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The amount of plastic waste continues to grow, posing an environmental, economic, and public health threat that affects everyone on Earth. According to a 2022 report from the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), humans produce approximately 460 million tons of plastic annually. By 2060, this could triple without immediate action.
On July 24, environmental experts gathered at Newsweek’s “Turning the Tide on Plastic Waste: A Newsweek Live Event” to discuss the state of plastics and how the global community is working to solve it. Panelists included Steve Alexander from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), Dr. Douglas McCauley from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and Erin Simon from the World Wildlife Fund.
These discussions come ahead of an upcoming UN meeting in hopes of finalizing a historic treaty that addresses plastic’s lifecycle from production to disposal and recycling. Talks began three years ago but ended in December without a treaty.
McCauley emphasized the enormity of the problem and the potential for new negotiations, calling it “really exciting.” He highlighted negative impacts such as biodiversity loss, marine life habitat threats, microplastics in food and water supplies, and increased greenhouse gas emissions from plastic production.
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The solution lies in reducing virgin plastic production while promoting recycling. Using recycled materials instead of virgin ones reduces energy use and greenhouse gases by about 80 percent. However, the high cost of recycled material often hinders its widespread adoption.
Panelists suggested pairing incentives with investments in recycling and waste management to drive job growth and economic activity while achieving environmental benefits. For instance, Maryland and Washington recently adopted extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies that hold plastic producers accountable for managing end-of-life plastics.
Looking ahead to the next round of UN treaty talks in Geneva, Switzerland, panelists expressed optimism about making a real impact.
“I am an optimist,” McCauley stated. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to solve this problem. So, we want to move as far forward as possible with this international solution.”
📚 Reading Comprehension Quiz
According to the 2022 report from the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), how much plastic waste is produced annually by humans?
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