Can recycling plastic solve pollution? The answer is "no." You might be surprised by this answer, but Greenpeace's 2023 report, "Eternal Toxic," does point out that plastic not only increases in toxicity during recycling but also poses serious health risks to recycling workers, nearby communities, and even end-users.
Recycling plastics means recycling toxic chemicals
A May 2023 report by Greenpeace USA, "Eternal Toxics: The Science of the Health Threats of Plastic Recycling," states that plastics contain 13,000 chemicals, over 3,200 of which have been shown to be harmful to humans, and many others whose toxicity has yet to be assessed. Therefore, once plastic enters the recycling system, the toxic chemicals contained within are also recycled.
Recycled plastics often contain higher levels of toxic chemicals, including benzene, toxic flame retardants, endocrine disruptors, environmental pollutants such as brominated and chlorinated dioxins, and other carcinogens. This makes recycled plastics unsuitable for food grade or other consumer uses. In other words, plastics are inherently unsuitable for a circular economy.
Three toxic transfer pathways in plastic recycling
Almost all plastics are made of a combination of carbon (mostly oil/gas) and toxic chemicals. There are three uncontrollable toxic transfer pathways during recycling:
- Toxic chemicals in new virgin plastic materials:
When plastics made with toxic chemicals are recycled, the toxic chemicals are transferred directly into the recycled plastic.
- Toxic substances leach into plastic waste: Plastics can absorb pollutants by absorbing volatile compounds. When plastics are contaminated by toxins in waste streams and the environment, and then recycled, they can become recycled plastics containing toxic chemicals. For example, plastic containers containing pesticides, cleaning solvents, and other toxic chemicals can become contaminated when they enter the recycling chain.
- New toxic chemicals produced during recycling: When plastics are heated during the recycling process, new toxic chemicals may be produced and enter the recycled plastic. For example, brominated dioxins may be produced when recycling plastics containing brominated flame retardants. Stabilizers used in plastic recycling may decompose into highly toxic substances.
Improper sorting and specific packaging components after sorting may also cause recycled plastics to become toxic. Studies have found that mechanically recycled plastic No. 1 (PET#1) may produce the carcinogen benzene. Even exposure to a small amount of plastic No. 3 (PVC#3) may cause carcinogens to appear in the recycled plastic.
The biggest victims of plastic recycling are right next to you and me
Food chain:
In 2021, the International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN) collected egg samples from 25 locations around the world, including 35 free-range egg samples and 1 individual egg sample, to analyze whether they contained specific "persistent organic pollutants". The study found that eggs produced around electronic waste and plastic waste recycling sites were among the most contaminated samples in the study.
Recyclers:
A 2023 IPEN study found plastic flame retardant chemicals (DP, Dechlorane Plus) in the blood, food, and surrounding environment of a domestic recycling worker in Thailand. The DP level in the worker's blood was nearly 280 times higher than that of farm workers living 15 kilometers away.
Community:
In 2020, the number of fires at plastic recycling sites in Malaysia doubled compared to the previous year. Environmental health experts warned local residents that smoke from the fires could cause breathing problems, trigger or aggravate asthma, and cause rashes and eye pain.
A fire broke out at the Nan Ya Plastics Linkou Factory in New Taipei City, Taiwan on April 7, 2023. Diffusion simulation results and microsensor data analysis by the New Taipei City Environmental Protection Bureau showed that residents in downwind areas such as Taishan, Wugu, Linkou, Sanchong, and Xinzhuang were severely affected by air pollution and were required to close doors and windows and wear masks.
Children:
In 2021, IPEN analyzed recycled plastic pellets purchased from 24 recycling sites in 23 countries and found that all pellet samples contained at least one toxic chemical, and 21 samples contained three of the tested chemicals, including chemicals that disrupt the endocrine system, and chemicals associated with neurotoxicity, cytotoxicity, and cardiovascular disease. The report warns that recycled plastic pellets are often used to make toys and other children's products, and children are a vulnerable group exposed to risks.
Stop obsessing over recycling rates; reducing plastic production is the fundamental solution
According to a 2022 report released by the Ministry of Environment, Taiwan's general waste recycling rate reached 56.79%, ranking among the highest in the world and a source of pride for many. However, be careful not to fall into the trap of falsely claiming Taiwan's glory. Your daily recycling efforts may very well be in vain.
The so-called recycling rate simply refers to the transfer of waste to the next recipient and has nothing to do with actual recycling. According to statistics from the Industrial Technology Research Institute and the Ministry of Environment, the recycling rate in 2022 was only 22.56%, a significant drop from the nearly 57% recycling rate. This means that while Taiwan boasts a "high resource recycling rate," it doesn't necessarily mean that resources are being effectively reused; instead, they are likely to end up incinerated or landfilled.
According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), only 9% of global plastic waste is recycled, while the remaining 91% is incinerated, landfilled, or released into the natural environment. By 2060, plastic production is expected to triple, meaning the "plastic behemoth" will become even larger, posing a continuing threat to the survival of humanity and entire ecosystems.
Greenpeace advocates that the Global Plastics Pact must be formulated towards the goal of a 75% reduction in plastic production, requiring governments and businesses to implement a reuse and refill business model and ensure a fair and equitable transition process for the plastics industry.
The United Nations expects to finalize the Global Plastics Pact by the end of 2024, making this year a crucial one for global plastic reduction.
Source: GREENPEACE
