Plastics are present in almost everything we use in our daily routines, but their current use pattern of usage and disposal represents waste that ends up in landfills.

According to the report by the environmental groups, Last Beach Clean Up and Beyond Plastics, the plastic waste recycling rate in the U.S. fell to between 5-6% in 2021 from 8.7% in 2018. This decline coincides with the plastic waste export decline, which has been normally counted in the U.S. recycling rate.

In 2017, China started limiting plastic imports. As a result of that, western countries started diverting their plastic exports to countries such as Indonesia and Malaysia but these started banning or limiting imports in 2019. As a consequence, US plastic exports have fallen by around 70%.

However, even before the plastic waste export ban was in place, the remaining 90% of waste was not taken care of and ended up in landfills or was incinerated for energy. However, this percentage increased to 95% in 2021. From this, 84% is landfilled and 11% incinerated. The remaining is domestic recycled and exported.

Plastic waste per capita is increasing due to population growth. This represents a growing opportunity for industries to work towards increasing plastic waste recycling. To achieve this, investments to deploy new technologies that enable the easiness of sorting are needed.

The National Lubricant Container Recycling Coalition (NCLRC) can play a significant role in promoting increments in recycling rates and help in the transition of the lubricant container sector to the circular economy. In the short term, the NLCRC is helping create an environment to overcome barriers and promote advanced recycling of lubricant containers in the U.S.. Even though the government plays a significant role in helping to create a new circular economy where plastic waste becomes minimal or never becomes waste, industry collaboration is crucial to bring additional collection and recycling infrastructure to help increase the U.S.’s plastic waste recycling rate.

From industries to households, everyone has an essential role in reducing the lubricant container waste problem in the US. The NLCRC founding leaders include  Castrol, Valvoline, Pennzoil - Quaker State Company, Graham Packaging, Plastipak Packaging, Berry Global, the Petroleum Packaging Council, and Chevron. 

Learn how the NLCRC is addressing the waste problem by becoming a member. Connect with us through LinkedIn and Twitter. If you have any questions or inquiries, send us an email at hello@nationallcrc.com. 

1 According to the Environmental Protection Agency.

2 World Economic Forum. Source.

3 Barone (2022) “U.S. Plastic Recycling Rates Are Even Worse Than We Thought”. Source.