Sustainable Management of Plastics

Plastic products are versatile, durable and lightweight. Plastic waste results from the production, use, and disposal of plastic products.

Plastic waste has become ubiquitous in natural and built environments, resulting in concerns and potential harms to humans and nature alike.

Addressing plastic pollution yields many benefits, including reduced health impacts, increased recycling rates, reduced consumption, and more.

Organizations face many challenges when managing plastic waste such as weak strategic planning, high cost of collection and transportation, and shortage of funding.

Best practices for addressing plastic waste include regulatory and policy interventions, measurement, behavioral and educational campaigns, partnerships, and innovation.

EPA compiled links to additional resources about plastic waste, including reports, initiatives, research, what you can do, our recycling grant programs, and more.