‘Pyramids’ of plastic in earth’s future, first study of its kind finds, Pg14

Key Highlights:

• A study in Science projects that by 2050, 12,000 million metric tonnes of plastic waste will pollute landfills and the environment if current production and management practices continue.
• The study estimates that of the 8,300 million tonnes of new plastics produced to date, only 9% has been recycled, 12% incinerated, and 79% has ended up in landfills or the environment.
• Global production of resins and fibres increased from 2 million tonnes in 1950 to 380 million tonnes in 2015.
• China accounts for an estimated 28% of global resins and 68% of global acrylic fibre production.

Detailed Insights:

• The research provides the first calculation of the "end-of-life fate" of all plastic ever manufactured worldwide, highlighting the scale of the plastic waste crisis.
• Plastic production has outpaced all other manufactured materials in the last 65 years, increasing from 1% of municipal solid waste in 1960 to over 10% in 2005 in developed countries.
• The most effective way to eliminate plastic waste is through destructive thermal treatment, but recycling, incineration, and landfilling are the current dominant methods.
• Recycling only delays disposal, incineration requires emission control technologies, and landfills pose environmental risks, emphasizing the need to lower plastic consumption.
  
  
  

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Key Concepts Involved:

• Synthetic Organic Polymers: Large molecules made of repeating subunits, forming the basis of plastics.
• Anthropocene Epoch: A proposed geological epoch defined by significant human impact on Earth's geology and ecosystems.
• Thermal Treatment: A waste treatment technology that involves the use of heat to process waste.