US Faces Mounting Plastic Waste Challenge With Limited Recycling Solutions After China's 2018 Import Ban: Report

The United States is currently facing a significant plastic waste crisis, generating 40 million tons of plastic waste each year, with no cost-effective method to recycle 91% of it.

What Happened: The U.S. has been dealing with a plastic waste crisis for several years, Business Insider reported on Thursday. Previously, the U.S. exported 7 million tons of plastic waste annually to China. However, China’s decision to stop importing plastic in 2018 has left the U.S. searching for alternatives.

Oil giants like Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) and Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) have suggested converting plastic into crude oil as a potential solution. These companies are advocating for the creation of 150 plants dedicated to pyrolysis, a type of chemical recycling that transforms plastic into crude oil. Critics, however, contend that these facilities emit harmful particles and are heavily dependent on government subsidies.

See Also: Liz Cheney Says Trump ‘Doing Everything Possible’ To Postpone Jan. 6 Case Beyond Election: ‘Deep Flaws In Character…Make Him Unfit To Serve As President’

Despite plastic production doubling every 15 to 20 years, the recycling rate remains low. A 2022 report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development found that only 9% of all plastic ever produced had been recycled, with 72% ending up in landfills or the environment.

In response to the escalating plastic waste problem, the UN adopted a resolution in early 2022 to eliminate all plastic pollution through a legally binding international plastics treaty. The resolution seeks to address plastic production and recycling at every level to reduce global plastic pollution.

Why It Matters: The plastic waste crisis is not just a U.S. problem, but a global one. Innovative solutions are being explored to address this issue. For instance, Australian researchers have discovered that two types of fungi — Aspergillus terreus and Engyodontium album — can break down polypropylene plastic, commonly used in food containers and rarely recycled. After 140 days of incubation, these fungi completely degraded the plastic, offering a promising solution to the plastic waste problem.

Read Next: What’s Going On With Trump Media & Technology Stock On Tuesday?

Image via Shutterstock