Plastics use in the United States has grown substantially over the past four decades. Between 1980 and 2019, annual plastic use tripled, surpassing ** million metric tons in the latter year. During this period, plastic use experienced a notable reduction in 2008 during the global financial crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic is believed to have had a similar impact on U.S. plastic consumption, with projections showing a year-over-year drop of **** percent in 2020. Nevertheless, plastics use is projected to rebound and continue rising over the coming decades.

The United States produced 221 kilograms of plastic waste per capita in 2019 - roughly five times the global average. Plastics use in the U.S. is projected to increase considerably over the coming decades, which in turn will see plastic waste generation grow. By 2060, it is projected that the average U.S. inhabitant will produce 350 kilograms of plastic waste per year.

Plastic use in the United States was projected to have fallen **** percent in 2020 relative to 2019, to **** million tons. Nevertheless, this figure is projected to double by 2060, to *** million metric tons. This would account for approximately ** percent of projected global plastics use that year.

The United States generated 35.7 million short tons of plastic waste in 2018. The amount of plastic waste generated in the U.S. municipal solid waste stream has increased dramatically over the last few decades. In 1970, the U.S. generated 2.9 million short tons of plastic waste, and by 2000 this figure had increased to 25.5 million short tons. In recent years, the U.S. has generated more than 35.6 million short tons of plastic waste a year.

At the peak of compact disc (CD) sales in the United States in 2000, the amount of plastic required for CD production amounted to ** million kilograms annually. In comparison, plastic consumption associated with digital music downloads is significantly lower. Between 2013 and 2016, digital music downloads in the U.S. resulted in an estimated eight million kilograms of plastic consumption.

This statistic shows the usage of plastic garbage bags and trash can liners in the United States from 2011 to 2020 and a forecast thereof until 2024. The data has been calculated by Statista based on the U.S. Census data and Simmons National Consumer Survey (NHCS). According to this statistic, ***** million Americans used plastic garbage bags and trash can liners in 2020. This figure is projected to increase to ****** million in 2024.

The U.S. state of California exported more than ****** metric tons of plastic waste in 2019. This was almost twice the volume of plastic waste exported by Texas. The United States is one of the leading plastic waste exporters in the world. Plastic waste is often exported to developing countries with poor waste management.

According to a 2023 survey in the United States, banning chemicals used in plastic hazardous to human health, wildlife, and the environment was considered the most urgent issue to address plastic pollution. Opinions in the country on considering regulations essential, very important or fairly important stood above ** percent across all questions.

Around ** percent of the respondents in the United States stated that they had made changes in their daily habits in order to avoid single-use plastics. On the other hand, ***** percent indicated that they do not care about the topic.

The United States produces the most plastic waste per capita worldwide, with the average American producing ****** kilograms of plastic waste per year. The U.S. generated more than ** million metric tons of plastic waste in 2016, making it by far the world's biggest plastic waste generator. In comparison, China produced a total of **** million metric tons of plastic waste in 2016, which amounted to an average of ***** kilograms per capita.

This statistic shows the distribution of the consumption of plastic products in the United States in 2014, by product type. In that year, food, tobacco, and spirits products accounted for a *** percent share of the U.S. consumption of plastic products.

This statistic shows the amount of plastic storage bags used within * days in the United States from 2011 to 2020. The data has been calculated by Statista based on the U.S. Census data and Simmons National Consumer Survey (NHCS). According to this statistic, **** million Americans used ** or more bags in 2020.

A recent survey states that approximately ** percent of the respondents in the United States indicated that they were aware of bans on single-use plastics. Of this percentage, only ** percent stated they had heard a lot about this topic.

This statistic shows the usage of plastic garbage bags and trash can liners in the United States in 2020. The data has been calculated by Statista based on the U.S. Census data and Simmons National Consumer Survey (NHCS). According to this statistic, 313.8 million Americans used plastic garbage bags and trash can liners in 2020.

This statistic represents the share of recovered plastic film consumed by reclaimers in the United States and Canada in 2018, broken down by type. As of that year, the share of polyethylene retail bags and film consumed by reclaimers in the U.S. and Canada amounted to ** percent.

This statistic shows the amount of plastic sandwich bags used within * days in the United States from 2011 to 2020. The data has been calculated by Statista based on the U.S. Census data and Simmons National Consumer Survey (NHCS). According to this statistic, **** million Americans used ** or more sandwich bags in 2020.

The most recycled plastic resin in the United States municipal solid waste stream is polyethylene terephthalate (PET). In 2018, some 980,000 tons of PET were recycled, accounting for 18.5 percent of the total PET waste generated in the United States that year. PET is commonly used to produce plastic bottles.

Biodegradable plastics had a market value amounting to approximately *********** U.S. dollars in 2022. This figure is forecast to increase to nearly *** billion U.S. dollars by 2028. Biodegradable plastics are expected to help to mitigate the environmental pressures associated with conventional, single use plastics, though biodegradable plastics have a few shortcomings as well. The leading end-use sector of biodegradable plastics is packaging, both flexible and rigid.

This statistic shows the types of plastic garbage bags and trash can liners used most often in the United States in 2020. The data has been calculated by Statista based on the U.S. Census data and Simmons National Consumer Survey (NHCS). According to this statistic, ****** million Americans used light colored plastic garbage bags (indoor) in 2020.

This statistic shows the amount of plastic freezer bags used within * days in the United States from 2011 to 2020. The data has been calculated by Statista based on the U.S. Census data and Simmons National Consumer Survey (NHCS). According to this statistic, **** million Americans used ** or more bags in 2020.