The Impact Of Plastic Waste

Plastic production has increased from 1.5 million metric tons in 1950 to over 360 million metric tons in 2019, according to the PlasticsEurope Market Research Group. As a result, the amount of plastic waste generated worldwide has increased from 1.5 million metric tons in 1950 to an estimated 359 million metric tons in 2018, as reported by the journal Science Advances.
 
Packaging is the largest single use for plastics, and it has increased from 42 million metric tons in 1960 to 141 million metric tons in 2015, according to a report by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Despite increased plastic production, recycling rates have remained low. Only 9% of all plastic waste ever generated has been recycled, with the majority ending up in landfills, incinerated, or littering the environment, as reported by National Geographic.
 
The rise in plastic production and waste has contributed to a significant increase in marine plastic pollution. It is estimated that 8 million metric tons of plastic enter the oceans every year, causing devastating impacts on marine ecosystems, wildlife, and human health, as reported by the Ocean Conservancy.

Additionally, microplastics, tiny particles of plastic less than 5mm in size, have become a major concern. It is estimated that there are 5 trillion pieces of microplastics in the ocean, and they have been found in various environments, including freshwater, soil, and even in the air we breathe, according to a report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

In the US alone there are approximately 561 billion disposable food service items used every year, resulting in 4.9 million tons of waste.