The alarming truth: Only 9% of the world's plastic waste gets recycled

The world is facing a plastic crisis, with millions of tons of plastic waste generated every year. Despite efforts to increase recycling rates, the reality is grim: only 9% of the world's plastic waste gets recycled, according to a report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The majority—nearly 50%—ends up in landfills, while 19% is incinerated. Alarmingly, 22% of plastic waste is mismanaged, meaning it leaks into the environment through open dumping, uncontrolled burning, or being lost in nature, ultimately contributing to the growing crisis of plastic pollution in oceans, rivers, and ecosystems.

The report also highlights the growing scale of the problem. Global plastic production has doubled since 2000, and it’s expected to continue climbing in the coming decades. In 2019 alone, 460 million tonnes of plastics were produced, with plastic waste generation reaching 353 million tonnes.

This surge in plastic use is driven by packaging, consumer goods, textiles, and construction. Yet recycling infrastructure and waste management systems have not kept pace, particularly in developing countries where informal waste disposal is more common.

Some countries have achieved higher recycling rates than others. For example, Germany recycles 46% of its plastic waste, while South Korea recycles 34%. Additionally, Japan, the United States and China recycle 26%, 8% and 5% of plastic waste respectively.

Despite these efforts, the failure to recycle plastic waste results in significant economic losses, with the value of plastic waste estimated to be around $100 billion annually.

It is advised that recycling infrastructure is improved to encourage the use of recycled plastics. Additionally, policies must be implemented to reduce single-use plastics and promote the use of sustainable alternatives.