Chart of Estimates of Global Plastic Waste
"Recycling delays, rather than avoids, final disposal. It reduces future plastic waste generation only if it displaces primary plastic production; however, this displacement is extremely difficult to establish.
"Second, plastics can be destroyed thermally. The environmental and health impacts of waste incinerators strongly depend on emission control technology, as well as incinerator design and operation.
"Finally, plastics can be discarded and either contained in a managed system, such as sanitary landfills, or left uncontained in open dumps or in the natural environment." [1]
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Tags: plastic, waste, recycling, estimates of global plastic waste, plastics
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