PUBLIC OPINION SURROUNDING PLASTIC CONSUMPTION AND WASTE MANAGEMENT OF CONSUMER PACKAGING

The report finds that while Americans are concerned about the impact of plastics on marine life and water quality, they often feel unable to avoid plastic packaging or believe their individual actions are insignificant. There is strong public support for producer responsibility, with businesses ranked as the most responsible party for reducing plastic waste and the entity that should pay for recycling infrastructure. While there is broad support for positive regulations like credits and refund programs, Americans are more divided on taxes and fees.

• Pollution from plastic waste is viewed as a mid-tier priority compared to other environmental and national issues. It ranks behind water pollution, air pollution, and climate change among environmental concerns, and only 16% of respondents consider it a "top 5" priority for the U.S. Congress, trailing behind healthcare, the economy, and racial injustice.
• There is significant public concern regarding the negative effects of plastics on the environment, particularly marine life and water quality. However, the American public is evenly split on whether plastics overall do more good or more harm.
• Many Americans express a desire to reduce plastic use and increase recycling but feel constrained by systemic factors. A majority believe they cannot avoid plastic packaging and worry that their individual actions will not impact the overall amount of waste. Barriers to recycling include uncertainty about what is accepted and a lack of access, particularly in non-metro areas where over 25% reported no access to recycling.
• While two-thirds of Americans believe individuals, businesses, and government share responsibility for reducing plastic waste, businesses are ranked as the most responsible. Furthermore, 68% of respondents believe companies that produce or use plastics should pay for the collection, sorting, and recycling of those materials.
• Public support is high for regulations framed as positive incentives, such as credits for reusable bags or nationwide container refund programs. Conversely, support is lower and more polarized for negative framing, such as taxes or fees for plastic consumption.
• There is widespread support for specific legislative mandates, including a law requiring new plastic to contain recycled material (86% support), a law requiring verification before shipping plastic waste to other countries, and a law phasing out non-recyclable single-use plastics (80% support).

APA

WWF International (2020). PUBLIC OPINION SURROUNDING PLASTIC CONSUMPTION AND WASTE MANAGEMENT OF CONSUMER PACKAGING. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/69/CI_Public_Opinion_Research_to_WWF_2021_01_26.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. PUBLIC OPINION SURROUNDING PLASTIC CONSUMPTION AND WASTE MANAGEMENT OF CONSUMER PACKAGING. 2020. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/69/CI_Public_Opinion_Research_to_WWF_2021_01_26.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=PUBLIC OPINION SURROUNDING PLASTIC CONSUMPTION AND WASTE MANAGEMENT OF CONSUMER PACKAGING |date=2020 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/69/CI_Public_Opinion_Research_to_WWF_2021_01_26.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2020public, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{PUBLIC OPINION SURROUNDING PLASTIC CONSUMPTION AND WASTE MANAGEMENT OF CONSUMER PACKAGING}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2020}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/69/CI_Public_Opinion_Research_to_WWF_2021_01_26.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }