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What do Americans think about plastic waste?

piles of plastic bottles in a landfill

© WWF / Yunaidi Joepoet

The U.S. generates more plastic waste than anywhere else in the world, affecting American rivers, coastlines, landscapes, and communities. This crisis is apparent everywhere, from our cities to the countryside. While we don’t yet know the full impact of plastic pollution on human health, research increasingly shows that there is real cause for concern.

But do Americans recognize the severity of the plastic pollution crisis? What actions will they take or support to help fix it? To find out, in 2024, WWF conducted a survey of more than 1000 Americans, representative of the U.S. general population.

Here are a few key takeaways:

  • The majority of Americans (85%) think that plastic waste pollution is a serious and concerning problem that requires immediate political action to solve.
  • Most Americans would support legislative action that enforces corporate accountability on plastic pollution
    • A majority of people would be in favor of laws that: incentivize companies to reduce plastic waste (87%); make companies responsible for the plastic waste they create (84%); penalize companies for creating waste (78%).
  • Over two-thirds of Americans support either banning (71%) or placing a fee (70%) on single-use plastics.
  • When asked “would you be more likely to undertake any of the following actions if there was more assurance it was beneficial to the environment” respondents said:
    • 94% said they were “somewhat to much more likely” to recycle plastics
    • 91% said they were “somewhat to much more likely” to limit how much single-use plastic they use
    • 92% said they were “somewhat to much more likely” to choose products that are made from recycled plastics
    • 91% said they were “somewhat to much more likely” to make use of reusable and/or refillable products in place of single-use plastic items

You can explore more survey results below:

85% somewhat or strongly agree that plastic waste pollution is a serious and concerning problem that requires immediate political action to solve.

"Plastic waste pollution is a serious and concerning problem that requires immediate political action to solve." – level of agreement

Plastics survey pie1
82% feel positive – either very or somewhat – about a new global agreement to stop plastic pollution.

Reaction to new global agreement to stop plastic pollution

Plastics survey pie2
People are already working to minimize single-use plastic in a variety of ways.
Single use plastics bar chart 1
Trying to cut your plastic footprint can be challenging. Most people would be willing to take additional actions if they were easier.
single use plastic bar chart 2
We also don't always know if what we're doing makes a difference. If there was assurance that these actions made a positive impact on the environment, people would be more likely to participate.
Single use plastic bar chart 3
Who is responsible for stopping plastic pollution? Respondents feel that responsibility is shared, but producers and manufacturers are the most answerable.
Single use plastic bar chart 4
There is broad support for legislative action backing corporate accountability.
Single use plastic bar chart 5

To learn more about how WWF is working to solve the plastic pollution crisis, visit our plastics initiative page.

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