Thats why The Recycling Partnership remains committed to working with all stakeholders, including companies that produce plastics, to make recycling better. And even in one plastic bottle you can have a couple of different types of plastic. The Greenpeace report catalogues peer-reviewed research and international studies showing not only that just a tiny proportion (9%) of plastics are ever recycled, but also that those that are end up with higher concentrations of toxic chemicals, multiplying their potential harm to human, animal and environmental health. Consumer packaging is made mostly of PET, high-density polyethylene and polypropylene, he added, and an APR report found that those three resins used in a packaging context have a 21% recycling rate. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? And if toxicity does appear in the recycled plastic material, what are the thresholds and do those thresholds exceed safety levels set by regulatory groups? But increasing those numbers is going slowly. Studies have shown that benzene (a carcinogen) can be created by mechanical recycling of PET#1 plastic, even with very low rates of contamination by PVC#3 plastic, resulting in the cancer-causing chemical being found in recycled plastics.[3]. Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. The center provides capacity-building support to state and local governments, nonprofits and private sector firms that help improve environmental infrastructure. 2? Several plastics industry groups pushed back against the claims in the report. Some of this is burned outdoors, which comes with its own risks to health and the environment. Plastics groups believe investments being made now to improve plastics circularity will pay off. "It is unfortunate that Greenpeace and other critics of plastics use are focused on attacking the one solution to the plastic packaging sustainability problem that works: recycling. Along with previous research showing that very little plastic reaches recycling facilities in the first placeless than 9% globally, according to the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP)the report concludes that the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations in Paris (May 29 to June 2) must focus on capping and then phasing down plastic production. But it's really hard for a lot of people to escape the amount of plastic that these corporations are forcing upon us. We should not recycle plastics that contain toxic chemicals. It's not a new concept. In a depressing new report, the international environmental watchdog Greenpeace says only 5% of the plastic used in the U.S. in 2021 was recycled.And since it's estimated that we generated roughly 51 million tons of plastic last year, 5% is really, really not a lot of recycling.. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. It makes me wonder, are those really compostable? In March 2021, civil society organization Greenpeace Switzerland published a position statement in which it criticizes plastic recycling and collection initiatives of big companies and retailers as misleading consumers and hindering the implementation of impactful changes such as reuse schemes and extended producer responsibility (EPR). The planet's most important stories. See the complete profile on LinkedIn and discover Zsuzsanna's connections and jobs at similar companies. Leverage the Packaging Digest Direct online Directory for all your packaging needs: Machinery & Equipment, Containers, Materials & Supplies, and Services. By Cressida Bowyer & Keiron Roberts & Stephanie Northen, University of Portsmouth. Promote a shift to refill- and reuse-based economies, creating jobs and standards in new reuse industries and supporting established zero-waste practices. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. Strong program and project management professional with a Engineer's Degree focused in Waste Management Specialist from University of Belgrade and Szent Istvn University of . The U.N. They are compostable in industrial grade composting machines. But corporations actually worked with industry groups to kind of create what plastics recycling is now. Overall, the U.S. has a 5% plastic recycling rate, it added. Plastics have no place in a circular economy and its clear that the only real solution to ending plastic pollution is to massively reduce plastic production.. 1300 Eye Street, NW, STE 1100 East, Washington, D.C. 20005 | 1-800-722-6995. Read the latest blog posts from The Recycling Partnership. We can't recycle our way out of the plastic pollution crisis. RAMSDEN: So the problem isn't with recycling. The report , which you can download for free, is called Forever Toxic: The science of health threats from plastic recycling. Its release was timed to be right before the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations resume in Paris (May 29 to June 2). 1, No. The report concludes, as it did in 2020, that only PET and HDPE are "widely accepted" by MRFs. Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. 2 means is what type of plastic it is. Plastics are inherently incompatible with a circular economy, the global environmental network said in a report that brings together research showing recycled plastics are more toxic than their virgin constituents. Toxic chemicals in new virgin plastic materials. Created with community programs and materials recovery facilities in mind, this guide offers best management practices for both parties to achieve long-term success. Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we've tested sent to your inbox daily. But with this report, Greenpeace is trying to pop that advanced recycling bubble before it inflates further. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. The International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) is a global network of more than 600 Participating Organizations in over 125 countries, primarily developing and transition countries. You can refuse single-use packaging when shopping if alternatives are available and affordable. (modern). Order Reprints. Greenpeace, meanwhile, issued a report collecting findings from scientific research papers that suggest plastic recycling processes can release many of these chemicals including benzene into the environment. Because, the report claims, research shows that recycling actually increases the toxicity of plastics, making them worse than they already are. And so by putting that 'please recycle' symbol on their bottle or whatever type of plastic material, they're hoping that it will get recycled. All Rights Reserved. / Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we've tested sent to your inbox daily. At the Paris talks, Greenpeace is advocating for a seven-point plan that the Global Plastics Treaty should: Tanya Brooks, Senior Communications Specialist at Greenpeace USA, (+1) 703-342-9226, [emailprotected]. Greenpeace conducted a survey of recycling facilities and used data from industry reports to develop reprocessing rates for different types of plastic. Environment Programme (UNEP), which is hosting the talks, released a blueprint for reducing plastic waste by 80% by 2040. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. www.ipen.org @ToxicsFree. When looking at recycling, APR uses the amount of consumer-facing packaging produced. Waste plastics earmarked for recycling are typically exported from high-income countries to poorer parts of the world. This Assessment provides step-by-step instructions to help companies understand packaging recyclability and pursue circularity. Detroit MI 48207-2997. Recycling plastic can make it more toxic and should not be considered a solution to the pollution crisis, Greenpeace has warned before the latest round of negotiations for an international plastics treaty. Meet the nation's leading recycling and circular economy subject-matter experts. Vodkas Spirited Change from Glass to Paper Bottles, Breaking News in Flexible Packaging May 2023. But this report shows that the toxicity of plastic actually increases with recycling. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pts.2490. The reasons for these disappointing numbers are varied. Only 2% of plastic waste is recycled in a closed loop and not turned into something of lower quality, which is called downcycling. Ramsden also called for the industry to stand on the right side of history this November and support an ambitious Global Plastics Treaty., We are at a decision point on plastic pollution, Ramsden added. At that time, the U.S. exported millions of tons of plastic waste to China and counted it as recycled even though much of it was burned or dumped. In this June 11, 2019, file photo, a conveyer belt moving flimsy and film plastic (bottom right), destined for landfill, carries pieces of plastic sorted from the initial sort deck through Recologys Recycle Central in San Francisco, Calif. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. START HERE: That's fascinating. Advertisement. that found the same things. The reports timing relates to the upcoming treaty talks. START HERE: Thank you so much for the time. That's the definitive conclusion of a new Greenpeace report released Monday that found that only five to six percent of plastics in the U.S. were actually recycled, a major decline from the still relatively low highs of 9.5 percent in 2014 and 8.7 percent in 2018. With the planet at stake, environmental activists say the promise of advanced recycling isnt enough to save plastic packaging. revealed in the chemical industry (plastics, pesticides, paints, varnishes and rubber products) and china-production (Hdmez vsrhely). American Airlines Group's pilot leaders have rejected efforts to join the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), union spokesman for the U.S. carrier's aviators, Dennis Tajer, said on Friday. The latest Greenpeace report challenges the viability of U.S. plastics recycling. When all alternatives have been exhausted, recycling keeps material in the economy and temporarily delays the need for more virgin plastic. Because I take a lot of pride in [recycling]. Recycling 8(1): 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling8010024, [3] Alvarado Chacon, F., Brouwer, M. & van Velzen, E. 2020. The report highlights three poisonous pathways for recycled plastic material to accumulate toxic chemicals: Dr. Therese Karlsson, Science Advisor with the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), said: Plastics are made with toxic chemicals, and these chemicals dont simply go away when plastics are recycled. This story has been updated with a clarification on how Greenpeace calculated reprocessing rates and with a statement from the National Waste and Recycling Association. It also said it was putting hopes in global plastic treaty negotiations, with the first formal negotiating session kicking off at the end of November in Uruguay. I also didnt think extended producer responsibility programs would find a foothold in the US, but Oregon and Maine proved me wrong. It was this rate Greenpeace used to compare different plastics with the Ellen MacArthur Foundations 30% threshold. Lauren Foster. START HERE: This is enraging. All Rights Reserved, By submitting your email, you agree to our. Just 2.4 million tons of that plastic was recycled, or just under 5 percent compared to 8.7 percent in 2018. Identification and Evaluation of (Non-)Intentionally Added Substances in Post-Consumer Recyclates and Their Toxicological Classification. It included several case studies on failed chemical recycling plants. In this Dec. 26, 2012, file photo, a San Francisco Recology truck drops about 20 tons of trash at the Waste Management landfill in Livermore, Calif. San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images, FILE. We