"The U.S. generated a staggering 42 million metric tons of plastic waste in 2016 — more than any other country in the world, according to the analysis.
Up to 2.2 million metric tons of this waste ended up in the ocean."
So, 5.2%. Is that "much" of the stated 94% that isn't recycled?
Plastic directly released to the ocean in the US (as opposed to US plastic shipped overseas, then released to the ocean) is estimated at < 0.01 kg/capita (2019). That looks low, maybe too low; it's three orders of magnitude below that other estimate.
It's not b**** because you have no idea whether or not the plastic that is generated actually ends up in the ocean. We used to ship most of our ways to other countries. So if the plastic is actually generated in the United States, it is possible that it could actually end up in another country and the end up in the ocean.
I agree with you that the wording is not necessarily the best but it is not facetious to think that plastic created in the United States'could'end up in the ocean.
You are correct that 94% of it does not end up in ocean, but the % is still too high.
Calling bullshit on that second sentence.