Trash of a Human Lifetime | National Geographic

Summary

The video highlights the alarming amount of waste generated by individuals in the United States. Each person contributes 64 tons of waste to landfills in their lifetime, including 60 million plastic bottles and 11 million tons of glass bottles daily. A major portion of this waste comes from food packaging, much of which is plastic. Over time, this leads to mountains of discarded plastic bags, cans, and wrappers. The statistics emphasize the overwhelming impact of waste generation, from plastic bags to aluminum cans, showing how everyday actions contribute to the environmental crisis.

Takeaways

• 😀 Every person generates 64 tons of waste over their lifetime, equivalent to nearly four fully loaded trucks.
• 😀 The U.S. population collectively creates 246 million tons of waste each year.
• 😀 Every second, 694 plastic bottles are thrown away in the U.S., leading to 60 million plastic bottles discarded daily.
• 😀 Americans dispose of 11 million tons of glass bottles and jars each year, equaling the weight of 440 Titanics or 30 Empire State Buildings.
• 😀 We prioritize convenience in food packaging, resulting in mountains of waste, especially plastic packaging.
• 😀 A significant amount of waste comes from unnecessary plastic bags, with each person discarding enough to fill a truck's worth over a lifetime.
• 😀 Each individual will throw away 29,700 pounds of packaging over their lifetime, almost 15 tons of waste.
• 😀 Aluminum and steel cans also make up a large portion of the waste, with 100 million cans thrown away daily.
• 😀 Each year, 36 billion cans are discarded, enough to build a roof over New York City.
• 😀 Most of the waste comes from disposable packaging, such as plastic and cans, which are thrown away after their single use.

Q & A

How much waste does the average person send to a landfill in their lifetime?

Each person sends 64 tons of waste to the landfill during their lifetime.

How much waste is generated collectively by the population of the United States each year?

The population generates 246 million tons of waste each year.

How many plastic bottles are thrown away every second in the U.S.?

694 plastic bottles are thrown away every second.

What is the equivalent weight of the glass bottles and jars thrown away annually?

The weight of glass bottles and jars thrown away annually is 11 million tons, which is equivalent to 440 Titanics or 30 Empire State Buildings.

What is the packaging preference for food in the U.S.?

The preference is for food to be delivered cleanly, conveniently, and with minimal human contact, often wrapped in plastic packaging.

How much plastic packaging is discarded by each person over their lifetime?

Over a lifetime, each person will throw away enough plastic packaging to fill one of those trucks, which is about 29,700 pounds or just under 15 tons.

How much aluminum is disposed of each day in the U.S.?

100 million aluminum and steel cans are disposed of each day.

What is the total number of aluminum cans discarded in the U.S. annually?

A total of 36 billion aluminum cans are discarded every year.

What is the environmental impact of the plastic packaging used in food products?

The plastic packaging used in food products contributes significantly to waste generation, as much of it ends up in landfills or as litter.

Why is the disposal of plastic and aluminum waste a major concern in the U.S.?

The disposal of plastic and aluminum waste is a major concern because of the immense volume of materials being discarded, which contributes to landfill overload and environmental pollution.