A study by the US environmental protection organization Greenpeace debunks the circular economy for plastics, which the industry has hailed as a “myth”. According to these figures, the recycling rate of plastic in the United States is declining as production continues to increase.
According to Greenpeace USA, US households produced 51 million tons of plastic waste last year, of which only 2.4 million tons — a paltry 4.7 percent — was recycled.
While the recycling rate was ten percent in 2014, according to the Greenpeace report, it has steadily declined since then. Especially since China stopped accepting Western plastic waste in 2018. The production of virgin, non-recycled plastic, on the other hand, is increasing rapidly, they say.
“Companies avoid responsibility”
“Business groups and large companies have pushed for recycling as a solution. By doing so, they relieved themselves of any responsibility,” said Lisa Ramsden, Greenpeace USA campaign manager. She named the companies Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Unilever and Nestle as the main culprits.
Also, according to Greenpeace USA, only two types of plastic are accepted in the 375 recycling facilities in the US: polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is commonly used for water and soda bottles, and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is found in things like shampoo bottles and find detergent containers.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
