Plastic Producers' Deception Exposed: What They Knew About Recycling

The plastics industry has long promoted recycling as a solution to waste, but documents reveal that it was mainly for public relations, with officials acknowledging its limitations as early as 1989. Less than 10% of plastic waste is recycled globally, and the industry's push for recycling may have been to avoid regulations and ensure demand for plastics. As the U.N. leads negotiations for a global plastics treaty, concerns arise that plastic producers could prioritize recycling over substantial cuts in new plastic production, potentially influenced by the fossil fuel industry's stake in petrochemicals. Critics argue that the industry's "advanced recycling" technology is ineffective and harmful, and call for accountability to address the plastic waste problem.