Recyling and Plastic Pollution
The Problem
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Over 91% of plastic is not recycled. It is buried, burned, or left to pollute our oceans. Plastic takes over 400 years to degrade, meaning most plastic ever made still exists. Global researchers on plastic pollution estimate that by 2050, there will be 12 billion metric tons of plastic in landfills and the ocean will have more plastic than fish in it. Our planet is drowning in plastic.
The Cause
Prior to World War II, plastic was not a part of our everyday life. Americans would reuse a glass bottle on average 30-50 times. After World War II, plastic redirected their efforts to sell to the public, directly challenging such habits. Adds such as those pictured emphasized the ease and convenience of single use plastic in particular, directly targeting the way consumers usage. As a result plastic was mass adopted in the 50’s, with single use plastic becoming a part of daily life. Little thought or knowledge was given to environmental consequences.
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Most semi-conscious consumers will make an effort to recycle their plastic goods to ease their minds of their contribution to plastic pollution. The reality is 91% of plastic is not recycled. Why? Because it’s much cheaper to make new plastic out of gas and oil rather than sorting, recycling, and cleaning old plastic. Big oil companies, who profit millions off of plastic, did not want the public to know this. As one industry insider put it, “selling recycling sold plastic, even if it wasn’t true”. The big oil industry thus launched a $50 million a year campaign targeting the American public to recycle to ease consumers minds and continue their purchase of plastic products.