Key figures about mismanaged plastic waste in the U.S. 2016
It has long been viewed that plastic waste pollution is more of a problem in Asia. However, it has often not been taken into account the enormous volumes of plastic waste exported by wealthier countries to developing countries without sufficient solid waste infrastructures. In 2016, between 0.15 and 0.99 million tons of plastic waste was collected in the U.S. for recycling, then exported to countries where it was inadequately managed.
The U.S. is also major contributor of plastic pollution into marine environments, with its coastal population generating an estimated 1.45 million tons of mismanaged plastic waste in 2016.