The recycling rate of post-consumer polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles sourced in the United States was decreased in 2020 to **** percent. By weight, PET bottles accounted for some ** percent of U.S. sourced post-consumer bottles recovered for recycling in 2020.
Plastic waste generation
  The use of plastics began to gain popularity in the 1960’s as mass production costs fell. Since then, municipal plastic waste generation in the U.S. has increased dramatically. By 1990, the volume of plastic generated in the municipal solid waste stream amounted to ** million tons, and by 2018 this figure had risen above ** million tons.
Plastic waste exports
  The United States is one of the largest exporters of plastic waste worldwide. In 2021, U.S. scrap plastic exports totaled **** billion pounds. Nevertheless, U.S. exports of plastic waste have fallen substantially in recent years, mainly due to import countries, such as China, banning foreign shipments.
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Association of Plastic Recyclers. (April 22, 2022). Recycling rates of post-consumer plastic bottles sourced in the United States in 2019 and 2020, by material type [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 25, 2026, from /statistics/623553/plastic-bottle-recycling-rates-in-the-us-by-material-type/
Association of Plastic Recyclers. "Recycling rates of post-consumer plastic bottles sourced in the United States in 2019 and 2020, by material type." Chart. April 22, 2022. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 25, 2026. /statistics/623553/plastic-bottle-recycling-rates-in-the-us-by-material-type/
Association of Plastic Recyclers. (2022). Recycling rates of post-consumer plastic bottles sourced in the United States in 2019 and 2020, by material type. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 25, 2026. /statistics/623553/plastic-bottle-recycling-rates-in-the-us-by-material-type/
Association of Plastic Recyclers. "Recycling Rates of Post-consumer Plastic Bottles Sourced in The United States in 2019 and 2020, by Material Type." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 22 Apr 2022, /statistics/623553/plastic-bottle-recycling-rates-in-the-us-by-material-type/
Association of Plastic Recyclers, Recycling rates of post-consumer plastic bottles sourced in the United States in 2019 and 2020, by material type ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/623553/plastic-bottle-recycling-rates-in-the-us-by-material-type/ (last visited July 25, 2026)
Recycling rates of post-consumer plastic bottles sourced in the United States in 2019 and 2020, by material type [Graph], Association of Plastic Recyclers, April 22, 2022. [Online]. Available: /statistics/623553/plastic-bottle-recycling-rates-in-the-us-by-material-type/
