Plastic production, pollution and recycling — a new Frontline/NPR documentary Plastic Wars, that premiered March 31 on PBS stations and online — reveals the sordid truth about why we are failing to produce less and recycle more.
NPR says: “For decades, Americans have been sorting their trash believing that most plastic could be recycled. But the truth is, the vast majority of all plastic produced can’t be or won’t be recycled. In 40 years, less than 10% of plastic has ever been recycled. ”
The oil and gas producers that are the source of plastics encouraged recycling as a way to keep regulators at bay from severe plastics bans. Instead, it created a field day for more production.
You can listen to/read the National Public Radio story on All Things Considered
Watch the trailer and PBS Plastic Wars documentary
Green News Update looked at how plastic waste is destroying oceans and the marine web of life in a two-part series
GNU Part 2 What government, retailers and companies are doing to fix the worldwide problem