Global Plastic Recycling Stalls at 9.5% as Production Soars

A study reveals alarming trends in plastic waste management, with rising incineration and regional disparities exacerbating the environmental crisis.

Global plastic production reached 400 million tonnes in 2022, but only 9.5% was recycled, highlighting a critical waste management failure.
Plastic waste generation totaled 267.7 million tonnes in 2022, with significant portions ending up in landfills, incinerated, or mismanaged.
Incineration is increasingly used for plastic waste treatment, now accounting for 34% of waste processing globally.
The study underscores severe ecological and health impacts, with plastic pollution found in deep seas, wildlife, drinking water, and human blood.
Future projections estimate plastic production could double by 2050, reaching 800 million tonnes, further straining recycling and waste systems.