Adapted by:
Pablo Martínez-Juarez
WriterEnvironmental economist and science journalist. For a few years, I worked as a researcher on the economics of climate change adaptation. Now I write about that and much more.
Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
It’s widely recognized that the plastics recycling system is fundamentally flawed. However, people are only beginning to understand the extent of the problem. In 2024, a report on plastics recycling from the Center for Climate Integrity (CCI) criticized the plastics industry. The report claimed the industry promoted recycling while knowing it was technically and economically unfeasible.
A challenging task. Recycling plastics isn’t easy. In our daily lives, we encounter a wide variety of plastic materials, each with unique functional and chemical properties. These materials often end up in the same recycling container. However, they must be separated into their respective types to enable effective recycling, which isn’t always achievable.
Alarming data. According to a Greenpeace report, Americans generated around 51 million tons of plastic waste in 2021. Notably, only 2.4 million tons were recycled. As such, plastic recycling declined to about 5-6%, down from 8.7% in 2018. Similarly, the Department of Energy recently concluded that only 5% of plastic is recycled, whereas 85% ends up in landfills.
According to the CCI, these statistics reflect a stark reality. Effectively recycling plastics is a daunting challenge, not only from an economic standpoint but also from a technological perspective.
Single-use plastics. The CCI report accuses the industry of promoting the idea that recycling single-use plastics was feasible despite knowing the challenges. This was reportedly done to encourage the continued use of single-use plastics, especially in packaging. “They knew if they focused on single-use [plastics,] people would buy and buy and buy,” co-author Davis Allen told The Guardian.
A different standpoint. The industry quickly reacted to the CCI report. The American Chemistry Council (ACC) said in a press release, “America’s plastic makers are investing billions of dollars in innovating products and technologies that can better sort, capture and recycle greater amounts and more types of plastics.”
The ACC criticized the report as “flawed,” claiming it referred to outdated technologies and misrepresented the industry’s current capabilities regarding plastic recycling. Matt Seaholm, president and CEO of the trade group Plastics Industry Association, voiced his concerns, saying, “As is typical, instead of working together towards actual solutions to address plastic waste, groups like CCI choose to level political attacks instead of constructive solutions.”
Future prospects. Achieving an efficient recycling system for everyday plastics may remain elusive. However, there’s hope for developing methods to treat plastic waste, reducing its potential to pollute the environment. One promising area of research involves the discovery of enzymes capable of breaking down plastic polymers, converting them into harmless molecules. While this presents great promise, it remains uncertain whether it’ll be a viable solution.
However, it’s a race against the clock. Pollution from microplastics is already a pressing issue. Evidence of these residues has been found in even the most remote locations on Earth, highlighting their extensive reach. Moreover, scientists still don’t fully understand the potential health and environmental impacts of microplastics.
Image | Tanvi Sharma
Related | South Korea Recycles 97% of Its Food Waste. The Key: Either Pay to Recycle or Get Fined
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