PLASTICS
economic impact

With a heavy reliance on plastics in the manufacturing of consumer goods and other products, the plastics recycling industry plays an important role in helping to capture and process old plastics to be used again. This provides enormous benefits to the environment in many ways.

Plastics that can be recycled are processed for use in food and beverage containers, household products, medical equipment, construction materials, and other materials. New ways of using recycled plastics are constantly being developed from use in composite lumber to asphalt in parking lots.



Plastics Recycling is Essential
Big Economic Impact

The plastics recycling industry’s total annual economic impact in the U.S. is $6 billion.

Recycling Plastics Creates Jobs

The plastics recycling industry directly and indirectly supports nearly 30,000 jobs in the United States.

Better for the Environment

Recycling 1 ton of plastic bottles reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 3,380 lbs., which is the equivalent of 173 gallons of gasoline.

Bagging Plastic Bags

At least 1 billion pounds of U.S. plastic bags and film were collected for recycling in 2017, up 54 percent since 2005.

Massive Energy Savings

Using recycled plastics in manufacturing saves up to 88 percent of the energy needed to produce plastics from virgin materials.

Residential and Industrial Sources

Containers from food, beverages, and household products are a large part of the recycled plastics in the residential stream. But engineered and industrial plastics are other important sources of recycled plastics, including auto parts, appliances, and construction materials.


Fun Facts
  • Recyclers sort plastic by color using optical technology combined with air jets.
  • Recycled plastic is often turned into small pellets that can then be melted down and molded to make new products.

PLASTICS LIFECYCLE

 

HAVE QUESTIONS?

Joe Pickard
Chief Economist
Director, Commodities

JoePickard@isri.org
(202) 662-8542

Have Questions?