Only 5% of plastic waste generated by US last year was recycled, report says

Americans discarded 51m tons of plastic in 2021 - of which almost 95% ended up in landfills, oceans or scattered in the atmosphere

Only 5% of the mountains of plastic waste generated by US households last year was recycled, according to new research by Greenpeace.

Americans discarded 51m tons of wrappers, bottles and bags in 2021 - about 309lb of plastic per person - of which almost 95% ended up in landfills, oceans or scattered in the atmosphere in tiny toxic particles.