Omar Khalid
In 2019, The Guardian published a series titled 'United States of Plastic', which investigated the journey of US plastic waste across the world and exposed the detrimental impact of plastic on the environment and the poorest nations. The series also highlighted the ineffectiveness of recycling, with only 9% of plastic ever being recycled, and the challenges of recycling certain plastic products. It sparked a worldwide revolt against plastic, with protest groups, celebrities, and governments joining the movement. The Guardian's coverage of America's plastic waste crisis aimed to address the issue and encourage behavioural changes to reduce plastic consumption and improve recycling practices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of plastic ever recycled | 9% |
| Current fate of plastic | Landfilled, burned, or dispatched to developing nations |
| Plastic's journey | From curbside to a village in Southeast Asia through a complex trading network |
| First stop on the journey | A recycling facility where it is sorted into bales based on type |
| Plastic's impact | Found in whales' stomachs and aquifers deep underground |
| Plastic bags | Should be kept away from curbside recycling unless advised otherwise by local recyclers |
| Coffee cup lids | Not attractive to buyers of secondhand plastic due to low-quality plastic |
| Toothpaste tubes | Contain other materials such as aluminum, making them difficult to recycle |
| Plastic's connection to climate change | Seven of the 10 largest plastic producers are oil and natural gas companies |
| Public sentiment towards plastic | Worldwide revolt against plastic, with campaigns and protests against single-use plastic |
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What You'll Learn
The recycling system is breaking down
Plastic is inundating the planet, and the recycling system is breaking down. Only 9% of plastic has ever been recycled, and it is often shipped to developing nations, where it is disposed of improperly, harming the people who can least afford to deal with the consequences. Plastic waste and microplastics are found in whales' stomachs and aquifers deep underground, and it is estimated that plastics kill 100,000 marine mammals and a million seabirds annually.
The recycling process typically involves sorting plastics into bales based on their type and then selling them to manufacturers. However, only certain types of plastics are easy to sell, and the rest are often shipped overseas, where their fate is unknown. This has resulted in a complex trading network that crosses oceans and traverses continents, with few consumers understanding their role.
The system is at a breaking point, with plastic piling up in the United States and other countries. The closure of China's doors to plastic recycling has also had a significant impact, with countries like Turkey now taking in much more plastic from abroad.
Furthermore, recycling is often done incorrectly, with people putting unclean or non-recyclable items in the recycling bin, hoping that someone else will sort it out. This can create bigger problems, as contaminated batches of recyclables may end up being rendered useless.
The plastic crisis has led to a worldwide revolt, with protest groups from the US to South Korea dumping excessive plastic packaging at supermarkets, and companies like Starbucks and Lego taking steps to reduce their plastic usage. However, some scientists and environmental activists are concerned that the focus on plastic has overshadowed other pressing issues, such as climate change.
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Plastic waste is shipped to developing nations
In the past, it was economically viable to ship plastic waste to Asia. Shipping companies that transported goods from China to the US would return with thousands of empty containers. Rather than send them back empty, these companies offered low shipping rates to the US, which were often cheaper than the cost of recycling the plastic domestically.
Steve Wong, a Hong Kong-based businessman, is one of the middlemen who connects recycling with international buyers. Wong's company, Fukutomi Recycling, was once one of the biggest exporters in the world, but now it is deep in debt. Despite this, Wong has access to thousands of shipping containers' worth of recyclable plastics each month, which used to be exported but are now piling up across the United States.
In Turkey, US plastic imports may be putting an entire profession at risk. Since China closed its doors to plastic waste, the amount of plastic Turkey takes in from abroad has soared, from 159,000 to 439,000 tons in two years. In the Philippines, officials and residents were unaware that some of the plastic they were processing was shipped from the US. In Vietnam, a 60-year-old mother of seven lives amid piles of grimy American plastic on the outskirts of Hanoi. In Cambodia, waste is spread on the beach in Sihanoukville.
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Plastic is found in whales' stomachs and underground
Plastic is ubiquitous, and its improper disposal has dire consequences for the environment and human health. A shocking example of this is the discovery of plastic in the stomachs of whales. In the Philippines, a young Cuvier's beaked whale was found emaciated, dehydrated, and vomiting blood due to the 88 pounds of plastic it had ingested. The plastic blocked the whale's stomach, preventing food from reaching its intestine and essentially starving the animal. Sadly, this is not an isolated incident, as hundreds of marine animals, including dolphins, birds, and fish, have been found dead with their stomachs full of plastic.
The plastic crisis extends beyond the oceans, as plastic waste and microplastics are also found underground. A global investigation by The Guardian revealed that America's plastic waste is often shipped to developing nations, where it is improperly disposed of, further exacerbating the plastic pollution crisis. These shipments of plastic travel through a complex trading network that crosses oceans and continents, ending up in landfills or burned, contributing to environmental degradation and harming the health of those living nearby.
