"The bag your potato chips come in is seven layers deep. Metalized polyester, a plastic coated with a thin layer of metal, keeps out light. Polyethylene, a common plastic, holds the seal. A printed film provides the label. An oxygen barrier, a layer that blocks oxygen, helps prevent spoilage."
"Americans generated roughly 82.2 million tons of containers and packaging in 2018, about 28 percent of all municipal solid waste, according to the EPA's most recent national accounting. Plastic packaging contributed more than 14.5 million tons of the total."
"CalRecycle's SB 54 Material Characterization Study found that about 8.5 million tons of single-use packaging and foodware were buried in California landfills in 2024, roughly 21 percent of everything the state landfilled that year."
Potato chip bags are made of seven layers, including metalized polyester and polyethylene, which preserve freshness and extend shelf life. However, these complex materials are not recyclable in U.S. systems. In 2018, Americans generated 82.2 million tons of packaging waste, with plastic packaging contributing over 14.5 million tons. California's recent study revealed that 8.5 million tons of single-use packaging were landfilled in 2024, with flexible plastics, including chip bags, prevalent across various waste collection methods.
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