Companies knew for decades recycling was not viable but promoted it regardless, Center for Climate Integrity study finds

Plastic producers have known for more than 30 years that recycling is not an economically or technically feasible plastic waste management solution. That has not stopped them from promoting it, according to a new report.

“The companies lied,” said Richard Wiles, president of fossil-fuel accountability advocacy group the Center for Climate Integrity (CCI), which published the report. “It’s time to hold them accountable for the damage they’ve caused.”

  • jabjoe@feddit.ukEnglish
    421·
    9 months ago

    This isn’t an excuse to not recycle. The problem is not the very idea of recycling, but that things aren’t made with it in mind. Everything should be designed for reuse, repair and recycling.

      • jabjoe@feddit.ukEnglish
        53·
        9 months ago

        If reduce makes harder to reuse, repair or recycle, then reduce could be a false economy.

        • AngryCommieKender@lemmy.worldEnglish
          61·
          9 months ago

          Reduction in this case is bolstering reuse, repair, and recycling. By having a lower consumption rate overall, you will, automatically, have fewer resources that need to be reused, repaired, or recycled.

          • jabjoe@feddit.ukEnglish
            11·
            9 months ago

            I’m good with that. Done properly, the less usage should translate to lower prices. Though part of the price right here is not currently on the spreadsheet. The environmental cost of end of life is not part of the upfront cost, right now anyway…

          • jabjoe@feddit.ukEnglish
            2·
            9 months ago

            That I’m fine with. I’d like to go back to glass, wood and metal.

                • buzz86us@lemmy.worldEnglish
                  1·
                  9 months ago

                  Yes, but hemp needs far fewer chemicals and it is biodegradable. Plus it needs far less land to produce fiber.

                  • jabjoe@feddit.ukEnglish
                    1·
                    9 months ago

                    Less land to produce fiber compared to what? If it’s vertically farmed, I’d be happy with it. Though I’d move as much farming as I can to vertical farming to free up land for nature.