1 Here are some stats that show how recycling has changed in recent years: Of the 40 million tons of plastic waste generated in the U.S. in 2021, only 5% to 6% or about two million tons was recycled. Recycling statistics help municipal leaders make sense of a broad and ever-changing landscape. Until recently, the U.S. outsourced a significant portion of its plastic, but import bans in countries like China and Turkey have fueled a decline in recycling. Also included is a series of material recycling statistics, focused on the most recycled materials in North America. (Plus 8 Ways to Get More Value). ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"There are at least some signs of increased demand for eco-friendly water bottles and other sustainable alternatives. Different resins react differently when they are reprocessed into a new item, hence, many recycling facilities can only recycle certain types of plastic. According to the Greenpeace report, U.S. households generated an estimated 51 million tons of plastic waste in 2021, and only 2.4 million tons were recycled. About 110 million glass bottles are thrown away every day in the U.S., of which only one-third get recycled. In many cases, plastic recycling is more costly and energy-intensive than creating plastic from raw materials, contributing to the low recycling rates. Many people on the beach and traveling in the sea also carelessly throw all kinds of trash on the coastlines and the ocean, not thinking of the consequences of their actions. It is cheaper to make glass products out of recycled materials than virgin raw materials. Luckily there are many things we can all do to help protect our environment from plastic waste and make a difference. With some 120 million households in the US alone, and about 10 million households in Canada there is still work to be done. Consumption of aluminum in the U.S. was 4.3 million metric tons in 2021, up from 3.98 million metric tons in 2020. The Coca-Cola company has the largest plastic footprint on earth, using an eye watering 2.9 million metric tonnes of plastic packaging annually. Unfortunately, not all trash made of plastic is recycled. And even when plastics are recycled, about a third of the material from a PET plastic bottle is discarded in the process. However, legislation changes there mean that this is no longer the case, and developed countries have had to find other destinations to offload their trash. Considering the EPA hasnt released an updated report on the state of recycling and waste since 2018, it can be difficult to get an idea of how the recycling industry has changed in the past few years. ), 5 Majestic Non-Toxic Headboards for any Budget, Best Sustainable Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals, 4 Best Non-Toxic Rug Pads [Organic & Eco-Friendly], 3 Stunning Non-Toxic Childrens Furniture Pieces, How to Clean a Reusable Water Bottle [5 Easy Steps], Why are Mattresses So Expensive? This is remarkable considering just 15 or so years ago, Slovenian waste went straight to the landfill. Approximately 36% of all plastic produced is used to create packaging, 85% of which ends up in landfills. As the worlds largest plastic producer and exporter, Chinas plastic exports were reportedly worth 48.31 billion U.S. dollars in 2019, an increase of some $5 billion on the previous year. With this facts and stats list, we can glean insight into which parts of the recycling system need work, where investment makes the most sense, and which models are working best across the nation. However, with governments in both Thailand and Malaysia announcing bans on plastic scrap imports in recent years, it is likely that plastic waste export will become more difficult and that industrialized nations will need to find ways of dealing with their own problems in future. 17 cool products made from recycled plastics, 7 Things You Didnt Know About Plastic (and Recycling), Production, Use And Fate Of All Plastics Ever Made. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What Exactly Does Plastic Waste Comprise? Your email address will not be published. This means that drinking bottled water may not be entirely safe for humans, no matter how nice its packaging looks. If both the EU and US could do as good a job as Norway, we would see far fewer bottles floating in our oceans. About 12% has been incinerated, while the rest 79% . ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Plastic food wrappers (nearly 5 million collected) and cigarette butts (4.2 million collected) were the most commonly found items. A study also revealed that microplastics and synthetic are found in the deepest part of the ocean and are ingested by deep sea creatures. Plastic is one of the most common materials we use today. Globally, 40% of the food produced is wasted. The final three places in the top 10 belong to Italy and Belgium, tied at 55%, and Switzerland with a 53% municipal recycling rate. Despite the UK's best efforts, recycling rates for plastic bottles have remained unchanged for the last 5 years at 57%.The plastic that truly is recycled, is usually only recycled 2 or 3 times. The two least recycled materials were plastics (4.5%) and glass (4.4%). 74 Recycling Facts Statistics For 2022 Rts "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How Much Plastic MSW Does The US Produce? Finally, lets look at what residents are recycling. They help to provide a more personalized experience for you, and web analytics for us. The rest of Asia combined is responsible for 17%, and Europe produces 15%. