OECD Warning：Global Plastic Waste to Nearly Triple In 40 Years

The recent report of OECD shows that the annual global plastic products production will reach 1.2 billion tons, nearly three times the current one by 2060, the amount of plastic waste will nearly triple by the time if the recycling rate is not improved.

According to OECD data, global consumption of plastic products was about 460 million tons in 2019, doubling from 20 years ago. The amount of plastic waste has also nearly doubled, over 350 million tons, among which less than 10% is recycled. According to the report, since the 1950s, humans have produced about 8.3 billion tons of plastic products, among which 60% have been landfilled, incinerated or directly entered into rivers and seas. By 2060, about half of the global plastic waste will end up in outdoor landfills, 20%will be incinerated, and only 17% will be recycled. It estimates that 15% of waste plastic will threat the natural environment in landfills and surrounding areas. Although this figure has decreased from the current 22%, it is still at a very high level. By the time, the release of plastic into the environment around the world is expected to double to 44 million tons per year, lakes, rivers and oceans will be heavily polluted by plastic products.

The OECD has also warned that plastic pollution will rise rapidly as populations and incomes increase if we do not take aggressive actions to restrain demand, prolong product life, improve waste management and recyclability. This report estimates that nearly two-thirds of plastic waste will come from short-term products such as packaging, low-cost products and textiles by 2060. According to the current trend, by 2060, the use of plastic products in North America, Europe and East Asia will double. Meanwhile, because the plastic waste in these regions is already at a very high level, the amount of plastic waste per capita will be much higher than that in other countries. The OECD estimates that the plastic waste per capita in developed countries will reach 238 kg by 2060, which is three times the average of other regions (77 kg). In other emerging markets and developing countries, the use of plastic products will increase by 3 to 5 times; In Sub-Saharan Africa, it will increase more than 6-fold. Affected by economic development and population growth, the increase in global plastic product production is inevitable, but effective recycling policies can significantly reduce the amount of plastic waste. The report also indicates that recycling plastic waste will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At present, the annual greenhouse gas emissions related to plastic products are about 2 billion tons, accounting for about 3% of human greenhouse gas emissions. The OECD warns that if we do not set relevant limitation target, this number will double by 2060.

The governance of waste plastic pollution has been a worldwide common topic. Countries are increasingly advocating the multiple use of plastics, and the final treatment and recycling technology of waste plastics has received continuous attention and research from all countries. The emergence of waste plastic pyrolysis technology has effectively made up for the traditional incineration and physical regeneration technology, and has become a cutting-edge development technology in the field of plastic recycling. The industrial continuous waste plastic pyrolysis technology and equipment of Niutech has became a recognized key development direction of all countries because of its environmental and economic benefits; wide material adaptability and complex processing composition; low consumption and cost; excellent treatment effect and good product quality; strong equipment stability and long service life. Niutech has successfully cooperated with China, Germany, the United States, Britain, Denmark, Brazil, Hungary, Turkey, Estonia, Iraq, India, Thailand and other countries and projects which is committed to the promotion and application of harmless, reduced and resourced global waste plastics.

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