A new report uncovers decades of misleading claims by plastic producers about the viability of recycling, revealing it as a flawed solution for waste management.
Dharna Noor reports for The Guardian.
- The Center for Climate Integrity's report uncovers that the plastics industry has promoted recycling as a viable option for decades, despite knowing its limitations.
- Recycling plastic is not economically or technically feasible due to the need for meticulous sorting and the degradation of materials upon reuse.
- Evidence suggests that the industry's misleading marketing campaigns about recycling may have violated consumer protection laws.
Key quote:
"It’s time to hold them accountable for the damage they’ve caused."
— Richard Wiles, president of the Center for Climate Integrity
Why this matters:
This exposé lays bare the profound disconnect between the plastics industry's public facade and its internal acknowledgment of recycling's limitations. Recycling plastics is extremely problematic due to toxic chemical additives.