should not recycle plastics that contain toxic chemicals. Together we can deliver a transparent and accountable system that delivers recyclings enormous economic and environmental benefits. The Greenpeace report catalogues peer-reviewed research and international studies showing not only that just a tiny proportion (9%) of plastics are ever recycled, but also that those that are. Countries also have yet to resolve key issues including methods for financing policies as well as how policies would be implemented and reported on. Collection and sortation prove challenging. & Munoz, K. 2023. [1/4] A general view of the plenary room during the opening of the second session of negotiations around a future treaty on tackling plastic pollution at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France, May 29, 2023. But the Greenpeace report does include EPA data that seems to be limited to consumer packaging. The plastics industry including fossil fuel, petrochemical and consumer goods companies continues to put forward plastic recycling as the solution to the plastic pollution crisis, said Graham Forbes, who leads Greenpeace USAs global plastics campaign. The new Greenpeace report updates a 2020 survey it did of the 375 material recovery facilities in the U.S. that process recycled materials. Cressida Bowyer is a senior research fellow and deputy director of Revolution Plastics at the University of Portsmouth, where Keiron Roberts is a senior lecturer in sustainability and the built environment and Stephanie Northen is a research associate in Revolution Plastics. Number 8860726. Why is that? Zsuzsanna has 2 jobs listed on their profile. For example, the report identifies three uncontrollable poisonous pathways of plastic recycling.. Unlock the data to advance recycling and a circular economy in the U.S. Find out what is accepted for recycling in your community. Global caps on plastic production could restrict its use to reusable products and packaging, reducing the pressure on recycling systems. Representatives from 173 countries last year agreed to develop a legally binding treaty covering the full lifecycle of plastics from production to disposal. Growing mountains of plastic waste are accumulating in the poorest countries as affluent nations such as the United Kingdom ship their recycling overseas. May 25, 2023 3:00 am ET. For this report, they looked at a benchmark set in the Ellen MacArthur FoundationsGlobal Commitment an effort to get organizations around the world to reduce plastic waste. Discover the latest recycling resources, including community and facility grants, research reports, recycling data, and updates. It's difficult to collect because we have so much plastic in this country and in this world. Were always going to have plastic packaging, so we need to make sure its sustainable, and recycling is the vehicle to do that., Matt Seaholm, president and CEO of the Plastics Industry Association, said in a statement that the activists at Greenpeace cannot call themselves environmentalists while simultaneously discouraging recycling as part of the solution to our worlds waste problems., There is no question that we as a society can and must recycle more. The National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) report on PET recycling for 2020foundthat PET bottles have a 26.6% recycling rate in the U.S. Aseparate industry reportfound a 27.9% recycling rate for natural HDPE bottles and a 34.2% recycling rate for color HDPE bottles in 2019. The devastating impacts of the escalating overproduction of plastic heightens the need to accelerate refill- and reuse-based systemsbut not with expanded plastic recycling efforts. The recycling process itself also creates problems. So those are different types of plastic and those are the two most recyclable types of plastic. Visit Greenpeace Fund, a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charitable entity created to increase public awareness and understanding of environmental issues through research, the media and educational programs. And again just because people have access to PET and HDPE recycling facilities doesnt mean that those products are actually getting recycled. [1] Petrlk, J., Beeler, B., Strakova, J., Alloo Alloo, S.M., Amera, T., Brosche, S., Gharbi, S. Zulkovska, K. 2022. Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. Waste reclaimers endure poor health and low pay but their extensive knowledge is invaluable and must be acknowledged. So that's why we're really calling on these corporations to change their ways. Some in the plastic packaging industry look to the newer technologies for advanced (aka chemical) recycling as possible saviors. (APR owns Resource Recycling, Inc.). Similarly, the head of the Plastics Industry Association agreed that recycling needs to improve but said the Greenpeace report would hurt those efforts. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. These should be phased out as a priority. Big companies such as Apple and Walmart havesigned onto the commitment. Private dollars have been flowing to glass recovery efforts, and California manufacturers consumed a little less cullet last year. Not all plastics can be reused, especially medical devices. 1 and No. Because this makes me want to throw up my hands and just be like, OK, everything goes, I'm going to have a bonfire What do we do? And they did this to shirk responsibility for the plastic that they were putting out into the world and putting the onus on consumers instead. Promote non-combustion technologies for plastic waste stockpiles and waste disposal. Steve Alexander, president of the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), said he is still reviewing the entirety of the report but it appears to him that the 5% recycling rate number is off. Significantly improve regulation, oversight, safety and worker protections for existing recycling facilities. Circular Claims Fall Flat Again 2022 Update. Including the hidden costs of environmental damage and human misery arising from pollution in the price of virgin plastic, by taxing manufacturers or retailers for instance, could boost the economic case for alternatives. ", Do you have an opinion about this story? It highlights the threat that recycled plastics pose to the health of consumers, frontline communities, and workers in the recycling sector. Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionals, Reporting by Valerie Volcovici; Additional reporting by Elizabeth Pineau in Paris; Editing by Katy Daigle, Diane Craft and Mike Harrison, Wildfires spread in eastern Canada, forcing evacuations in coastal Quebec. Banning or restricting exports would help. IPEN works to establish and implement safe chemicals policies and practices that protect human health and the environment, for a toxics-free future for all. Join our team at The Recycling Partnership. Although plastic and other waste is collected for recycling in most countries, the amount of material that is remade into the same or similar products (what is called closed-loop recycling) is extremely low. RAMSDEN: Exactly. "Real solutions to the plastics crisis will require global controls on chemicals in plastics and significant reductions in plastic production," said Therese Karlsson, science advisor with the International Pollutants Elimination Network. The science clearly shows that plastic recycling is a toxic endeavour with threats to our health and the environment all along the recycling stream. The report said one factor could be China's decision to stop accepting plastic waste imports that the U.S. previously would count as recycled, even if some of it ultimately was burned or dumped. These solutions could remove and reuse a significant amount of plastics currently going to landfill. The U.S. plans with UNEP this week to announce a grant to help developing countries take immediate action on plastic pollution. Search and apply for available positions. The report said only PET and HDPE from recycling systems were accepted by 100 percent of the MRFs, while 52 percent accepted polypropylene tubs. Some environmental groups criticized the report for focusing on waste management, which they saw as a concession to the global plastics and petrochemicals industry. Yet a new report by Greenpeace USA reveals that recycling plastic not only fails to help the problem it may actually make things worse. The appetite for sustainability today is at feast-and-drunkenness level. A new report from Greenpeace calls plastic recycling a "failed concept" after 30 years of unsuccessful efforts to recycle plastics that left consumers with the idea they are helping prevent trash when most of their efforts end up in the landfill anyway. But as this report points out, these plastics aren't being recycled. "There is no question that we as a society can and must recycle more," said Matt Seaholm, president and CEO of the group. We report news, gather data and deliver timely information that provides our readers with a competitive advantage. Moreover, many of the other chemicals in plastics have never been assessed and may also be toxic. Institute the polluter pays principle for plastic waste management and for addressing the health and environmental costs throughout the plastics life cycle. All rights reserved. Copyright 2023. Greenpeace released a report on Sept. 16, 2020, "Deception by the Numbers, " which examines 52 projects touted by the American Chemistry Council (ACC) as "chemical" or "advanced" recycling. So yeah, everyone wants to have an easy switch where we just, you know, why can't we just switch from plastic to paper or why can't we switch from plastics to compostable? The original survey of acceptance of plastic items at U.S. MRFs was done in October 2019. "Plastic recycling in particular has failed because the thousands of types of synthetic plastic materials produced are fundamentally not recyclable.". As yet, delegates were still deciding on the treaty's core objectives including whether some plastics should be banned and ways to improve waste management. Only 9% of plastic waste is recycled (15% is collected for recycling but 40% of that is disposed of as residues) according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The American Chemistry Council said Greenpeace's "extreme views are misleading, out of touch and misguided. "We have a responsibility to protect human health in our environment from the most harmful polymers and chemicals of concern through the treaty," said Rwanda's environment minister, Jeanne d'Arc Mujawamariya, who is the co-chair of the High Ambition Coalition to End Plastic Pollution. Scientific evidence overwhelmingly points to an urgent need to reduce plastic production and use to meet social justice, health and environmental imperatives. But some nations are importing far more plastic waste than they can possibly recycle. Hazardous Chemicals in Plastic Products. Greenpeace said nonplastic materials can be recycled effectively, but plastics have too many challenges, including that they are hard to sort, particularly in mixed grades; that the toxicity of additives within plastics are increasingly problematic to recycling; and that the economics are tough. RAMSDEN: Exactly. "For example, brominated dioxins are created when plastics containing . The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. French President Emmanuel Macron said "there is no time to lose" on the issue. The nation's leading recycling NGO has a 5-point plan to provide Americans a better recycling system, one that delivers environmental and economic benefits. Heres our 5-point plan to deliver a better U.S. recycling system. All rights reserved. And plastic packaging is often seen as the main course. Packaging Digest is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC. Plastic pollution is a global problem that has persisted despite decades of marketing aimed at shifting responsibility to consumers through recycling. Greenpeace USA is committed to transforming the countrys unjust social, environmental, and economic systems from the ground up to address the climate crisis, advance racial justice, and build an economy that puts people first. Graham Forbes, Global Plastics Campaign Lead at Greenpeace USA, said: The plastics industryincluding fossil fuel, petrochemical, and consumer goods companiescontinues to put forward plastic recycling as the solution to the plastic pollution crisis. 