New Report Lists 5 Reasons to Think Plastic Recycling Is a "Failed Concept"

Wed, 9 Nov 2022 11:31:02 +1100

Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>

Andrew Pam
<https://www.sciencealert.com/new-report-lists-5-reasons-to-think-plastic-recycling-is-a-failed-concept>

'Plastic recycling rates are declining even as production shoots up, according
to a Greenpeace USA report out Monday that blasted industry claims of creating
an efficient, circular economy as "fiction."

Titled "Circular Claims Fall Flat Again," the study found that of 51 million
tons of plastic waste generated by US households in 2021, only 2.4 million tons
were recycled, or around five percent.

After peaking in 2014 at 10 percent, the trend has been decreasing, especially
since China stopped accepting the West's plastic waste in 2018.

Virgin production – of non-recycled plastic, that is – meanwhile is rapidly
rising as the petrochemical industry expands, lowering costs.

"Industry groups and big corporations have been pushing for recycling as a
solution," Greenpeace USA campaigner Lisa Ramsden told AFP.

"By doing that, they have shirked all responsibility" for ensuring that
recycling actually works, she added. She named Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Unilever and
Nestle as prime offenders.'

Via Rixty Dixet.

Cheers,
       *** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net               Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/                 Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/            Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/               Manager, Serious Cybernetics

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