Try our quiz: Plastic waste by the numbers

Plastic is everywhere. How much do you know about it? Try our six question quiz to see how close you can get to the actual numbers about the state of the plastic waste crisis.

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But how much do you know about the material we use everyday? Here are six facts about plastic that you might find surprising. Move the slider to see how you can get to knowing plastic waste by the numbers. 

Did you find that difficult? Surprising?  But the work isn’t over yet. With the help of people like you who are interested and concerned with plastic waste, we’ve shown time and again that when we combine professional advocacy with grassroots action and support, change is possible — even for something as big as plastic pollution. 

We’re building off of our wins to pass more bans in more states, hold plastic producers responsible for their waste with common sense legislation, and convince major corporations to stop using wasteful single-use plastic. 

Our work to end plastic waste relies on donations from supporters like you.  Will you donate today to help keep these campaigns going strong?

Sources
  1. Bruna Alves, “Per capita plastic waste generation in the United States in 2019, with projections for 2030 and 2060,” Statista, November 20, 2023.
    Plastic Waste Factsheet,” The University of Michigan Center for Sustainable Systems, last accessed September 9, 2023.
  2. Charlotte Edmond, “We know plastic pollution is bad – but how exactly is it linked to climate change?” The World Economic Forum, January 19, 2022.  
  3. Ben Tracy, “Critics call out plastics industry over “fraud of plastic recycling”,” CBS News, June 28, 2024. 
  4. Kelly Leviker and Celeste Meiffren-Swango, “How is plastic made?” U.S. PIRG< August 5, 2024. 
  5. We’re campaigning for Microplastic Free Waters,” U.S. PIRG, April 16, 2024.
  6.  “Reducing plastic waste in the states,” U.S. PIRG, July 26, 2022.”
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