Crushed plastic bottles in a recycling facility. Credit: Makiko Tanigawa at Getty

Plastic waste not only harms wildlife and marine life, but it can also contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.

Efforts to reduce plastic use, improve recycling infrastructure and develop new technologies for disposing of plastic waste are necessary to address this pressing environmental issue.

Plastics are one of the most commonly used materials in the world, and their production has been steadily increasing over the years. Unfortunately, this increase in production has also led to a rise in plastic waste, which can devastate the environment if not managed properly.

Lack of recycling infrastructure is one of the biggest issues with plastic waste

While some countries have well-established recycling programs, others do not have the resources or infrastructure to manage plastic waste properly. This can lead to plastic waste ending up in landfills, oceans and other natural habitats, where decomposing takes hundreds of years.

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A report by the OECD underscores the urgent need for increased investment in recycling infrastructure to address the growing threat of plastic waste to the environment.

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With plastic production set to increase significantly over the next five years, action is needed to prevent plastic waste’s worst impacts on our planet.

Global plastics production is set to Increase.

According to a new report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), global plastics production is set to increase by 30% over the next five years.

The report predicts that plastics production will rise from 368 million tonnes in 2019 to 460 million tonnes by 2025. This increase is largely driven by demand from Asia, which is expected to account for 52% of global plastics consumption by 2025.

Threat to the environment from lack of recycling infrastructure

The report highlights the urgent need for increased investment in recycling infrastructure to prevent plastic waste from polluting the environment. Currently, only 18% of global plastic waste is recycled while 79% ends up in landfills or the natural environment.

The lack of recycling infrastructure is particularly acute in developing countries, which are expected to account for much of the growth in plastics production over the next five years.

Without action, the report warns that plastic waste could have severe environmental consequences, including harming marine life and exacerbating climate change.