U.S. Plastic Recycling Hits 5.1 Billion Pounds, Says APR
Plastic Recycling | 2026-07-20 08:04:09 | By Paul Ploumis
The findings also showed that 94% of recovered plastic was processed within North America, with U.S. recycling facilities handling the majority of the material.
SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Plastic recycling in the U.S. reached a new milestone in 2024, with more than 5.1 billion pounds of post-consumer plastic recovered, according to a new industry report released by the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) and the U.S. Plastics Pact.
The study found that U.S. recycled plastic volumes increased by nearly 115 million pounds compared with 2022, reflecting continued progress in recovery efforts despite difficult market conditions. Among material categories, plastic film recorded the strongest growth. However, recovery of plastic bottles and non-bottle rigid plastics declined during the reporting period.
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Despite the increase in recycling volumes, the report highlighted ongoing challenges facing the industry. Weak demand for recycled plastic resin, low prices for virgin plastic, and high processing costs continued to pressure recycling businesses and limit investments in expanding recycling capacity.
The findings also showed that 94% of recovered plastic was processed within North America, with U.S. recycling facilities handling the majority of the material.
Industry leaders emphasized that stronger government policies are needed to increase demand for recycled plastics and encourage long-term investment across the recycling value chain. The report also noted that seven U.S. states have now adopted Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws.