Over the past 70 years, plastic production has increased from 2 million tonnes produced per year to over 381 million tonnes per year. The cumulative global plastic produced is over 7.82 billion tonnes. Because of poor management of plastic and improper disposal, a large amount of plastic waste ends up in the environment. If there are no changes in the rate of plastic manufacturing, it is estimated that by 2050, 12 billion tonnes of plastic waste will be discarded globally to landfills or directly into the environment.
Seven main industrial sectors that produce plastic. Source: Our World in Data
All of the industrial sectors except packaging, when combined, produce a total of 214 million tonnes of plastic. The packaging industrial sector generates more than three times the amount of plastic generated by the second highest-generating industrial sector. For more information on global plastic statistics, go to Our World in Data.
Percentages of plastic discarded, incinerated, and recycled. Source: Our World in Data
Statistics of plastic in the ocean and on shore. Source: Our World in Data
Interactive map of global plastic waste generation. Source: Our World in Data
Interactive map of global plastic waste generation. Source: Our World in Data
The largest plastic waste generators are China, The US, Germany, and Brazil, as shown in the above map. China and the US are the two largest contributors of coastal littering, which represents plastic waste with a high risk of polluting surrounding rivers and oceans. China and the US contribute 231,157 and 275,425 tonnes per year, respectively.
Largest global plastic waste generators. Source: Our World in Data
The Philippines is the top emitter of plastic waste into the ocean and has the highest per capita rate of emissions into the ocean, emitting 356,371 tonnes per year (3.3kg per person). For more information on foreign country statistics, go to Our World in Data.
Chart of global share of mismanaged plastic. Source: Our World in Data
Canada generates 1.15 million tonnes of plastic waste per year, ranking it 42nd in plastic waste generation. In Canada, of the 4.667 million tonnes of plastic that entered the market in 2016, 29,000 tonnes were released directly into the environment through dumps or leaks.
Canadian statistics of plastic disposal. Source: Canadian Science Assessment of Plastic Pollution
Canada contributes 7960 tonnes per year to coastal littering, about 20.9 tonnes per 100,000 Canadians, ranking it 46th in coastal littering.
In 2019, Canada emitted 238 tonnes to the ocean, emitting less than 0.01kg per person. In 2019, Canada contributed a 0.04% share to general mismanaged plastic waste and a 0.02% share to plastic waste emitted to the Ocean.
Plastic and resin manufacturing accounts for 5% of sales in the Canadian manufacturing sector, with a total estimated sales of CA$35 billion. The plastic and resin manufacturing industry employs approximately 93,000 people nationally.
Canada’s plastic economy is mostly linear, where 86% of plastic waste is discarded and only 9% is recycled back into the economy. Because of this linear plastic economy, where the majority of plastic items end up getting discarded, Canada loses CA$7.8 billion.
Path of the linear plastic economy
Path of the circular plastic economy
There is also a limited economic incentive for plastic recycling, prompting less interest in a circular plastic economy where plastics are produced with recycling in mind. The main generating sector for plastic waste in Canada is packaging, generating 47% of total plastic waste. For more information on Canadian plastic and industry statistics, go to Our World in Data or the Canadian Science Assessment of plastic pollution.
<aside> 🥚 Plastic toy dinosaurs are very difficult to recycle in most recycling facilities. When these toys are discarded (even if consumers recycle them), they frequently end up in landfills. There are no major economic incentives to create a circular economy for plastic dinosaur toys by recycling them into other items such as pylon cones, other toys, pipes, playground turf, etc. despite being made of similar materials. When you’re done with your dinosaur toys, donate them to second hand stores and organisations that help children in need; Don’t discard your toys!
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