The Plastic Problem: Unrecycled Waste's Impact

Plastic is everywhere, and it is cheap to make and highly profitable. However, the vast majority of plastic is not recycled. In fact, only around 9% of plastic waste is recycled globally, with the remaining 91% accumulating in landfills, being burnt, or sloughing off in the natural environment as litter. This is due to a combination of factors, including the material properties of plastics, contamination with food waste, and the high cost of recycling compared to producing new plastic. With plastic production set to triple by 2060, the plastic pollution crisis calls for a comprehensive, global approach that involves rethinking plastic chemistry, product design, recycling strategies, and consumer use.

Plastic is cheap to produce, profitable, and convenient

Plastic is everywhere. It is used in almost every area of our lives, from the toys our children play with to the containers our food comes in. It is estimated that 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic has been produced, with 6.3 billion metric tons becoming plastic waste. However, only 9% of this waste is recycled, with the vast majority (79%) ending up in landfills or the natural environment. This waste is a significant contributor to the global plastic pollution crisis.

So, why is plastic so prevalent? One of the main reasons is that plastic is cheap to produce. The low cost of producing plastic makes it a very profitable material for businesses. They can lower their costs of goods sold and increase their overall profitability by using plastic. In a competitive global market, these economic incentives can be hard to ignore. Additionally, the established production and distribution systems for plastic make it a safer bet for manufacturers than more expensive recycled materials.

Another reason for plastic's prevalence is its convenience. Plastic is lightweight, durable, and can be molded into a variety of shapes, making it a versatile material for a wide range of products. Single-use plastic items, in particular, offer convenience to consumers, who may not be aware of or consider the environmental impact of their choices. For example, more than 500 million plastic straws are used worldwide every day, and we use one trillion single-use plastic bags annually.

The cheap production cost of plastic, combined with its profitability and convenience, has led to its widespread use and the subsequent plastic pollution crisis. However, it's important to note that the cost of plastic is not truly "free." The environmental impact of plastic pollution is significant, and ultimately, it is the planet and future generations that bear the cost. Addressing the plastic pollution crisis requires a comprehensive, global approach that involves rethinking plastic chemistry, product design, recycling strategies, and consumer use.

Plastic waste is a large task that requires a global approach

Plastic waste is a growing global concern. Since mass production began 60 years ago, 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic have been produced, and this number is increasing rapidly. Plastic is cheap to produce and highly profitable, which has led to its ubiquitous presence in our lives. However, the plastic waste generated is becoming an increasingly large task to manage, and only 9% of plastic waste is recycled globally. The remaining plastic waste ends up in landfills, is incinerated, or leaks into the environment, especially oceans.

The sheer volume of plastic waste calls for a comprehensive global approach to address this issue. This includes rethinking plastic chemistry, product design, recycling strategies, and consumer use. For instance, the use of refill and reuse schemes can help reduce plastic waste. One such example is the Chilean company Algramo, which allows customers to buy liquid products in reusable plastic bottles from a network of filling stations. Such schemes require a radical shift in infrastructure and behavior.

Recycling plastic is challenging due to the material properties of plastics. While 75% of global plastics produced are thermoplastics that can be melted and molded for recycling, the remaining 25% are thermoset plastics that do not soften with heat and are nearly impossible to recycle. Additionally, only good-quality, clean plastics can be recycled, and the recycling process is energy-intensive and costly.

To effectively tackle the plastic waste crisis, a combination of policy interventions, improved waste management infrastructure, and alignment of design approaches and chemical regulations are necessary. This includes implementing policies such as bans and taxes on single-use plastics, Extended Producer Responsibility schemes, and landfill taxes. Developing economies must significantly invest in waste management infrastructure to reduce the future growth of plastic waste.

Addressing the root problem of plastic profitability and ensuring that polymer producers are accountable for the harm caused by their products are also crucial steps in mitigating the plastic waste crisis. By combining efforts and taking a global approach, we can make significant progress in managing and reducing plastic waste.

Plastic recycling rates are low, with most plastic ending up in landfills or oceans

Plastic recycling rates are extremely low, with only around 9% of plastic waste being recycled globally. The remaining plastic waste often ends up in landfills or the oceans, contributing to the global plastic pollution crisis.

