The United States was the world's "top generator of plastic waste" in 2016, exceeding that of all European nations combined, The Hill reported on Wednesday, citing a new study by the National Academy of Sciences in the U.S.

With a population of about 330 million, accounting for only 4.3 percent of the global population, the United States generated a total of 42 million tonnes of such waste in 2016, the report said.

"The waste is devastating the ocean's health and marine wildlife," it reported.

"Plastic waste is an environmental and social crisis that the U.S. needs to affirmatively address from source to sea," Margaret Spring, chair of the committee behind the report, said in a statement.

However, the American Chemistry Council (ACC) – a trade group that represents 28 companies, including oil giants, major chemical manufacturers and plastic makers – slammed the study's recommendation that plastic production should be limited.

In response to the report, Joshua Baca, vice president of plastics at the ACC, said in a statement that "plastic is a valuable resource that should be kept in our economy and out of our environment."

(Image via VCG)

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