The global plastic pollution crisis is worsening, with only a fraction of plastic being recycled. In 2023, 413.8 million metric tons of plastic were produced. Less than 10% of all plastic ever made has been recycled. Even though some plastics are technically recyclable, many do not reach recycling facilities due to economic and practical challenges. Different types of plastics, particularly those with harmful additives and those that cannot be mechanically processed, significantly hinder effective recycling efforts. The production of new plastic remains more cost-effective than recycling the existing plastic waste.
"Just because something is recyclable doesn't mean it's getting recycled. Currently, it is simply cheaper to just make a new plastic product than to collect it and recycle it."
"Recycling doesn't really work in the mechanical sense because you cannot split them up and bring them back into their original state. Everything in transportation that is focused on lightweight construction relies on these kinds of plastics."
Collection
[
|
...
]