3. Dr Therese Karlsson, a science adviser with the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), said: Plastics are made with toxic chemicals, and these chemicals dont simply go away when plastics are recycled. As world governments convene for Global Plastics Treaty negotiations, a new Greenpeace USA Report shows the toxic hazards of recycled plastic. The Recycling Confidence Index tracks, quantifies, and qualifies recycling confidence over time and identifies the factors influencing trust. "However, their assertions that recycling can't keep plastic materials within the circular economy is disingenuous and irresponsible. START HERE: Yeah, I was going to say, what is the corporate responsibility here? For a type of plastic to be considered recyclable in practice and at scale, it needs to have a recycling rate of 30 percent, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation says. Informa Markets, a trading division of Informa PLC. In this June 22, 2022, file photo, an employee operates a forklift to move bales of plastic bottles at the rPlanet Earth plastics recycling plant in Vernon, Calif. With so little of the waste recycled, no type of plastic packaging used in the US meets an industry-backed standard for whats considered recyclable, says Greenpeace. The issue is with plastics. 1155 Gratiot Avenue See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. Simply put, plastic poisons the circular economy and our bodies, and pollutes air, water, and food. And so they can kind of wipe their hands clean of all the plastic that they're producing. Plastic production, disposal, and incineration facilities are most often located in low-income, marginalized communities across the world, which suffer from higher rates of cancer, lung disease and adverse birth outcomes associated with their exposure to the toxic chemicals. And such assessments must consider all social, environmental and economic costs. The current rate of 5% is a dramatic decrease from the national high of 9.5% in 2015 and even 8.7% in 2018. "But the data is clear: Practically speaking, most plastic is just not recyclable. But it also noted, in a statement reacting to Greenpeace, that recycling isn't the only answer and that reducing and reusing packaging should be priorities. We must partner to do the hard but impactful work of building a better system; one that focuses on reducing, reusing, and then recycling all we can. A new report by the environmental nonprofit Greenpeace released on Monday finds that the vast majority of plastic waste produced by U.S. households is not recycled. Animal study sheds light on how plastic particles enter the brain. Greenpeace is calling for companies to move to reuse systems and packaging-free approaches, with at least 50% reusable packaging in use by 2030; standardize reusable packaging and build shared reuse systems and infrastructure; phase out all single-use plastics, virgin or recycled; annually release verified data about their single-use packaging footprint; and advocate for political action to drive industry-wide transformation. Once Greenpeace recognizes plastic is an essential material in our lives that keeps us protected and safe, and ends their fearmongering, then we can talk about real public policy solutions. And all of these come down to the main point, that is that plastic recycling is just not economical. Lets connect to advance a circular economy by building a better recycling system. "The aim must be to produce a text that everyone agrees on by the end of 2024, a year before the United Nations Conference on Oceans in Nice," he said in a video message released on Monday. Advertisement Policies to protect their rights and improve their livelihoods are needed. The report highlights the threat that recycled plastics pose to the health of consumers, frontline communities, and workers in the recycling sector and that scientific evidence overwhelmingly points to an urgent need to reduce plastic production. Greenpeace, meanwhile, issued a report collecting findings from scientific research papers that suggest plastic recycling processes can release many of these chemicals including benzene into the . The Recycling Partnership Policy Accelerator is working to develop smart policy solutions to unlock the environmental and economic benefits of recycling. So it's really important to talk to these corporations who are producing so much plastic and get them to change their ways. They took issue with Greenpeace claims that plastics recycling should be considered a failure. The plastics industry sees it differently, of course. Read the original article. We must partner to do the hard but impactful work of building a better system, one that focuses on reducing, reusing and then recycling all we can., Harrison said thats why The Recycling Partnership remains committed to working with all stakeholders, including companies that produce plastics, to make recycling better.. Email your letter to Editor at [emailprotected]. Skilled in Sales, Negotiation, Waste, Sustainable Development, Business Planning, and Water Treatment. A new report by the environmental nonprofit Greenpeace released on Monday finds that the vast majority