Plastic Waste Facts and Statistics

Plastic is one of the most used materials in our daily lives. Packaging is the primary source of waste for lots of plastic as it’s used for everything from crisp packets and cup noodles to shampoo bottles, ready meals, and toothpaste tubes. It also has an industrial purpose and is found in larger items like furniture.

Examples of plastic waste:

• Plastic bottles and caps
• Plastic carrier bags
• Cling film and plastic wrapping
• Sweet packets
• Food packaging – bags for cereal, rice, pasta etc.
• Plastic trays
• Synthetic ropes and nets
• Polystyrene cups and containers

There are lots of staggering statistics on plastic waste from across the world, as we create hundreds of millions of tonnes every year. The average lifespan of plastic products is around ten years, but they can then take upwards of 400 years to break down and decompose.

Many plastic waste statistics focus on the problems with the material. However, there are some more positive facts and stats out there. According to scientists in one report, 80% of plastic pollution could be erased by reducing virgin plastic production, improving waste collection systems, and investing in recyclable plastics.

Here are some key plastic waste statistics:

• Almost half of all plastic waste (46%) goes to landfill
• 22% of waste plastic is littered
• Around 17% of plastic is incinerated
• Just 15% of plastic gets sent for recycling
• Producing one tonne of plastic generates 5 tonnes of carbon dioxide
• Plastics account for 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions
• Plastic packaging is the reason for most (36%) of plastic production
• Around three-quarters (73%) of litter on beaches worldwide is plastic
• Global plastic production has grown from 2.1 million tonnes in 1950 to more than 400 million tonnes today
• More than 40% of plastic is only used once and then thrown away
• Producing plastic uses 4% of the world’s total fossil fuel supply

Plastic waste statistics worldwide vary between countries and continents. China now creates the most plastic and plastic waste in the world – more than all EU countries combined. The USA is close behind and also has a low recycling rate for plastic of just 9%, which means lots go to landfill.

Generally, plastic waste statistics by country follow similar patterns to other waste production levels. These are the countries that produce the most plastic waste worldwide:

• China – 60 million tonnes of plastic waste each year
• USA – 42 million tonnes
• Brazil – 11.3 million tonnes
• India – 9.46 million tonnes
• Japan – 9 million tonnes
• Russia – 8.47 million tonnes
• Indonesia – 7.8 million tonnes
• Germany – 6.5 million tonnes

Plastic bags are cheap and convenient, but they cause serious problems for the planet when they’re not recycled. Many countries have banned or introduced measures to reduce the sale and use of plastic bags. However, more can be done to eliminate the issues they cause as these waste statistics about plastic bags show:

• Around 160,000 plastic bags are used every second
• One trillion plastic bags are used globally every year – enough to circle the world 4,200 times
• Sadly, fewer than 1 in 7 plastic bags are recycled
• About 10% of all plastic carrier bags end up in our oceans
• It can take up to 1,000 years for a plastic bag to break down in landfill

Packaging is one of the main uses of plastic worldwide and also one of the biggest causes of plastic waste. Find out more with these plastic packaging waste statistics:

• 141 million tonnes of plastic packaging are produced across the world every year
• It’s estimated that 5 million tonnes of plastic packaging enter the consumer market in the UK each year
• Plastic is the second-most common packaging waste material in the EU, which produces 1 million tonnes annually
• Around 36% of all plastics produced are used in packaging
• Sending plastic packaging to landfill and not recycling it costs the UK £78 million a year in landfill costs
• The average lunch in the UK includes four items in plastic packaging (such as sandwiches, crisps, snacks, and drinks)

It’s not just businesses that are responsible for the use and waste of plastic the world creates. Consumer and individual choices and behaviour contribute to the production of plastic waste. In our homes, we generate plastic waste in more ways than you might think – from the bag a loaf of bread comes in to throwing away old toys.

Here are some surprising household plastic waste statistics:

• UK households throw away 100 billion pieces of plastic packaging a year
• That works out at around 11 million bits of plastic put in household bins every hour
• The average home in the UK disposes of 66 items of plastic waste per week
• Around 83% of plastic packaging disposed of by homes is for food and drink packaging
• More than half of household plastic waste is soft plastics and plastic film – found in crisp packets, bread bags, and toilet roll wrap

Avoiding plastic and reducing how much you use and waste you produce where possible is best to help our planet. At home, you should check the recycling symbol on any plastic product and see if you can put it in your domestic recycling bin. Otherwise, find a local recycling scheme that accepts the plastic type.

Businesses should book commercial waste collection of any kind of plastic waste they produce. At Business Waste we can provide free bins to separate and store your waste plastic and arrange removal on a schedule that suits you. Our zero waste to landfill policy means we ensure responsible disposal.

Get a free quote for commercial plastic waste collection anywhere in the UK today. Call 0800 211 8390 or contact us online and we’ll provide a tailored price based on your needs. One of our friendly team can answer any questions and get you set up today.