Chloe Zhang
The plastic that people put into their recycling bins often ends up in landfills, or even worse, according to a report from Greenpeace on the state of plastic recycling in the US. In the past, the US and other wealthy nations sent their plastic waste to China to be recycled into new products. However, in 2018, China drastically cut back its imports of plastic waste, leaving the US and other countries to figure out what to do with their discards. As a result, the US has been sending its plastic waste to other countries, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. However, these countries have also started to cut back on imports of scrap plastic as they are overwhelmed by the huge diversion of plastic from China. The plastic waste that is not sent to other countries is often buried, burned, or ends up in the ocean.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic is expensive to collect and sort | Thousands of different types of plastic exist, and none of them can be melted down together. |
| Plastic is toxic | Greenpeace found that the more plastic is reused, the more toxic it becomes. |
| Plastic is cheap and easy to produce | New plastic is cheap and easy to produce, whereas recycling plastic is expensive. |
| Plastic has few markets | Plastic trash has few markets because of the ease of producing new plastic. |
| Plastic is often sent to landfills | Most recycling companies send plastic to landfills, including Rogue Disposal & Recycling in southern Oregon. |
| Plastic is often sent to other countries | The U.S. used to send about 7 million tons of plastic waste to China for recycling annually, but China has since drastically cut back on imports. Now, countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam are receiving more plastic waste from the U.S. |
| Plastic is often improperly managed | Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam, which are among the biggest recipients of U.S. plastic recycling, have been found to improperly manage a significant portion of their plastic waste. |
| Plastic is a global issue | The plastic crisis is not limited to a single country or region, as evidenced by the presence of plastic waste in the Pacific Garbage Patch and other parts of the world. |
| Plastic recycling is often misleading | Many recycling companies tell customers that plastic is being recycled when it is actually being sent to landfills. |
| Plastic recycling faces resistance from lobbyists | Environmentalists and lawmakers face steep resistance from plastic and oil industry lobbyists when trying to implement legislation banning single-use plastics. |
| Plastic recycling rates are low | According to Greenpeace, the amount of plastic actually turned into new things has fallen to around 5%, and no plastic meets the threshold to be considered "recyclable" by certain standards. |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic waste is often sent to landfill sites
In the past, China was a major importer of plastic waste from the US and other wealthy nations, taking in about 7 million tons of plastic trash a year, or about 70% of the world's plastic waste. However, in 2018, the Chinese government drastically cut back on its imports of trash, leaving many countries scrambling to find alternative solutions for their plastic waste.
One consequence of China's decision has been the illegal importation of US waste to other countries, particularly in Southeast Asia. Malaysia, for example, has become the biggest recipient of US plastic recycling since the China ban. However, the country has struggled to manage its own plastic waste, with 55% of it being dumped or inadequately disposed of in open landfills. Indonesia and Vietnam have also faced similar challenges, with improper management rates of 81% and 86%, respectively.
The issue of plastic waste is a complex one, and despite the best efforts of some individuals and organisations, it continues to be a significant problem. The solution may lie in reducing the production of plastic and developing more recyclable and sustainable alternatives. In the meantime, it is important to recognise that much of the plastic waste that is put into recycling bins ultimately ends up in landfill sites.
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Plastic is sent to other countries, such as China
The ban has had a significant impact on the global recycling industry, causing a "congestion of the whole system" as countries scrambled for alternatives. The displaced plastic waste has been diverted to other countries, primarily in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Thailand. However, these countries have struggled to manage the large volume of waste, leading to improper disposal methods such as dumping and open burning, which have severe environmental consequences.
The plastic waste trade has also been associated with illegal activities, with shippers mislabeling cargo containers to circumvent regulations. The complex nature of the international recycling business, with varying waste treatment methods and technologies across countries, further complicates efforts to regulate and manage plastic waste effectively.
China's decision to ban plastic waste imports has highlighted the need for better solutions to the growing global throwaway culture. It has also prompted discussions about reducing plastic waste generation and improving domestic recycling capabilities to decrease reliance on exporting waste to other countries.
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Some companies falsely claim that plastic is recycled
Many recycling companies have been found to falsely claim that plastic is recycled. A Guardian report from 11 countries reveals how US waste makes its way across the world and overwhelms the poorest nations. The illegal importation of US waste is continuing, with shippers changing the codes on cargo container documentation to make it seem like they are sending virgin plastic instead of recycled scrap.
In the United States, an NPR and PBS Frontline investigation revealed how the oil and gas industry used the promise of recycling to sell more plastic, even when they knew it would never work on a large scale. Industry companies spent tens of millions of dollars on ads promoting the benefits of a product that was, for the most part, buried, burned, or wound up in the ocean. Documents show that industry officials knew this reality about plastic recycling as far back as the 1970s.
The deception goes beyond false advertising. Recycling companies have also been complicit in the misleading of the public about recycling practices. Laura Leebrick, a manager at Rogue Disposal & Recycling in southern Oregon, shared her experience of sending plastic trash to China. When China closed its doors, she struggled to find buyers for the plastic waste, except for someone who wanted white milk jugs. Despite knowing the truth about burying plastic waste, Leebrick found that people did not want to hear it.