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), at least 8 million tons of plastic waste end up in our oceans every year. The sheer volume of plastic in our rivers and oceans will inevitably lead back to our drinking water. For instance, you can participate in the Plastic Free July challenge or support your citys plastic waste recycling program. document.getElementById("ak_js_1").setAttribute("value",(new Date()).getTime()); Your email address will not be published. Of this, just 600 million tonnes (a little over 6.5%) has been recycled, and just 200 million tonnes of that is still in use. "More plastic is being produced, and an even smaller. Check out our updated list for 25 of the most relevant statistics on the recycling industry. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What Waste Items Wash Up on Our Coastlines? 12 Ways To Protect The Ocean And Marine Life. However, most plastic trash is not recycled (we will discuss why below) and will never become new products. But have you wondered what happens to the plastic you throw away? Plastics with the same resin number cant always be recycled together because they arent created with the same production method. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"What Is Most Plastic Being Used For? Wherever you live, a few simple changes to your daily lifestyle can help reduce this shocking volume of pollution. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Coca Cola products were found in plastic waste most frequently, with 13,834 items found across 51 countries. With the majority of plastic waste not being recycled, its not hard to imagine how big of a problem this is going to become in the next few decades. Perhaps surprisingly, the USA itself also appears in 5th place on the importers list. Recycled plastic price per kilo. Unlike plastic, glass bottles and jars are fully recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without degradation of quality or purity. (e.g. Another possible option is to purchase a domestic plastic shredder. The food lost on farms alone could feed every undernourished person in the world four times over. Your guide to a green and eco-friendly lifestyle. Although aluminum can be infinitely recycled, 7 million tons of aluminum are still not recycled each year. See also: What do the 7 Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean? What does the global recycling landscape look like right now? How Much Plastic Has Been Recycled So Far? ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"In terms of production and distribution of plastic products, China leads the way with a 32% share of global production volume. Accessing relevant, up-to-date information about recycling can be difficult. Based on these recycling statistics, you can see how important infrastructure, visibility and ease-of-use is for keeping residents recycling right. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"As the worlds largest plastic producer and exporter, Chinas plastic exports were reportedly worth 48.31 billion U.S. dollars in 2019, an increase of some $5 billion on the previous year. The BPF's plastics recycling group has long championed recycling (picture: Shutterstock) The best of EcoWatch right in your inbox. Devise ways to reduce food waste entering the system, and encourage residents to compost the organic waste they create at home. In 2018, only 18.5% of the total PET waste generated in America was recycled. PlasticsEurope (PEMRG) | Stanford University | China Statistical Yearbook | Danmarks Tekniske Universitet; UNEP | Statista | AAAS | Basel Convention | EPA | UNEP | Break Free From Plastic | Heinrich-Bll-Stiftung | CSIRO | Heinrich-Bll-Stiftung | Plastic Atlas | Ocean Conservancy | Orb Media | News.com AU | IHS Markit | Grand View Research | Transparency Market Research | The Hindu | Plastics SA, {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"FAQPage","mainEntity":[{"@type":"Question","name":"How Much Plastic Does The World Produce Each Year? You can even bring your own reusable mug when getting beverages from stores! Your email address will not be published. According to EPA, the United States generated 130Kg of plastic waste per head of population in 2018. Food waste generates around 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. For 2017, the England estimate (36.1 million tonnes) was . Plastic is recycled into products like piping, construction materials, floor tiles, new plastic bottles, containers, and more. Plastic trash is eaten by fish will eventually make it to our table, and yes, into our bodies. The next most common were plastic bottles and bottle caps. India has the best plastic recycling rate in the world, reportedly recycling as much as 60% of its plastic waste. How to Dispose of Biodegradable Wipes [and What NOT to Do], What is the Black Stuff on my Water Bottle (And is it Dangerous? "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which Countries Lead The Way In Plastic Bottle Recycling? Is it Safe to Drink From a Reusable Water Bottle Left in a Car? According to OED 2022, how much plastic waste is recycled? Only 9% of the plastic waste generated has been recycled; the remainder is dumped in landfills or the ocean. Something to think about next time you throw a plastic bottle, bag, carton, or wrapper away, theres a good chance youll be drinking part of it (or a similar one) within the next few years. Its big business. The pledge encourages private companies and municipal institutions to work together to solve the mounting recycling crisis. Global demand for plastic is projected to increase by 4.1% by 2030, and again by a further 2.4% between 2030 and 2050. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which Countries Export The Most Plastic Waste? Production continues to grow steadily year on year. Metals (12.6%) were the second most recycled material in the US in 2018. Understandable, but not ideal for incremental recycling improvement. 27 Nov 2022 17:09:26 Recycled plastic also makes eco-friendly clothing, sleeping bags, backpacks, toys, and carpeting materials. According to the Last Beach Cleanup and Beyond Plastics report, about 85% of plastic ends up in landfills with 10% incinerated. Draw up plans and funding pitches and find innovative ways to rollout programs that will meet the unique needs of your local municipality. Global demand for aluminum is expected to grow by more than 80% by 205. 6% of all municipal solid waste recycled in 2018, was. Luckily, we have compiled the most recent statistics on plastic, paper, aluminum, glass, electronic and food recycling for 2022. Moreover, different kinds of plastics cant be mixed together to be recycled, and factories that make new products out of plastic trash only take specific resin types. Besides market demand and government regulations, here are other common reasons why many plastic trash arent recycled: According to a 2017 Science Advances paper entitled Production, Use And Fate Of All Plastics Ever Made, only around 9% of all plastic wastes had been recycled. In terms of resource saving, this means less waste left stagnant in their landfills and far less greenhouse gasses worsening the climate crisis. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Only 17.4% of e-waste discarded in 2019 was recycled. Meanwhile, plastic trash that has no market demand (or the quality of the plastic waste is too poor or too dirty) will be sent to landfill or incinerators. Below are some important recycling statistics to orientate you on the current state of things. But plastic waste isnt just found floating on the ocean surface. The one positive observation is that the annual rate of increase had slowed over the previous three years, after seeing dramatic increases in the decades prior. If the impact on our beaches and marine life doesnt persuade you that plastic pollution is a catastrophe, then how about this? The success of single-use plastic bans, water refilling stations, and reusable food and dish ware can be extended nationwide., Why are American national parks filled with plastic? 25 Plastic Waste Statistics That Will Shock You. In the US, a staggering 91% of plastic waste is landfilled or incinerated! ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The Coca-Cola company has the largest plastic footprint on earth, using an eye watering 2.9 million metric tonnes of plastic packaging annually.\n\nPepsiCo (2.3 million) and Nestle (1.7 million) make up the rest of the top 3, while Danone, Proctor & Gamble and Unilever are also major contributors. How could this be corrected in 2022? Scrap metals and cans remain key recycling materials that should be a central focus for all recycling programs this year. Countries such as China used to accept ships full of plastic waste from the US, says Jan Dell, founder of the Last Beach Cleanup, but without that option, more plastic is ending up thrown away, since few US facilities have the capacity to recycle it. An attempt to quantify the sheer volume of plastic waste created globally was made in 2016. A staggering 46% of plastic waste comes from packaging. The findings also pointed out that the quantity of materials collected for recycling, was not the same as the actual amounts processed. Dell says that solutions exist to replace single-use plastics for example, fiber-based food trays that can be composted or recycled. For instance, plastic bags from department stores, plastic straws, coffee cups, chips and snack packaging, candy wrappers, and soiled plastic bottles are not recyclable. Research shows that plastic use. In both these regions, 12% of MSW is plastics, which often end up in landfills or the oceans. Arabella loves to campaign for environmental causes and fundraise for charities that aim to preserve wildlife habitat, protect endangered species or help people with climate change problems. The national average price for PET beverage bottles and jars rose 7% from last month and now averages 25.31 cents per pound, up from 23.55 cents per pound last month. The AF&PA released a study recently stating that 65.7% of paper in the US was recycled in 2020, and corrugated containers had a 90% recycling rate. You'll learn how much plastic is already out there, how much more is being produced each year, and what it's used for. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The United States, India and China hold the unwanted top 3 positions in the global plastic waste league table. This is almost twice as much as the second most common application, building and construction, which used 64 million. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"When it comes to PET plastic bottle recycling rates, Norway is the world leader. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"India has the best plastic recycling rate in the world, reportedly recycling as much as 60% of its plastic waste.\n\nSouth Africa, the Netherlands, South Korea, Norway, and Spain come next on the list. 6 Reusable Water Bottle Materials: But Which is the Best? Required fields are marked *. This article was published by BBC News. On the waterloop podcast Marcus Ericksen of the 5 Gyres Institute explains that only a small portion of the world's plastic is actually recycled. Cookies are used to collect information about how you interact with the Recycle Coach website. The Last Beach Cleanup and Beyond Plasticss report also revealed that while plastic recycling is on the decline, the generation of plastic waste per person in the US has increased by 263% since 1980, from 60 pounds a person to 218 pounds a person. What do the 7 Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean? But such rules need to go further, the report says. Its also the. About 98% of single-use plastic products are made from fossil fuels. Brazil, Indonesia, Russia, Germany, and the United Kingdom all feature in the top ten. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which Companies Are The Worst Plastic Polluters? Honestly, there are a number of things that you can do to help reduce plastic waste. 85% of what Americans recycle is made up of plastic products. Most of the recyclable plastic ends up in landfills, according to a new report. The huge amount of plastic in the ocean is resulting in over 1 million marine animals and sea birds being killed each year. How many plastic bottles does it take to make a pound? Plastic particles are not biodegradable and they can attach to human tissues causing various health problems. (Others have letters like PLA, CPLA, and HDPE). Plastic is recycled into products like piping, construction materials, floor tiles, new plastic bottles, containers, and more. Reuters on the other hand suggested that we consume an average of 21 grams of plastic every month. A study suggested that between 2.5% and 3.6% of global oil and natural gas consumption was used as feedstock for plastics"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which Country is the Worlds Largest Plastic Producer? Worse, roughly 79% of the global plastic waste is currently left accumulating in either landfill or the natural environment and oceans. In addition, the country has had incinerators for material that cannot be recycled since the beginning of the century, which generate energy in around 250,000 homes. Can Bedsheets be Toxic? [9 Pros & Cons]. Asia and Western Europe throw away the highest percentage of plastic in Municipal Solid Waste (trash or garbage). Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In this way, when throwing the waste we can more easily separate the plastic from the rest. Its also very water intensive, so were not going to build more plastic recycling facilities in the US.. Other types of plastic are rarely recycled. And while there is a lot of work to be done, saving the planet from plastic waste is not impossible. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which Countries Generate The Most Plastic Waste? "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which Countries Import The Most Plastic Waste? How could this be corrected in 2022? The rest of Asia combined is responsible for 17%, and Europe produces 15%. In the past, China was the chief global importer of plastic waste. Between 75 and 199 million tons of plastic are currently in our oceans. People discard plastic waste irresponsibly during travels, camping, parties, and on daily occasions. Forecasts project that this could almost double to 12 billion by 2050. The 2019 International Coastal Ocean Cleanup analyzed the nature of the debris and waste items that had washed up on the worlds coastlines and riverbanks. Many developed countries have opted to send their garbage elsewhere when they are unable or unwilling to deal with it themselves. Arabella Ruiz is a senior researcher at The Roundup. Metals (12.6%) were the second most recycled material in the US in 2018. Unlike glass and metal, plastic cannot be repeatedly recycled without quickly degrading in quality. This represents a 6.8% compound annual growth rate. Plastic must have a recycling rate of 30% to reach that standard; no plastic has ever been recycled and reused close to that rate. Required fields are marked *. The 7 Chemicals Lurking in Your Bed, How to Recycle Old Magazines the Easy Way, Is Drinking From Stainless Steel Harmful? Recycled Bottle Ideas Clever Reuse S Mod Podge Rocks. Every hour, 2.5 million plastic bottles are thrown away in the U.S. Moreover, container ships also lose tons of cargo in the ocean every year, including plastic products, due to bad weather. For context, here are a few recycling facts on the federal level. While more than half North America has curbside recycling, its clear that a vast opportunity exists to rollout more curbside recycling programs across the continent. Of this, just 600 million tonnes (a little over 6.5%) has been recycled, and just 200 million tonnes of that is still in use. by Luciana Galn The world is producing twice as much plastic waste as it did two decades ago, with most of it ending up in landfills, being incinerated or leaking into the environment, and only 9% being successfully recycled, according to the OECD's Global Plastics Outlook report. The vast majority either sinks, or is washed ashore. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"We now produce around 367 Million Metric Tons of plastic globally, every year"}},{"@type":"Question","name":"How Much Energy Does Plastic Production Use? Perhaps surprisingly, the USA itself also appears in 5th place on the importers list. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The USA produces the most Municipal Solid Waste (trash or garbage) per head of population of any country in the world.\n\nAccording to EPA, the United States generated 130Kg of plastic waste per head of population in 2018. On International Plastic Bag Free Day, population correspondent Stephanie Hegarty asks how effective efforts are to recycle . Connecting curbside recycling programs with resident recycling education should be a priority this year, to encourage people to recycle more plastic items from home. Floating plastic debris similar to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch are currently the most abundant items of marine litter found on the ocean. It is predicted that production will continue to increase year on year when the latest data for 2021 becomes available. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a collection of marine debris (most are discarded plastic industrial fishing gear) in the North Pacific Ocean. The sheer scale of global plastic production is staggering. Your email address will not be published. It is followed by NAFTA with 19%. Recyclable plastic trash created in remote regions that are very far away from recycling facilities arent recycled as it is too expensive to ship them. On the other hand, many types of plastics are labeled as recyclable when they are not. The widely circulated statistic that 9% of plastic waste is recycled in the U.S. has now been deemed an overestimate. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"A study by Orb Media found that plastic fibres were present in 83% of tap water samples worldwide.\n\nWhen the data was broken down by country, it repealed that residents of the USA and Lebanon were most likely to find plastic in their tap water, with 94% of samples testing positive in each country.\n\nSamples in India were 82% contaminated, whereas Europe had 72%. Of that, only nine percent has been recycled. Stronger plastic recycling practices should be put in place, while other materials like metals and glass become easier to recycle. Misinformation is rampant, and plastic is being recycled at an even lower rate than previously estimated. Germanys municipal recycling rate is 67%, just 5% less than Slovenia making it the second-best recycling system in the world. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Asia and Western Europe throw away the highest percentage of plastic in Municipal Solid Waste (trash or garbage). As a consumer, you can influence how much plastic waste is recycled. And based on what we are seeing now, its not hard to see how plastic pollution endangers not only the environment but also the future of human beings here on Earth. Learn The Life Cycle Of A Recycled Plastic Bottle Pepsico Recycle Rally. Almost half of the paper recycled in 2021 was used to make cardboard boxes. How much plastic is actually recycled? We begin with a list of useful stats, then break-down global statistics, federal facts, and state recycling statistics to get an accurate view of the latest EPA data. Rubber, textiles, and leather (6.1%) were the third largest material set, with wood coming in fourth at 4.5%. The problem has also been exacerbated by shifts in the global recycling market, including Chinas 2017 ban on most US plastic exports. The most recycled metals as of 2019 include lead (76%), titanium (60%), magnesium (52%) and aluminum (51%). This gives you the opportunity to enact real change on a local level, if you discover methods that will significantly improve recycling in your municipality. For instance, the plastic recycling facilities in your city might only accept #1 and #2 plastics others will be sent to landfills. The results showed that Coca Cola products were found most frequently, with 13,834 items found across 51 countries. Commercial fishing boats leave a lot of plastic trash in the ocean, including different kinds of fishing nets and gears. Theres no way to sort our way out of this without reducing waste to start with.. Are you curious about the state of recycling in 2022? The United States, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom, and Belgium are named as the Top 5 exporters of plastic waste in the world. DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106508 An epic report was released recently that ranked US states according to their recycling rates for key materials, and success in implementing innovative recycling programs. After a total 360, the government set a goal to achieve a 75% recycling rate by 2025 and they are on track to achieve that goal, making them the example to emulate. Instead, they will end up in landfills, incinerators, or as litter on our roadsides and on the ocean. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Global demand for plastic is projected to increase by 4.1% by 2030, and again by a further 2.4% between 2030 and 2050. The first measure to recycle plastic at home is to include a specific trash can for this waste. Producing plastic takes around 62 to 108 megajoules of energy per kilogram based on U.S. efficiency averages. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which Oceans Are Worst Affected By Plastic Pollution? Now, we have got a complete detailed explanation and answer for everyone, who is interested! This website uses cookies. The short answer not all plastic is recyclable. By choosing eco-friendly, non-plastic alternatives, we can all help to reduce this crippling amount of waste. 81% of the types of waste recycled is paper or cardboard. As you have guessed, some plastic trash we throw goes to the recycling facilities and will be used to create new products. We have researched and gathered the latest key plastics industry data in five main areas: plastic waste generation, plastic production, recycling, pollution, and future outlook. This comprises everyday items including containers such as bottles, pots, tubs and trays, or wrappings such as plastic shopping bags, rubbish bags, bubble wrap or shrink wrap. By 2019 we were producing a massive 368 million metric tons. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The total cumulative volume of plastic waste was estimated to be 6.3 billion metric tonnes in 2015. The main use of recycled plastics is in packaging. These include a meticulous sorting of containers, which allows 93% of glass, 91% of cans and 83% of plastic bottles to be recycled. The vast majority79 percentis accumulating in landfills or sloughing off in the natural environment as litter. The so-called Great Pacific Garbage Patch, floating off the coast of California, is more than 4 times the size of Germany. The Department of Energy also released a research paper this week, which analyzed data from 2019, and came to the same number: only 5% of plastics are being recycled. Increased awareness about the plastic pollution problem is still not expected to reduce our consumption. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Are People Really Switching To Reusable Bottles and Cups? Plastic bottles take upwards of 450 years to degrade. US is recycling just 5% of its plastic waste, studies show According to the Last Beach Cleanup and Beyond Plastics report, about 85% of plastic ends up in landfills with 10% incinerated Most. The European Union lags behind at 58.2% and the USA recycles just 28.9%. Moreover, each liter of bottled water has an average of 325 microplastic particles. Key findings includes: Ireland generated 1,118,596 tonnes of packaging waste in 2020, a decrease of 112,209 tonnes (1 per cent) on 2019, due to a 4 per cent decrease in plastic and a 5 per cent . Since 1950, when plastics began to be mass-produced, the world has manufactured over 9 billion metric tonnes of plastic. Youre probably reading this article on a cellphone or computer with plastic components. The size of the worldwide market for recycled plastics was forecast to be 46.09 billion US dollars in 2021, and it is anticipated to reach 47.6 billion US dollars in 2022. In 2021, 91.4% of corrugated cardboard was recycled. Plastics stand out as egregiously wasteful in the world of recycling: paper is recycled at 66%, according to the American Forest Products Association, while the figure for aluminum cans is about 50.4%, according to the EPA. More than half the plastic ever produced (5 billion tonnes) has gone to waste. The first step is changing how we use, recycle, and throw away plastic products. So before throwing away any of your plastic trash, take some time to check what kind of plastic your city actually recycles. The 2022's Global Waste Index from Sensoneo, the leading provider of smart, enterprise-grade waste management solutions operating in 60 countries worldwide, shows there are still major differences in the amount of waste generated in the world, and how it is disposed of. The target to recycle 50 per cent of "waste from households" by 2020 was missed as the household recycling rate dropped to 44 per cent, down from 45.5 per cent in 2019 as people spent more time. #2 yogurt tubs cant be recycled together with #2 milk bottles). Break Free From Plastic conducted a global plastic waste audit to find out which companies products made the biggest contribution to the problem. If that is the case, then its better if you keep those plastics at home and find other means to recycle or repurpose them. We cant stay in the single use plastic nightmare scenario that we are right now, says Dell. The UK's tax is . Plastic straws, stirrers, cups, plates, and bags were just some of the other items that were found in abundance. Much of Floridas Coast Is at Risk of Storm Erosion, How to Get (and Keep) Squirrels Out of Your Attic, The Explosive Reason Why You Shouldnt Toss Out Electronics Containing Lithium-Ion Batteries. For recycling coordinators searching for fresh data to include as they shape new strategies for the year, these will come in handy. In this ultimate list youll find relevant, cited statistics on recycling that will help you be a better municipal leader. Premium California bales are still trading in the 35.00 to 38.00 cents per pound range. These are the areas in which our choices as individuals can have a massive effect. Sadly, the USA is by far the worst offender, producing a horrifying 42 million metric tons of plastic waste per year. It is a convenient way to package food, pick up supplies, buy clothes, drink water, and in general, to live. How much plastic does Costa Rica recycle? We dont have factories to do it. If wed have to guess, you might be thinking: Well, that is somewhat true as some plastic waste can indeed be recycled. "}},{"@type":"Question","name":"Which Countries Have The Best Plastic Recycling Rates? This figure has more than trebled since 2009. Transport was third, using 47.5 million tonnes. In 1950, just 1.5 million metric tons of plastic were produced worldwide, but this had grown to 200 million by 2002. PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) is the most commonly recycled type of plastic, accounting for 55% of global plastic recycling. To learn more, view our Software Privacy Policy. 10 Ingenious Ways To Recycle Plastic Bottles Eatwell101. The demand for closed loop recycling systems is greater than ever. Of the 40 million tons of plastic waste generated in the U.S. in 2021, only 5% to 6% or about two million tons was recycled. In both these regions, 12% of MSW is plastics, which often end up in landfills or the oceans. Between 2019 and 2020, there was a 5.7% overall decrease in plastics recovered for recycling in the U.S. That is the equivalent of 290 million pounds. While overall the amount of recycled plastics is relatively smallthree million tons for a 8.7 percent recycling rate in 2018the recycling of some specific types of plastic containers is more significant. It is followed by NAFTA with 19%. Material recycling rates are on the decline, so its important that we understand how specific materials are recycled and how to help residents recycle better. A brief history of recycling Sep 30, 2022 Alternatives to plastic products Sep 27 . So thats something to think about next time youre thirsty and fancy a soft drink. Unrecyclable plastic can now be recycled Dec 3, 2022; Mumbai Police recovers body of 29-year-old with several stab wounds Dec 3, 2022; Hyderabad University professor arrested for molesting foreign student Dec 3, 2022; However, other studies, including the UN Basel Convention, rate China as the largest producer of plastic waste in the world overall, although the US remains the worst per capita. Contrary to popular belief, only a small proportion of plastic waste floats. It doesnt have to be a sudden change that would inconvenience your (or your familys) current lifestyle. Colgate-Palmolive, Unliever and Pepsico all appear in the top ten, with each company making significant waste contributions of between 5000-6000 items. In places 4-7 are Austria with 59%, the Netherlands with 57% and Lithuania, also with 57%. Other nations with high recycling rates are Japan (84.8%), Sweden (84%) and India (80%). The top 3 States with best recycling rates include Maine (72%), Vermont (62%) and Massachusetts (55%). She says Nestle has replaced plastic with paper on candy in the UK something theyre calling paperification. Transport was third, using 47.5 million tonnes. Costa Rica Bans Plastic Straws, Plastic Bags, and Plastic Bottles. Plastic recycling in 2022 - and a look back to 2021 OPINION: The British Plastics Federation Recycling Group chairman, Roger Baynham, reflects on plastic recycling in 2021 and what to expect in 2022. Much of the plastic used in hospital equipment -- tubing, blood bags, masks and more -- is PVC, as is mos . How Much Plastic Actually Gets Recycled Live Science. Many materials take hundreds of years to decompose so space is incredibly limited. The USA is by far the worst offender, producing a horrifying 42 million metric tons of plastic waste per year. And only 14 tons of the total amount of plastic waste generated daily is recycled. ","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The United States, Japan, Germany, United Kingdom and Belgium are named as the Top 5 exporters of plastic waste in the world.\n\nThe US comes top, contributing 16.2% of the total volume of plastic waste exported. An estimated 550 tons of plastic are dumped daily in Costa Rica; 80% of which end up in the ocean, 11% in landfills and dumpsites, while only 9% are recycled. Sign up for our email newsletter! For example, you can slowly switch to plastic-free and zero waste personal care products to reduce your plastic waste. While landfills are receiving less waste, its also true that they are overburdened. Another example of profitability became evident after the earthquake: Cristaleras Chile reports that its container processing increased by 50% after the earthquake, while Recupac, an expert in cardboard and paper recycling, increased by 20%. The choices we make as individuals can make a huge difference. With so many deliveries going out, this is positive progress. How much of the plastic is recycled? According to the Last Beach Cleanup and Beyond Plastics, the organization behind the report released on Wednesday, the recycling rate for post-consumer plastic was just 5% to 6% in 2021. The total cumulative volume of plastic waste was estimated to be 6.3 billion metric tonnes in 2015. Unless we significantly reduce production and increase recycling, the world will have a huge, possibly unsolvable problem. Only 9% of all plastic waste ever produced has been recycled. These statistics show the behavior of the average American family. The US comes top, contributing 16.2% of the total volume of plastic waste exported. Meanwhile, Plastic Oceans suggests that thanks to all the plastic trash in the ocean, an average person today consumes over 40 pounds of plastic in a lifetime. Adding these to curbside programs or creating greater visibility in communities will help residents know where and how to recycle these materials. More information: N. Navarre et al, Recycled plastic packaging from the Dutch food sector pollutes Asian oceans, Resources, Conservation and Recycling (2022). The total bottle recycling rate for 2020 was 27.2%, down from 28.7% in 2019. 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