The recycling system is struggling to keep up with the flood of plastic inundating the planet. While recycling is essential in managing plastic waste, it is not a magic solution. The United States, for example, is facing a plastic waste crisis, with thousands of shipping containers worth of recyclable plastics piling up across the country. The plastic recycling industry in the US has also been accused of exporting its waste to developing countries, taking advantage of low shipping rates and overwhelming these nations with trash.
The improper disposal of plastic has severe ecological and health consequences. Plastic pollution in the oceans threatens hundreds of marine species, as they ingest or become entangled in plastic waste. Additionally, the burning of plastic releases toxic chemicals into the atmosphere, contributing to air pollution and respiratory issues in nearby communities. The presence of plastic in aquifers deep underground further highlights the extent of plastic pollution, as it infiltrates essential water sources.
To address the plastic crisis, it is crucial to reduce plastic consumption and improve waste management practices. Countries like the Philippines, which is the world's third-biggest contributor of plastic waste to oceans, need to enforce existing laws curbing plastic pollution and implement effective waste disposal systems. Individuals can also play a role by reducing their plastic usage, properly recycling or disposing of plastic waste, and supporting initiatives that promote sustainable alternatives to plastic. By taking collective action, we can work towards mitigating the harmful impacts of plastic pollution on our planet and its inhabitants.
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Plastic bags are recycled by the American Chemistry Council
Plastic bags should be kept away from curbside recycling unless advised otherwise by your local recycler. They should also not be used to bag up other plastics or line your recycling bin. This is because plastic bags are typically made of different kinds of materials, which present a challenge for recyclers.
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) is leading the way to a more sustainable future through advanced recycling technologies. These technologies break down used plastics to serve as building blocks for new products, including new plastics. Over 40 projects valued at more than $7 billion are working to divert nearly 9 million metric tons (21 billion pounds) of waste from landfills each year.
The ACC's efforts are focused on implementing emerging recycling technologies, often referred to as "advanced recycling" or "chemical recycling." These technologies complement existing mechanical recycling methods, allowing more types of used plastics to be recaptured and remanufactured into new products.
The ACC's Guiding Principles, in conjunction with their Roadmap to Reuse and 5 Actions for Sustainable Change, outline the key policies needed to achieve their recycling and recovery goals. These goals include enhancing recycling options for flexible plastic packaging, such as plastic bags, and improving waste management through collaboration between various stakeholders, including plastics producers, recyclers, communities, and governments.
The ACC's initiatives are crucial in addressing the plastic waste crisis, where only 9% of plastic has ever been recycled, and plastic waste is found in the environment, harming wildlife and ecosystems.
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Plastic is a tangible problem for the public
The plastic problem is a global issue, with plastic waste being shipped from the US to developing nations, where it is often disposed of improperly, impacting the health and well-being of local communities. For example, in Vietnam, a 60-year-old mother of seven lives amid piles of grimy American plastic on the outskirts of Hanoi. In the Philippines, residents of Valenzuela City were unaware that the plastic being processed in their town included shipments from the US.
The recycling system is breaking down, with only 9% of plastic ever being recycled. Plastic waste is being landfilled, burned, or sent to developing nations, where it ends up in the stomachs of whales and aquifers deep underground. Plastic pollution in the oceans kills an estimated 100,000 marine mammals and a million seabirds every year.
The complexities of the recycling process also contribute to the problem. Single-stream recycling, where all household recyclables go into the same bin, can lead to contamination if food waste or liquids are not properly rinsed or removed. Additionally, the ubiquitous "chasing arrows" icon, often misinterpreted as an indication of recyclability, misleads consumers into throwing non-recyclable packaging into recycling bins.
While recycling is essential for managing plastic waste, it is not a solution in itself. The public's role in the global plastic trade network is often unseen, and their efforts to recycle may be undermined by a lack of understanding of the process. As Christopher Jones, a senior lecturer in environmental psychology, notes, consumer behavior is influenced by environmental factors and awareness of issues, and empowering people to make sustainable choices is crucial.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic waste is a global issue, with only 9% of plastic ever recycled. Plastic waste is often landfilled, burned, or sent to developing nations where it is improperly disposed of, harming the environment and people's health.
Plastic pollution kills an estimated 100,000 marine mammals and one million seabirds annually. It also contributes to climate change, as plastic is made from fossil fuels.
Plastic is sorted into different types and packed into bales at recycling facilities. These bales are then sold to manufacturers to create new products. However, the recycling system is often ineffective, with plastic ending up in landfills or being shipped to other countries.
One challenge is that not all plastics are easy to recycle or sell. Additionally, consumers often recycle items incorrectly, such as not rinsing out containers or including non-recyclable materials.
