91% of plastic isn't recycled (2018)

12 hours ago

91% of plastic is not recycled, with most ending up as waste.
Since mass production began, 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic have been produced, largely in disposable products.
Only 12% of plastic has been incinerated; it takes over 400 years to degrade.
Of the total plastic waste, 9% has been recycled, 79% accumulates in landfills or the environment.
By 2050, landfills may hold 12 billion metric tons of plastic, weighing 35,000 times the Empire State Building.
Half of all plastic becomes trash within a year, unlike materials like steel with longer lifespans.
Plastic packaging accounts for over 40% of non-fiber plastic use.
Annually, 8 million metric tons of plastic enter oceans, equivalent to five grocery bags per foot of global coastline.
A global approach is needed, rethinking plastic chemistry, design, recycling, and consumer use to address waste.
The U.S. recycling rate has stalled at 9%, lagging behind Europe (30%) and China (25%).

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