Global Plastic Recycling Stalls at Under 10%, Study Finds

New research highlights stagnant recycling rates, heavy reliance on fossil fuels, and significant regional disparities, underscoring the urgency for international policy action.

• A new study reveals that less than 10% of the world's plastic is recycled, with only 9.5% of 2022's plastic output derived from recycled materials.
• Global recycling rates have stagnated despite increasing plastic production, raising environmental and climate concerns.
• Approximately 90% of plastic production relies on fossil fuels such as oil and gas, exacerbating ecological challenges.
• High costs associated with plastic processing are a major barrier to improving recycling rates worldwide.
• The USA, with the highest per capita plastic consumption, has an alarmingly low recycling rate of just 5%, highlighting significant regional disparities.

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Stern DER SPIEGEL Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung