It’s no surprise that the United States is the largest contributor to the plastic pollution problem that’s plaguing the globe. In fact, research shows that in 2016, the U.S. generated the largest amount of plastic waste of any country in the world– 42.0 Million Metric tons. Of this waste, between 0.14 and 0.41 Million Metric Tons was illegally dumped in the U.S., and 0.15 to 0.99 Million Metric Tons was mismanaged in countries that imported U.S.-collected recyclables.
Of that obscene amount, it was approximated that between 1.2 and 2.5 million short tons were introduced into the environment through illegal dumping or, again, being exported to other countries in which the plastic waste was grossly mishandled.
What is the conclusion here? Simply put, it’s that a viable collection system for recycled materials is not enough to eliminate the issue of waste mismanagement. You can actively recycle, and think you’re doing so responsibly, yet still inadvertently contribute to the plastics pollution pandemic. What we mean to say is, how do you know for sure that the waste you recycle isn’t ending up in the ocean anyway?
How can companies, manufacturers, and distributors work to alleviate this problem? The answer is to partner with companies like iSustain who can ensure your recycled materials are responsibly managed. Our purpose and goal is to implement custom plastic recycling solutions that divert plastics from landfills, and work to ensure proper channels for responsible management of industrial waste.
- Comprehensive recycling solutions for all forms and grades of scrap plastic
- Options for waste collection equipment installation on-site, from balers to air collection systems
- Exceptional customer service, and timely pick-up for recycled materials
- Large-scale buying and selling of scrap plastics
Learn more about our plastic recycling offerings, or reach out to our team with questions about getting started. Let’s work together toward environmentally-responsible waste solutions that allow us to leave a smaller footprint.
We look forward to talking with you and learning more about your challenges. iSustain can work with you to improve recycling rates, select the right recycling equipment, reduce your logistics costs, and improve your bottom line.