Global Plastics Treaty Negotiations Highlight Recycling Failures and Calls to Cut Production

As 175 nations meet in South Korea, experts and activists stress the need to address rising plastic production and systemic inequalities in waste management.

• Only 9% of the 6.3 billion tonnes of plastic produced since 1950 has been recycled, with the majority ending up in landfills, incinerated, or polluting the environment.
• Plastic production has nearly doubled since 2000, with projections indicating it could quadruple by 2050, significantly exacerbating climate and health risks.
• Environmental groups and researchers argue that recycling alone cannot solve the crisis, calling for binding commitments to reduce virgin plastic production globally.
• Wealthier nations are accused of 'waste colonialism,' exporting plastic waste to poorer countries, where informal waste workers face hazardous conditions without protections.
• The EU and activists advocate for a treaty addressing the entire lifecycle of plastics, including production caps, chemical bans, and equitable support for waste management in developing nations.

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