Is Recycling Plastic Still Worth It?

Swift Summary

• Global Plastic Waste (2022): Approximately 268 million tonnes of plastic waste were discarded globally, with only 14% (around 38 million tonnes) being recycled.
• Recycling Challenges: The remaining waste was either incinerated or ended up in landfills, reflecting stagnant global recycling rates despite increasing environmental and health concerns about plastic pollution.
• Persistent Issues: Questions have emerged about the effectiveness of current approaches to plastics recycling.

Image Caption: A plastic collection facility in indonesia.
Credit: Juni Kriswanto/AFP via Getty Images