The Center for Climate Integrity (CCI) published a report revealing that companies have known for decades that recycling is not a viable solution for plastic waste management but promoted it anyway. Richard Wiles, president of CCI, stated, "The companies lied. It's time to hold them accountable for the damage they've caused." The report also highlighted the industry's continued misconduct, with lobbying groups promoting so-called chemical recycling, which breaks down plastic polymers to create new plastics.
The practice of companies billing their products or services as more sustainable or environmentally friendly than they are, known as "greenwashing," has been a concerning issue. A 2023 report on greenwashing by Australian businesses found that 57% of the surveyed companies made misleading environmental claims, particularly in the cosmetic, personal care, textile, and food and beverage sectors. For instance, Clorox was fined $8.25 million for its misleading claims about its GLAD bags, which were marketed as being made from 50% recycled plastic waste from the ocean when they were actually made from non-recycled plastic and collected from communities in Indonesia without formal waste management systems.
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Plastic is burned or ends up in the ocean
Plastic is one of the most common forms of marine debris, with about 8 million metric tons of plastic estimated to have entered the ocean in 2010. It is tough to say exactly how much plastic is in the ocean, but the problem is growing. Plastic debris in the ocean is a pervasive problem that is solely caused by people. It comes from a variety of land and ocean-based sources, such as littering, intentional or not, and rain and wind carrying debris into nearby water bodies. Once in the water, plastic debris never fully biodegrades and can wreak havoc on marine ecosystems.
The plastic waste that ends up in the ocean also comes from the recycling industry. Many recycling companies used to send their plastic trash to China, but when China shut its doors, they had to look for other buyers. Most of the plastic that was not sold ends up in landfills or being burned. The open burning of plastic wastes is an urgent global health issue that has toxic effects on human and environmental health. Some plastics release particularly toxic gases that pose significant health risks when burned.
The international recycling business sees recycling as a way of making money, and in the absence of global regulations, some companies take advantage of a world without rules. For instance, the United States has been shipping its waste to other countries, particularly those that rank poorly on how well they handle their plastic waste, such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. These countries mismanage, dump, or inadequately dispose of plastic waste, which eventually ends up in the ocean.
To keep plastic out of the ocean, it is important to reduce plastic use, commit to changing habits by reducing the use of disposable and single-use plastic items, and reusing and recycling items. Participating in community cleanups can also help address the issue of plastic waste in the ocean.
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Plastic is sent to illegal plastic-processing factories
Plastic waste from recycling companies in the United States and other wealthy countries has been sent to illegal plastic-processing factories in Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand. In Malaysia, the biggest recipient of US plastic recycling, a crackdown was initiated, closing down 140 illegal recycling factories and returning 150 containers of plastic waste to 13 countries. However, the problem persists, with the existence of illegal factories run by Chinese companies and the improper management of plastic waste, leading to burning, landfill use, and environmental contamination.
In the United States, the issue of plastic waste is compounded by the public's belief in recycling and the lack of awareness about the true fate of their trash. While people think they are contributing to environmental conservation, the reality is that the international recycling business takes advantage of the absence of global regulations to prioritize profits over proper waste management. This has resulted in plastic waste being shipped to countries ill-equipped to handle it, leading to improper disposal methods and environmental degradation.
The improper disposal of plastic waste in these illegal factories and dump sites has severe consequences for the environment and the health of nearby residents. The burning of plastic releases toxic chemicals into the atmosphere, contributing to air pollution and respiratory illnesses in surrounding communities. Furthermore, the dumping of plastic waste in open landfills can contaminate soil and water sources, leading to long-term environmental damage.
To address this issue, countries like Malaysia have taken steps to restrict the import of plastic waste and shut down illegal operations. However, the demand for plastic recycling services and the economic advantages of the industry make it challenging to implement effective solutions. The path of least resistance, as described by Jan Dell, is to ship the waste elsewhere, perpetuating the cycle of environmental degradation in vulnerable countries.
To break this cycle, it is essential to process plastic waste closer to the source countries, such as the United States, and to implement stricter regulations and enforcement to ensure responsible recycling practices. By bringing attention to the existence of illegal plastic-processing factories and the environmental and health implications they cause, it is hoped that governments and organizations will take more decisive action to protect communities and the planet.
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Frequently asked questions
Many recycling companies used to send their plastic waste to China. However, since China closed its doors to foreign plastic waste, recycling companies have been struggling to find buyers. Some plastics are now sent to landfills, while others are recycled domestically, depending on the local infrastructure.
The types of plastic that are accepted vary depending on the local recycling program. It's important to check with your local program to find out which types of plastic they accept. Generally, plastic films with resin codes 2 or 4 that can stretch are recyclable.
You can check for a How2Recycle label or a Smart Label on the product packaging, which will provide information on how and where to recycle the item. Additionally, look for the resin number contained within a triangle, which can help determine if the item can be recycled by your local program.