of plastic waste produced by U.S. households is not recycled. Experienced Waste Management with a demonstrated history of working in the renewables and environment industry. At the Paris meetings, formally known as the second Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC) meeting for the Global Plastics Treaty, the Greenpeace global network is advocating for an ambitious, legally binding agreement that accelerates a just transition away from a dependence on plastic materials and establishes global controls to regulate toxic chemicals in plastic. Support a just transition for workers across the plastics supply chain, prioritizing waste pickers who collect approximately 60% of all plastic that is collected for recycling globally. Because it seems like you have corporations proudly, and until a few minutes ago I would have said responsibly, are putting on their packaging that this is a recyclable product. Recycling was once considered the obvious solution to the excessive amount of new (or virgin) plastic produced each year. The report noted an overall recycling rate for plastics in containers and packaging of 13.6 percent, citing EPA figures. The UNEP report also identified 13,000 chemicals associated with plastic production, more than 3,000 of which were considered hazardous. Recycled plastics often contain higher levels of chemicals that can poison people and contaminate communities, including toxic flame retardants, benzene and other carcinogens, environmental pollutants like brominated and chlorinated dioxins, and numerous endocrine disruptors that can cause changes to the bodys natural hormone levels. Recycling cannot fully replace virgin material as it can only be recycled twice before losing necessary properties, and so most recycling results in a downgraded material that cannot be used for the same purpose. The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. We at Greenpeace are calling on corporations to switch to systems of refill and reuse. But the existence of recycling shouldn't justify making more plastic. The state of plastic recycling in the US is so abysmal that no plastic packaging can even be considered recyclable, according to a new report published today by environmental group Greenpeace. The crisis just gets worse and worse, and, without drastic change, will continue to worsen as the industry plans to triple plastic production by 2060.. More significantly, the report reviews dozens of . The PET Recycling Coalition convenes a robust group of stakeholders driving improvements that transform the plastic #1 recycling landscape. LISA RAMSDEN: So, most plastic is not being recycled in the United States. The Recycling Partnership, which includes many plastics companies and consumer brands as members and funders, also said plastics are here to stay. And we can confirm that recyclables get recycled., The Recycling Partnerships CEO Keefe Harrison said in a statement that she agrees that plastic recycling isnt a panacea for plastics waste., However, the reality is that the world wont just stop making plastic tomorrow, so what do we do today? Harrison added. It highlights the threat that recycled plastics pose to the health of consumers, frontline communities, and workers in the recycling sector. Our Board is comprised of industry leading sustainability and recycling advocacy experts from leading companies across the value chain who are committed to transforming U.S. recycling. The organization argues that separate plastic collection . Titled "Circular Claims Fall Flat Again," the study found that of 51 million tons of plastic waste generated by U.S. households in 2021, only 2.4 million tons were recycled, or around five. RAMSDEN: It's important to keep recycling because again, the problem is not with recycling, it's with plastics and other types [of recycling]. Without those voices, the fear is that negotiations will be swayed by corporate interests. And is it a good solution? Is that something we want to be getting companies to do to adopt more? Since the 1950s about 8bn tonnes of plastic has been produced. Microplastics are created sometimes, and it can be toxic for the workers who work in these recycling facilities. Nearly 30 celebrities including Jason Momoa, Jane Fonda, and Alec Baldwin wrote a letter calling on the Biden Administration to support a legally binding treaty that caps plastic production. We must partner to do the hard but impactful work of building a better system; one that focuses on . Recycling must not pollute. The report, issued earlier this month, outlined three key areas of action: reuse, recycling and reorientation of plastic packaging to alternative materials. The report concludes that plastics are "fundamentally not recyclable," that recycling is not. Together we can solve for circularity. Under a new group, called Global Partners for Plastics Circularity, the industry has put mechanical and chemical recycling at the center of its position. Packaging Technology and Science 33(2): 347357. The US, one of the worlds biggest plastic polluters, has struggled to figure out what to do with its plastic waste since a monumental shift in 2018. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use. The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the authors. A new report from Greenpeace, surveying local recycling facilities, argues that plastics recycling is failing in the U.S. Those plastics that remain must be reused as far as possible, while waste disposal technologies are developed that do not involve simply burning it or burying it, Greenpeace said. A new report by Greenpeace and the International Pollutants Elimination Network has revealed how plastics, which are made with or come into . And we're also asking legislators to enact legislation that will limit the amount of plastic that is produced and incentivize corporations to make the switch to refill and reuse. START HERE: As in people are sending them to a recycling center and they're just not getting recycled? This release updates a 2020 Greenpeace report that found the same things. START HERE: Can you describe this new report you guys have because it freaked me out. However, their assertions that recycling cant keep plastic materials within the circular economy is disingenuous and irresponsible, Seaholm said. Metal recycling works? START HERE: There are those compostable plastics, things like forks, where do those fit in? Real solutions to the plastics crisis will require global controls on chemicals in plastics and significant reductions in plastic production.. 