municipal solid waste stream in the U.S. from 1960 to 2018, by disposal method (in 1,000 tons) [Graph], Environmental Protection Agency, January 23, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/946227/disposal-of-us-plastic-waste-weight/
