Pollution 1.01: A Plastic World.

by LaFeminista

Community

(This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025 Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025 at 4:41:24am PST

To give an idea.

Global Plastic Usage: 60kg per person on average = 492 million tonnes/year. [2024 figures]

Half the plastics ever produced have been made in the last 25 years, and production is increasing every year.

Note: The US annually produces 220kg of plastic waste per person

See: Plastic waste in the U.S. - statistics & facts

See: Plastics are everywhere

Recycling [2024 figures]

Around 9% of plastics ever produced have been recycled.

Around 12% have been incinerated.

The remainder are still in use or in landfills, and the environment in general.

See: Centre for International Environmental Law

Annual CO₂ from production.

Annually, CO₂ [2019] 1.8 billion tonnes.

This is expected to triple by 2060.

66% of which is for single-use or limited-use.

At least 22% will end up living free and easy in the environment.

Toxic byproducts of plastic production.

99% of plastics are produced from Fossil Fuels.

See: Deep Dive into Plastic Monomers, Additives, and Processing Aids

Dioxins can be released during the incineration of plastics.

See: Dioxins and plastic waste: A scientometric analysis and systematic literature review of the detection methods

See: Microplastics and PFAS – combined risk and greater environmental harm.

Note: The links I have used are to well-known safe sites. You can ask if in doubt.

To avoid overload, I’ll stop here.

A Morning Muse

Previous diary Pollution 1.00: Meet The Nurdles.

Next Diary: Pollution 1.02: Reduce the Need.

Note: This series does not only deal with Plastics.

I can't take US politics at this point; I only get the effects second-hand as an expat.