The United States’ contribution of plastic waste to land and ocean

• DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd0288
• Publication Date: 2020-10-30T23:15:39Z
• Authors: Kara Lavender Law; Natalie Starr; Theodore R. Siegler; Jenna R. Jambeck; Nicholas J. Mallos; George H. Leonard
• Keywords: Plastic Waste; Tonne

Plastic waste affects environmental quality and ecosystem health. In 2010, an estimated 5 to 13 million metric tons (Mt) of plastic entered the ocean from both developing countries with insufficient solid infrastructure high-income very high generation. We demonstrate that, in 2016, United States generated largest amount any country world (42.0 Mt). Between 0.14 0.41 Mt this was illegally dumped States, 0.15 0.99 inadequately managed that imported materials collected for recycling. Accounting these contributions, enter coastal environment 2016 up five times larger than rendering States' contribution among highest world.