In 2010, it was estimated that nearly 13 million metric tons of plastic waste entered the oceans from around the world. A new study revealed how much plastic waste the United States generates and is dumped into the land or the ocean.
In 2016, the U.S. had the highest number of plastic waste in the world with nearly 42 metric tons (Mt) of waste. Up to 0.41 Mt was illegally dumped while up to 0.99 Mt of the waste was plastic scrap exported and inadequately managed in other countries.
For the study, the University of Georgia partnered with the Ocean Conservancy, Sea Education Association, and DSM Environmental Services to calculate America's plastic waste levels. In 2016, nearly 50% of plastics collected for recycling were exported to other countries.
Plastic Pollution Shipped Abroad
More than 80% of the exported plastics were not managed efficiently while almost one-fourth of the waste was unrecyclable. As a result, almost one million metric tons of plastic waste from the United States become pollution in other nations.
Dr. Kara Lavender Law from the Sea Education Association said that a lot of the plastic waste thrown in blue bins are exported to nations who struggle with waste management. Considering how a significant amount of plastic waste cannot be recycled because it is contaminated or difficult to process, "it's not surprising that a lot of it ends up polluting the environment."
Moreover, up to nearly 3% of America's plastic waste, or as much as 1.25 million metric tons, are illegally dumped into the environment. As a result, 1.5 million metric tons of plastic end up in coastal areas. Plastics enter the shores by being carried by the wind or via water systems. The United States is in the top three nations contributing to the most coastal plastic pollution.
Nick Mallos of the Ocean Conservancy's Trash Free Seas program said that the U.S. generates the most plastic waste in the world and has outsourced the problem to developing countries. "The solution has to start at home." America needs to reduce or eliminate the use of single-use plastics and focus on innovative packaging. "Where plastics are inevitable, we need to drastically improve our recycling rates," said Mallos.
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Reducing America's Plastic Footprint
Previous studies have calculated global levels of plastic waste, but an analysis of individual countries is crucial, said Dr. Jenna Jambeck from the University of Georgia. For the U.S., Americans need to "examine [their] own backyard and take responsibility for our global plastic footprint."
Natalie Starr from DSM Environmental Services explained that the environment is suffering because of plastic waste sent to developing countries. America needs to invest in new recycling technologies and waste collection, said Starr. Research and the development of sustainable plastics and alternative packaging needs to be accelerated as well.
In an earlier study from this year, researchers determined that the wind can carry microplastic pollution to isolated places such as national parks and forests. Plastic pollution also has severe consequences for marine species such as mussels, turtles, jellyfish, whales, and dolphins.
Read Also: Scientists Trace Microplastic Pollution Almost Everywhere, It's Become Airborne
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