The low recycling rates of plastic can be attributed to various factors. Firstly, not all plastics are recyclable due to their material properties. Thermoplastics, which make up about 75% of global plastic production, can be melted and moulded multiple times, making them technically recyclable. However, the remaining 25% are thermoset plastics that do not soften with heat and are challenging to recycle. Additionally, plastic recycling facilities often have specific criteria for accepting materials, and contaminated plastics with food residues or other impurities are often rejected and end up in landfills.

Another issue is the economic viability of plastic recycling. Recycling plastic is energy-intensive and becomes more costly with additional steps such as cleaning and sorting. In contrast, producing new plastic remains relatively cheap, creating a competitive environment that makes recycled plastic less profitable. This dynamic is further exacerbated by the high cost of electricity in some countries, making incineration a more financially attractive option than recycling.

Furthermore, the complexity and global reach of the plastic supply chain have hindered effective recycling. Plastic products are often designed without considering recyclability, and the infrastructure for collecting, sorting, and recycling plastic varies significantly across regions. While some countries have implemented bans on single-use plastics and promoted refill and reuse schemes, the overall lack of standardised global regulations has led to inconsistent recycling practices.

The consequences of low plastic recycling rates are severe. Landfills, where much of the unrecycled plastic ends up, release harmful greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. Additionally, plastic waste that is not properly disposed of ends up in natural environments, including oceans, where it breaks down into microplastics and severely impacts marine life.

To address the issue of low plastic recycling rates, a comprehensive approach is necessary. This includes rethinking plastic chemistry and product design, improving recycling infrastructure and strategies, and increasing public awareness about proper plastic disposal and recycling. Additionally, addressing the root cause of the problem requires holding polymer producers accountable for the environmental harm caused by their products and transitioning towards a more sustainable and circular economy for plastics.

Food residue on plastic packaging makes it unfit for recycling

Plastic is cheap to make and shockingly profitable. However, only about 9% of plastic waste has been recycled so far, with the vast majority (79%) accumulating in landfills or sloughing off in the natural environment as litter.

One of the reasons behind the low percentage of plastic recycling is that not all plastics can be recycled due to their material properties. For instance, while 75% of global plastics are thermoplastics that can be melted and moulded to produce new plastics, the remaining 25% are thermoset plastics that do not soften when exposed to heat, making them near-impossible to recycle.

Another reason is that food residue on plastic packaging makes it unfit for recycling. Plastic food packaging can often become stained with leftover food residue, and such containers are usually rejected by recycling facilities. This is because food residue can contaminate the recycling process and reduce the quality of newly recycled materials. While small traces of food residue do not cause too many problems, heavily stained containers must be cleaned before being recycled.

However, recycling is an energy-intensive process that becomes more costly as additional steps such as post-consumer selection and washing are added. As a result, recycled plastic is significantly more expensive than new plastic, which is still relatively cheap to produce. Furthermore, in countries where electricity prices are high, it might be more profitable to incinerate plastic rather than recycle it.

Despite these challenges, there is growing consumer demand for sustainable options, and companies are increasingly embracing plastic-free solutions. For example, one Chilean company, Algramo, allows customers to buy liquid products such as shampoo and laundry detergent in reusable plastic bottles from a large network of filling stations.

Plastic is a rapidly growing segment of municipal solid waste

The challenge of managing plastic waste is not limited to the United States. In 2021, only around 5% of over 50 million tons of plastic waste produced by households in the US was recycled, according to Greenpeace. This is in stark contrast to Europe, which recycles 30% of its plastic waste, and China, which recycles 25%. The low recycling rate in the US is partly due to the public's reliance on recycling bins, which often do not lead to actual recycling. Additionally, the multi-layered composition of flexible packaging, which accounts for around 40% of the world's plastic packaging, makes it challenging and costly to separate and recycle.

The issue of plastic waste extends beyond recycling challenges. Plastic production is projected to triple globally by 2060, with plastics made primarily from oil or gas becoming a significant source of carbon pollution contributing to climate change. Furthermore, plastic waste often ends up in oceans, severely impacting marine life. The accumulation of plastic in landfills and the natural environment contributes to the global plastic pollution crisis.

To address the plastic waste crisis, a comprehensive approach is necessary. This includes rethinking plastic chemistry, product design, recycling strategies, and consumer use. While recycling is an important part of the solution, it is not sufficient on its own. New universal plastic regulations are being negotiated as part of a global plastics treaty, aiming to streamline the production, use, and reuse of plastic through a circular economy model. Additionally, some countries have implemented bans on single-use plastics, and other innovative solutions, such as refill and reuse schemes, are being explored.

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