The volume of plastic packaging in the United States municipal solid waste stream has increased considerably since it first became commercially used more than 50 years ago. One of the most common forms of plastic packaging waste is PET bottles and jars. Between 2000 and 2018, the annual volume of PET bottles and jars waste generated in the U.S. increased by more than ** percent, from **** million short tons to **** million short tons.
The U.S. generated a total of million short tons of plastic packaging waste in 2018.
Profit from the additional features of your individual account
Currently, you are using a shared account. To use individual functions (e.g., mark statistics as favourites, set
statistic alerts) please log in with your personal account.
If you are an admin, please authenticate by logging in again.
Learn more about how ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ can support your business.
Environmental Protection Agency. (January 23, 2021). Plastic containers and packaging MSW generated in the United States from 1960 to 2018, by product (in 1,000 short tons) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 23, 2026, from /statistics/1229615/us-plastics-container-packaging-waste-generation-by-product/
Environmental Protection Agency. "Plastic containers and packaging MSW generated in the United States from 1960 to 2018, by product (in 1,000 short tons)." Chart. January 23, 2021. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 23, 2026. /statistics/1229615/us-plastics-container-packaging-waste-generation-by-product/
Environmental Protection Agency. (2021). Plastic containers and packaging MSW generated in the United States from 1960 to 2018, by product (in 1,000 short tons). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 23, 2026. /statistics/1229615/us-plastics-container-packaging-waste-generation-by-product/
Environmental Protection Agency. "Plastic Containers and Packaging Msw Generated in The United States from 1960 to 2018, by Product (in 1,000 Short Tons)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 23 Jan 2021, /statistics/1229615/us-plastics-container-packaging-waste-generation-by-product/
Environmental Protection Agency, Plastic containers and packaging MSW generated in the United States from 1960 to 2018, by product (in 1,000 short tons) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1229615/us-plastics-container-packaging-waste-generation-by-product/ (last visited July 23, 2026)
Plastic containers and packaging MSW generated in the United States from 1960 to 2018, by product (in 1,000 short tons) [Graph], Environmental Protection Agency, January 23, 2021. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1229615/us-plastics-container-packaging-waste-generation-by-product/
