Jan Dell, a former chemical engineer based in Southern California, has been shedding light on the truth about plastics for many years. Despite the prevalent recyclable labels on plastic products, only a small percentage of plastic waste is actually recycled in the United States each year. The Department of Energy reports that out of the 48 million tons of plastic waste generated annually in the U.S., only 5 to 6 percent is recycled, with the rest ending up in landfills or being incinerated.
Dell founded a non-profit organization called The Last Beach Cleanup to tackle the issue of plastic pollution. Inside her garage, she showcases various plastic items adorned with the familiar recycling symbols, emphasizing that consumers are often misled about the true recyclability of plastics.
The campaign for plastic recycling dates back to 1988 when the industry began using the recycling symbol to reassure the public that plastic waste could be effectively recycled. However, investigative researcher Davis Allen of the Center for Climate Integrity argues that the plastics industry prioritized the promotion of recycling as a marketing strategy rather than a genuine solution to the plastic waste crisis.
A recent report titled “The Fraud of Plastic Recycling” accuses the plastics industry of deceiving the public for decades by promoting the idea of plastic recycling while being aware of the technical and economic challenges that make large-scale plastic recycling unfeasible. The report highlights the industry’s focus on selling the concept of recycling to maintain plastic production and profit margins.
While the plastics industry continues to invest in advanced recycling technologies and launches new ad campaigns to promote recycling efforts, critics like Jan Dell remain skeptical about the efficacy of current recycling practices. Dell believes that the industry’s emphasis on recycling is more of a public relations tactic rather than a genuine commitment to addressing the plastic waste crisis.
As the global production of plastic is projected to triple by 2050, the mounting plastic waste issue has spurred over 170 countries to work towards a United Nations treaty to combat plastic pollution. While the plastics industry advocates for increased recycling efforts, critics like Dell argue that the industry’s focus on recycling has long been overshadowed by profit-driven motives rather than genuine environmental concern.