plastic pollution
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The hard truth about the circular economy – real change will take more than refillable bottles
Despite growing enthusiasm for a circular lifestyle, we’re actaully moving backwards – and using more virgin resources than ever.
Photo by Sören Funk on Unsplash
Pennsylvania plastics pollution settlement could set a national precedent for control of pellets
The case is the first citizen suit to successfully settle over “nurdles” in an inland waterway. State regulators weighed in to help.
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Geneva plastics pollution treaty negotiations scuttled by the United States
Global talks to forge a binding plastics pollution treaty collapsed once again in Geneva, with the United States shifting to a low-ambition stance that aligned it with petrochemical producers and weakened momentum for stronger international action.
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Exxon and California spar in dueling lawsuits over plastics
The oil giant accused the state’s attorney general and four nonprofit groups of defamation after they sued over recycling claims.
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Shell may sell $14 billion plastic plant in Pennsylvania after record tax deal fails to deliver
Shell is exploring a sale of its massive plastics facility in western Pennsylvania, built with a $1.65 billion state tax break, as the company shifts away from petrochemicals and toward its core fossil fuel operations.
In short:
- Shell’s ethane cracker plant in Beaver County opened in 2022 after 13 years of planning and construction, built with one of the largest tax incentives in Pennsylvania history. The company now says it may sell the site.
- The plant has faced public complaints over pollution, racked up 80 malfunction reports, and failed to deliver the thousands of permanent jobs state officials once promised. Only 500 people now work there.
- Financial analysts say Shell’s isolated location, changing market conditions, and a global oversupply of polyethylene contributed to the company’s decision to exit, even as its tax break remains in place.
Key quote:
“There’s simply no way to look at economic performance and say, ‘Beaver County got this petrochemical plant and it flourished.’”
— Eric de Place, research fellow at the Ohio River Valley Institute
Why this matters:
State and local governments often offer lucrative tax breaks to lure industrial projects, promising jobs and long-term economic growth. But the outcome in Beaver County raises sharp questions about the public return on these investments, especially when the project is built around fossil fuel infrastructure and plastic production. The Shell plant, designed to convert fracked ethane into single-use plastics, has become a flashpoint for concerns about air pollution, environmental health, and the future of petrochemicals in Appalachia. As global markets shift and demand fluctuates, local communities are left with the costs — financially, environmentally, and in terms of public trust.
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Doubts about prospects for global plastic pollution deal following collapse of Geneva talks
A sixth round of United Nations negotiations to curb plastic pollution collapsed in Geneva last week, with diplomats citing the United States’ hardening stance under the Trump administration as a key obstacle to progress.
In short:
- Talks aimed at creating a legally binding global treaty on plastic pollution ended without agreement after 11 days, as negotiators failed to find consensus on capping plastic production.
- The U.S. delegation rejected proposals to limit new plastic output, arguing such measures would hurt domestic industries and raise consumer costs, while advocates accused the U.S. of blocking key provisions.
- Some delegates now doubt that a global deal can be reached under the Trump administration, with some calling for alternatives like voting mechanisms or separate agreements among willing nations.
Key quote:
“Consensus is dead. You cannot agree a deal where all the countries who produce and export plastics and oil can decide the terms of what the deal is going to be.”
— Bjorn Beeler, International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN)
Why this matters:
Plastic pollution has surged in recent decades, clogging oceans, poisoning wildlife, and seeping into the human body via food and water. The vast majority of plastics are made from fossil fuels, and without limits on production, cleanup efforts can’t keep pace with rising waste. Scientists have linked plastic exposure to hormone disruption, cancer risks, and other health threats. At the same time, plastic waste poses serious environmental justice concerns, disproportionately affecting low-income communities and island nations. Delayed or weakened international action could lock in decades of pollution, especially as the petrochemical industry expands production in response to dwindling oil demand from transportation. Time is running out for concerted global action on both health and climate fronts.
Related: Plastic pollution treaty talks end with no agreement
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Credit: Photo by Tomek Baginski/Unsplash
Airports are cleaning up their act with new sustainability programs
As airports face growing concerns over waste, several are stepping up their sustainability efforts, from food waste reduction to cutting out plastic and even recycling cigarette butts to keep them from entering the waste stream.
Liza Weisstuch and Hannah Good report for The Washington Post.
In short:
- San Francisco International aims to become the world’s first zero-carbon, zero-waste airport with initiatives like food donations and a plastics ban.
- Portland International is rolling out a Green Plate Program with reusable dishware, expanding airport-wide after its trial run.
- Newark Liberty and other airports are starting to recycle cigarette butts, a significant environmental concern because their toxic components often end up in waterways and the ocean.
Key quote:
"Airports are a breeding ground for cigarette litter."
— Ernie Simpson, global VP and chief scientist, TerraCycle
Why this matters:
With growing pressure to reduce waste and environmental impact, many airports are turning to innovative solutions that not only aim to clean up their act but also shift how we think about travel. These efforts are focused on shifting the entire travel experience toward a healthier, more environmentally conscious future. Though much more remains to be done, these projects offer potential if replicated more broadly.
Read more: Protecting California’s children and communities from leaded aviation fuel pollution
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