Myth:
Most plastic packaging is recycled today.
Fact:
Plastic made up 29.83 millions of tons or 12.3 percent of total US municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in 2009. Only 2.12 millions of tons of the plastic generated or 7.1 percent was recovered.
Source: Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling, and Disposal in the United States: Facts and Figures for 2009, US Environmental Protection Agency, 2011
Myth:
Containers and packaging in the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream is decreasing.
Fact:
While the 2009 figures have decreased slightly over the 2007 levels, “Containers and packaging [still] made up the largest portion of MSW generated: almost 30 percent, or about 72 million tons.” (2007: 31 percent or 78 million tons)
The recycling of these containers and packaging is still under 50 percent – at 48 percent in 2009.
Of the containers and packaging that was made out of plastic, only 14 percent was recycled – “mostly from soft drink, milk, and water bottles.”
Source: Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Recycling, and Disposal in the United States: Facts and Figures for 2009, US Environmental Protection Agency, 2011
