From our coffee cups and cutting boards to toys and synthetic clothing, plastic may feel convenient—even cheap. But a new report from Duke University reveals that the true cost of plastic is staggering.
The report entitled “The Social Cost of Plastic to the United States” estimates that Americans face $436 billion to $1.1 trillion in annual social costs associated with plastics. This is the most comprehensive analysis to date, examining the full lifecycle of plastics—from fossil fuel extraction and production to use, disposal, and mismanagement. To put the scale of this cost into perspective, you would need to spend $33.8 million every single day for 81 years to reach $1 trillion!
Where the Costs Add Up
The researchers evaluated the social costs of plastics across several categories:
- Greenhouse Gas Emissions ($6.4B–$15.9B): Emissions from fossil fuel extraction and plastic production contribute to climate-related harms, including extreme weather, increased healthcare costs, and reduced agricultural productivity.
- Human Health Impacts from Fossil Fuel Extraction:($2.9B–$31.9B): Fracking and oil and gas extraction emit air pollutants linked to asthma, cancer, and premature death.
- Landfilling ($2.9B): Most U.S. plastic waste—86% as of 2019—ends up in landfills, with the direct costs primarily borne by local governments.
- Plastic Litter Cleanup ($9.8B–$13.3B): State and local governments, businesses, schools, and volunteer organizations spend billions removing plastic litter from roads, waterways, and public spaces.
- Impacts on Marine Industries ($3B): Plastic pollution harms tourism ($2B), damages marine shipping ($909M), and degrades fisheries and aquaculture ($88M).
- Marine Ecosystem Service Losses ($1.4B–$112B): Plastic reduces fisheries’ productivity, diminishes biodiversity, and limits recreational opportunities.
Even with these huge price tags, researchers acknowledge that these estimates likely underestimate the true cost. Other impacts, such as many other health impacts, losses to terrestrial ecosystems, recycling and incineration costs, and reduced property values, were not fully captured in available literature.
Notably, health-related impacts from plastics are far higher than all other costs combined, reaching hundreds of billions of dollars annually.
Why This Matters
Plastic may seem cheap at the store, but the societal cost—including health, environmental, and economic impacts—is anything but. The Duke report highlights the urgent need for upstream solutions to prevent plastic pollution at its source.
These solutions include policies and actions that Surfrider actively champions, such as:
- Plastic reduction policies at local, state, and national levels
- Working with businesses through the Ocean Friendly Restaurants and Hotels programs to reduce single-use plastics
- Shifting cultural norms away from disposable plastics
How You Can Be A Part of the Solution
There are meaningful ways to reduce your plastic footprint and advocate for change:
- Be aware of hidden costs: When purchasing plastic products, remember the price doesn’t reflect the true social burden.
- Reduce your plastic use: Opt for reusable alternatives, avoid single-use plastics, and choose products with minimal plastic packaging.
- Add your voice: Sign Surfrider’s action alerts to support policies and businesses that prioritize low-plastic design, reuse, and circular economy solutions.
- Join the movement: Become a Friend of the Ocean by volunteering or donating to protect oceans, waves, and beaches for future generations.