Geospatial analysis reveals socioeconomic inequities in access to recycling infrastructure in the United States

Low plastic recycling rates in the United States limit progress toward circular economy targets, yet few studies examine how access to recycling infrastructure influences outcomes. Here we present a national geospatial analysis of the distribution of material recovery facilities, which sort and process recycled materials, plastic packaging recycling rates, and socioeconomic disparities. Using building-level distances combined with population-weighted income and education census data and estimated waste generation, we assess how access to these facilities relates to recycling performance. Communities near material recovery facilities are 30-55% wealthier and 14-19% more college-educated than communities without access. Proximity to these facilities is associated with higher recycling rates, indicating that infrastructure access is a key determinant of plastic recycling. High-waste regions with limited facility access reveal substantial infrastructure inequities. States with container deposit policies exhibit recycling rates roughly twice the national average, highlighting the combined influence of infrastructure and policy on recycling outcomes. Communities with higher income and education have better access to recycling facilities, leading to higher plastic recycling rates, according to a national geospatial study of facility locations, local demographics, and waste generation.