Hi,

November 15th is America Recycles Day, which recognizes the importance and impact of recycling¹ — but plastics recycling is a lie.²

Plastic consumption has quadrupled in the past 30 years,³ and is expected to triple in the next 30 years.⁴ Meanwhile, the global plastic recycling rate has failed to reach even 10% of the plastics produced.⁵

The shockingly low plastic recycling rate is the result of a carefully constructed lie by the petrochemical industry. The global recycling rate is low, always has been low, and shows no sign of improving.

As only a tiny percentage of plastics are recycled and production surges, the amount of plastic waste and microplastics in our environment continues to expand at alarming rates. There is clear evidence linking plastics, microplastics, and their additive chemicals to serious health implications on animals, humans, and especially on our children.

It is time we took a stand. EARTHDAY‍.ORG spreads the message about plastics and other environmental issues, but we can’t have an impact without your help. Will you chip in?

Less than 10% of all the plastic ever produced has been recycled.⁶ Our current plastic consumption cannot be properly managed given our low recycling rate. And of the 7 main types of “recyclable” plastics (identified by those codes you see on plastic items), only 2 are even widely recycled in practice at all. The petrochemical industry has known this for decades, but chose to suppress this information, all in the pursuit of massively expansive production and profit.⁷

The suppression led to a false narrative that plastic could be recycled, which encouraged us to continue to buy plastic because we were told it would have a second life. Barely any plastic actually does get recycled and, once it does, its quality degrades each time.⁸ For the planet, we need to stop plastic production — and you have the power to do that. On America Recycles Day, be a part of the movement by supporting EARTHDAY.ORG today.

For Earth Day 2024, EARTHDAY.ORG calls for a 60% reduction in the production of plastic by 2040. America Recycles Day is only as productive as our recycling facilities, which we now know are less than productive. Plastics are a continued danger to humanity, which is why we are resolute in our commitment to end plastics.

To continue making a difference on plastics and other campaigns, consider donating to EARTHDAY.ORG today to champion the planet.

For all of us,

Kathleen Rogers

Footnotes:

1. United States Environmental Protection Agency: https://www.epa.gov/circulareconomy/america-recycles-day

2. EARTHDAY.ORG: https://www.earthday.org/plastic-recycling-is-a-lie/

3. The Economist: https://impact.economist.com/ocean/sustainable-ocean-economy/the-global-plastics-treaty-risks-failing-if-it-doesnt-address-waste

4. NPR: https://www.npr.org/2020/09/11/897692090/how-big-oil-misled-the-public-into-believing-plastic-would-be-recycled

5. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development: https://www.oecd.org/coronavirus/en/data-insights/plastic-waste-management-challenges

6. NPR: https://www.npr.org/2020/09/11/897692090/how-big-oil-misled-the-public-into-believing-plastic-would-be-recycled

7. NPR: https://www.npr.org/2022/04/28/1095305949/california-is-investigating-big-oil-for-allegedly-misleading-the-public-on-recyc

8. Scientific American: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-its-so-hard-to-recycle-plastic/