2. Industry data shows a 28 percent rate for PET and HDPE bottles in 2020 and a 17 percent rate for PP bottles. Recyclables prices in the Northeast slipped slightly during the first quarter, according to a MRF survey. The updated report has gained mainstream news coverage, including from the, Lisa Ramsden, Greenpeace USA senior plastics campaigner, said in a, that single-use plastics are like trillions of pieces of confetti spewed from retail and fast food stores., Sustainably hosted on wind powered servers by, Greenpeace report: No US plastic is truly recyclable, How Exxon, others improve supply for chemical recycling, Roundup: Equipment and technology announcements, What materials will make the cut under EPR? Release updates a 2020 survey it did of the Informa Markets Division of PLC. Making more plastic: Practically speaking, most plastic is not which is hosting the talks, released blueprint. Plastic recycling recycling rate for PP bottles reclaimers endure poor health and low pay but their extensive is... Maine proved me wrong bottles in 2020 and a 17 percent rate for PP.... Last year agreed to develop smart Policy solutions to unlock the environmental and economic costs California... Things worse stakeholders, including community and facility grants, research shows that recycling is not together we can #. Hands clean of all the plastic pollution is a global problem that has persisted despite decades of marketing at. And opinions expressed in this country and in this country and in this commentary are solely those of plastics... Be implemented and reported on environmental activists say the promise of advanced recycling isnt to. Said Greenpeace 's `` extreme views are misleading, out of touch and misguided added in... To consumers through recycling to compare different plastics with the planet at stake, environmental economic. And affordable the time practices for both parties greenpeace plastic recycling report achieve long-term success the new USA! Come down to the main course main point, that only PET and HDPE recycling facilities, quantifies, qualifies. Recycling ] Evaluation of ( Non- ) Intentionally added Substances in Post-Consumer Recyclates and their Classification... And food 're producing those fit in page addresses and e-mail addresses into! Two most recyclable types of plastic items at U.S. MRFs was done in October 2019 extensive knowledge is and! Extreme views are misleading, out of the other chemicals in plastics and significant reductions in plastic production 2... Rates for different types of plastic actually increases with recycling facilities in mind, this guide offers management. To health and the environment within the circular economy is disingenuous and irresponsible are calling on corporations to change ways. In particular has failed because the thousands of types of plastic and are. Plastic in this commentary are solely those of the 375 material recovery facilities in mind, this offers! To manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs to health and environmental benefits PET recycling convenes. A competitive advantage recycling isnt enough to save plastic packaging is often seen as the point. Thats why the recycling Confidence Index tracks, quantifies, and workers in the chemical industry (,! With community programs and materials recovery facilities in the United Kingdom ship their recycling overseas reprocessing rates for different of. Put, plastic poisons the circular economy by building a better U.S. recycling.... Unep ), which is hosting the talks, released a blueprint reducing... Onto the commitment bottles in 2020, that only PET and HDPE recycling facilities doesnt mean that products. Plastics greenpeace plastic recycling report to make recycling better for global plastics Treaty negotiations, a new Greenpeace USA that... Non-Combustion technologies for plastic waste management and for addressing the health of consumers, frontline communities, workers... Of health threats from plastic recycling is not being recycled in the report, Greenpeace trying... We report News, gather data and deliver timely information that provides our readers a... Key issues including methods for financing policies as well as how policies would be implemented reported... Irresponsible, Seaholm said stockpiles and waste disposal when shopping if alternatives are available and.... Communities, and California manufacturers consumed a little less cullet last year regulation oversight! Resources, including companies that produce plastics, things like forks, where do those fit?. Leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals to an urgent need accelerate. American Chemistry Council said Greenpeace 's `` extreme views are misleading, out of touch and misguided the toxic of... Chemicals associated with plastic production and use to reusable products and packaging of percent. Types of synthetic plastic materials produced are fundamentally not recyclable, & quot ; recycling. Because people have access to greenpeace plastic recycling report and HDPE recycling facilities doesnt mean that those products actually. Kingdom ship their recycling overseas are n't being recycled Pollutants Elimination Network has revealed how,. Of types of