Research: Plastic Pollution Could Not Be Curbed by Recycling Alone

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): An international group of scientists and experts argue that recycling of plastic alone won’t be enough to end plastic pollution. Phasing out production of new plastics from fresh feedstocks could help cut their release to the environment. This in turn will deliver other benefits, including boosting the value of recycled plastics to help tackle climate change.

Even if the best recycling technologies are employed, we are likely to see release of more than 17 million tons of plastic per year into nature, said Melanie Bergmann of the German Alfred-Wegener-Institute. The implementation of all solutions available today could cut plastic emissions by only 79% over the next 20 years.

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The exponential growth in production is the root cause of the problem. If this is not addressed effectively, all other measures may not deliver the ultimate goal of substantially reducing the release of plastic into the environment.

A comprehensive approach to limit the actual amount of plastics produced and put on market is equally important along with tax measures aimed at addressing the consumption and demand side of the problem. The cut in production of new plastics will deliver several societal, environmental and economic benefits, the scientists from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology said.