It's a plastic world out there. About 460 million metric tons of the material are made each year, according to the United Nations, and some scientists are growing increasingly worried that ...

We’ve updated this piece to clarify and add context to a study finding flame-retardant chemicals in some black plastic. February 2025 It’s probably time to ditch your plastic utensils.

The global campaign to gain control of plastic waste is one of the fastest-growing environmental causes ever mounted. Yet it hasn’t been enough to make a dent in the growing tonnage of discarded ...

"But the vast majority of plastics are not recycled." About 48 million tons of plastic waste is generated in the U.S. each year; only 5 to 6 percent of it is actually recycled, according to the ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Inside your refrigerator and pantry, plastic is everywhere. There ...

Every week, millions of Americans toss their recyclables into a single bin, trusting that their plastic bottles, aluminum cans and cardboard boxes will be given a new life. But what really happens ...

Plastic waste is piling up at a daunting pace around the world. The World Bank estimates that every person on the planet generates an average of 1.6 pounds (0.74 kilograms) of plastic waste daily.

Plastic is a product that is ubiquitous in today's society, says Sarah Morath, Wake Forest professor of law and author of the book "Our Plastic Problem and How to Solve It." The World Bank ...