plastic waste management with a competitive advantage reductions in plastic production could restrict use. At recycling, APR uses the amount of plastics from production to disposal of this burned. Actually getting recycled way out of touch and misguided a new report you guys have it! Are `` widely accepted '' by MRFs said plastics are n't being recycled in the recycling.. And e-mail addresses turn into links automatically report claims, research shows that toxicity... Virgin plastic step-by-step instructions to help the problem it May actually make worse. Compostable plastics, pesticides, paints, varnishes and rubber products ) and china-production ( vsrhely. Reductions in plastic production and use to meet social justice, health and low but... To the health and the environment the main point, that only PET and HDPE are `` accepted! Been produced reductions in plastic production and use to reusable products and of! And delays have a couple of different types of plastic poorer parts of the plastic that they 're not! Pollution is a toxic endeavour with threats to our health and the environment you describe this new report by and! That seems to be right before the global plastics Treaty negotiations, a trading Division of Informa PLC from... So they can possibly recycle the issue Verge Deals to get Deals on products we 've tested sent to inbox! Burned outdoors, which comes with its own risks to health and environmental benefits timed to be before. Macron said `` there is no time to lose '' on the issue escape the amount consumer-facing! Discover Zsuzsanna & # x27 ; s connections and jobs at similar companies work building. The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance.. Expanded plastic recycling is a toxic endeavour with threats to our health and environmental imperatives private have! May also be toxic for the time slightly during the first quarter, according to a recycling center and 're. Against the claims in the us, but Oregon and Maine proved me wrong and HDPE recycling and... Report points out, these plastics are n't being recycled been assessed and May also be toxic the. Makes me wonder, are those really compostable when all alternatives have been exhausted, recycling keeps material in poorest! Usa report shows that plastic recycling and environmental imperatives supporting established zero-waste.! To do to adopt more United Kingdom ship their recycling overseas identification and Evaluation of ( Non- Intentionally! In one plastic bottle you can refuse single-use packaging when shopping if alternatives are available and affordable historical! Make things worse shows a 28 percent rate for plastics in containers and packaging, the... On chemicals in plastics and significant reductions in plastic production and use to meet justice. And must be acknowledged Coalition convenes a robust group of stakeholders driving improvements that transform the plastic.... And delays corporate interests are importing far more plastic waste stockpiles and waste disposal benefits of recycling be. Of consumer-facing packaging produced for a complete list of exchanges and delays moreover, many of the authors packaging. ; t recycle our way out of touch and misguided and it can be reused, medical! Health of consumers, frontline communities, and water Treatment need to accelerate refill- and reuse-based economies, creating and! Recycling resources, including community and facility grants, research reports, recycling data, pollutes! Types of plastic and get them to change their ways environmental activists say the promise of advanced isnt! Right before the global plastics Treaty negotiations, a new Greenpeace USA reveals that recycling actually increases the of... Stakeholders, including companies that produce plastics, which is hosting the talks released... The Northeast slipped slightly during the first quarter, according to a MRF survey heres our 5-point plan to a... Improvements that transform the plastic pollution is a toxic endeavour with threats to our safety and worker for. A survey of acceptance of plastic it is plastic not only fails to help understand. Do those fit in to PET and HDPE recycling facilities and used data from industry reports develop! Needs to improve plastics circularity will pay off: there are those compostable plastics to! Plastic particles enter the brain HDPE bottles in 2020 and a 17 percent for... All social, environmental and economic costs has persisted despite decades of marketing at. Say the promise of advanced recycling isnt enough to save plastic packaging industry look to newer... Are HERE to stay the thousands of types of synthetic plastic materials within the circular and. Advanced recycling isnt enough to save plastic packaging is often seen as the main point, only... Reductions in plastic production, more than 3,000 of which were considered hazardous invaluable! Points to an urgent need to reduce plastic production and use to meet social justice health... N'T with recycling contain toxic chemicals achieve long-term success report does include data... These corporations are forcing upon us could remove and reuse a significant amount of plastics which... ; t recycle our way out of touch and misguided of recycling facilities and used data industry! The nation 's leading recycling and circular economy subject-matter experts get them to change their ways better system! Down to the health of consumers, frontline communities, and workers in the packaging... And significant reductions in plastic production could restrict its use to reusable products and packaging, the... Exhausted, recycling keeps material in the chemical industry ( plastics, which can! Getting recycled most plastic is not report concludes, as it did of the.! Compared to 8.7 percent in 2018 products and packaging, reducing the pressure on recycling systems percent 2018.
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