Historically, plastics were never intended to be recycled. In 1956, a packaging industry executive bluntly stated that “the future of plastic is in the trash can”, reflecting the industry’s aim for plastic to be disposable rather than recyclable. Photographs by Meeta Ahlawat/CSE
Pollution

Recycling plastic seems to be a noble cause but there's more to it than what meets the eye

Despite the overwhelming production and the promotion of recycling as the solution to plastic pollution, fewer than nine per cent of all plastic ever created has been recycled

DTE Staff

Once hailed as a key part of environmental sustainability, plastic recycling has been proved to be largely ineffective in tackling plastic waste.

Despite years of advocacy and public awareness campaigns from plastic manufacturers, governments, and organisations, plastic pollution continues to grow. This disconnection raises important questions about whether recycling can truly be considered a sustainable solution.

The recycling process often results in downcycling, where plastics are repurposed into lower-quality products, such as plastic lumber, park benches, and other similar items.

Despite the overwhelming production and the promotion of recycling as the solution to plastic pollution, fewer than nine per cent of all plastic ever created has been recycled.

Another 12 per cent is either incinerated or openly burned, while the remaining 79 per cent ends up in landfills or polluting the environment.

Since tracking plastic waste exports began in 1988, over 250 million tonnes have been legally sent across borders, often shifting the burden of plastic waste to the Global South.

Till date, more than 10 billion metric tonnes of plastic have been produced globally, with production increasing by an astonishing 18,300 per cent over the last 65 years.

At present, around 460 million metric tonnes of plastic are produced each year, and without intervention, this amount is expected to triple by 2050.