Recycling is real.

And it’s working across America.

Recycling is happening every day in communities and facilities across the United States. From curbside collection to advanced processing, materials are sorted, cleaned, and transformed into new products that support American manufacturing and keep resources in use.

Recycling is Real is a national campaign highlighting this work—strengthening understanding and advancing policies that help modern recycling systems thrive.

5 billion pounds of plastic is recycled in America each year.

This total does not include plastics recovered through store drop-off, commercial and industrial recycling, durable goods recovery, or agricultural programs.

20k retail and municipal locations across North America accept plastic film for recycling.

40% of PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) bottles were recycled in North America in 2023, marking a record high.

Recycling Happens Here

From curbside collection to advanced processing facilities, these stories highlight the people, companies, and technologies turning used plastics into new materials every day.

LEARN MORE ABOUT RECYCLING

“Putting minds, putting effort, and putting energy into making it real is what we need to be doing.”

— D’Jeri, Epsilyte

Strengthening Recycling Systems

When recycling systems work effectively, they deliver economic, environmental, and manufacturing benefits that extend well beyond the recycling bin.

Recycling Supports:

U.S. jobs and domestic manufacturing

Circular supply chains and material reuse

Reduced waste and environmental impact

To expand these outcomes and meet sustainability goals, continued investment in modern recycling infrastructure—from collection to end markets—is essential.