Some stats on plastic growth

Plastics

Just the Facts

In 2008, the United States generated about 13 million tons of plastics in the MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) stream as containers and packaging, almost 7 million tons as nondurable goods, and almost 11 million tons as durable goods.

The total amount of plastics in MSW—about 30 million tons—represented 12.0 percent of total MSW generation in 2008.

The amount of plastics generation in MSW has increased from less than 1 percent in 1960 to 12.0 percent in 2008.

Plastics are a rapidly growing segment of the MSW stream. The largest category of plastics are found in containers and packaging (e.g., soft drink bottles, lids, shampoo bottles), but they also are found in durable (e.g., appliances, furniture) and nondurable goods (e.g., diapers, trash bags, cups and utensils, medical devices).

Markets for Recovered Plastics

Markets for some recycled plastic resins, such as PET and HDPE, are stable in most geographical areas in the United States and are expanding in many others. Currently, both the capacity to process post-consumer plastics and the market demand for recovered plastic resin exceed the amount of post-consumer plastics recovered from the waste stream. The primary market for recycled PET bottles continues to be fiber for carpet and textiles, while the primary market for recycled HDPE is bottles, according to APC.

In the future, new end uses for recycled PET bottles might include coating for corrugated paper and other natural fibers to make waterproof products like shipping containers. PET can even be recycled into clothing, such as fleece jackets. Recovered HDPE can be manufactured into recycled-content landscape and garden products, such as lawn chairs and garden edging.

The plastic lumber industry also is beginning to expand. New American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards and test methods are paving the way for use of these materials in decks, marinas, and other structural applications for both residential and commercial properties.