The global plastic recycling rate is lower than most people guess. The OECD found that of 353 million tonnes of plastic waste in 2019, only 9 percent was recycled after losses.
Where the rest goes
About 19 percent was burned and almost half went to sanitary landfills, the OECD reports.
Another 22 percent was mismanaged, meaning it ended up in uncontrolled dumps, was burned in the open or leaked into the environment.
A growing pile
The OECD says plastic waste has roughly doubled in 20 years.
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In the US
The US EPA reports an 8.7 percent recycling rate for all plastics in 2018. PET bottles and jars did better, at 29.1 percent.
The fine print
The OECD numbers are global and from 2019. The EPA numbers are US and from 2018. They measure different things, so they should not be compared directly.
Why it matters
Recycling alone cannot keep up. Using less single-use plastic matters as much as recycling what we use.
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Submit your companySources: OECD plastics lifecycle, OECD on plastic pollution, US EPA plastics data.
Key takeaways on plastic recycling rate
Here is the short version on plastic recycling rate. About 19 percent was burned and almost half went to sanitary landfills, the OECD reports. Another 22 percent was mismanaged, meaning it ended up in uncontrolled dumps, was burned in the open or leaked into the environment. The OECD says plastic waste has roughly doubled in 20 years. The US EPA reports an 8. The OECD numbers are global and from 2019. Recycling alone cannot keep up. Want a new eco fact every day? Sources: OECD plastics lifecycle, OECD on plastic pollution, US EPA plastics data.
Use these points on plastic recycling rate as a starting point, check the numbers against your own home or business, and share what you learn with someone who can use it.
