ONC Reporting –
The nation’s plastic industry emitted nearly 63 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2021, according to a new report.
The plastics industry is releasing illegal pollution, but rarely faces discipline for environmental permit violations, according to a new Environmental Integrity Project report.
Alexandra Shaykevich with the Environmental Integrity Project points out that, while many people and industries are now trying to minimize their use of fossil fuels, the plastics industry is moving in the opposite direction.
She says people may not be aware that plastic is produced primarily from oil and natural gas.
“It’s been expanding at an exponential rate and causing a cascade of environmental problems, not just greenhouse gas pollution, but also litter. A lot of these products, they can’t be recycled and so essentially, they wind up littering our oceans and our waterways.”
The toxic chemicals emitted during plastics production have been linked to asthma, bronchitis and cancer.
Nationwide, more than two-thirds of those living within three miles of the factories that manufacture the main ingredients in plastic products are people of color.
Shaykevich says many plastic plants built or expanded over the last decade have received tax breaks or subsidies from state and local governments worth nearly nine-billion dollars. She adds the data show that trend is likely to continue.
“Our report identified at least 10 new plants and 23 expansion projects that existing facilities have proposed. They could add an additional 35 million tons of greenhouse gases per year, if those plants move forward.”
One of the expanded plants is located in Ohio. According to the report, the new projects would produce ethylene or polyethylene, but the industry is also planning to increase production of “PET,” the type of plastic primarily used for packaging.