When scientists examined pellets from recycled plastic collected in 13 countries they found hundreds of toxic chemicals, including pesticides and pharmaceuticals.
Because of this, the scientists judge recycled plastics unfit for most purposes and a hinder in the attempts to create a circular economy.

    • angrystego@lemmy.world
      3·
      1 year ago

      From the article:

      Numerous studies show that hazardous chemicals can accumulate even in relatively close-loop plastic recycling systems.

      I think this is the problem. There can be toxic chemicals in new plastics too, but they accumulate in recycled plastics making them much more toxic than the original.

      • acockworkorange
        1·
        1 year ago

        My bad. I lost interest and dropped the article before reaching this. It does change things. Thankfully we only recycle 1-3% of plastics {hide the pain Howard.jpg}

    • faede
      2·
      1 year ago

      I think the scientists were saying we need to phase out all plastic chemicals because they are basically all non-safe.

      • acockworkorange
        2·
        1 year ago

        I understand that. I’m just skeptic as to this new piece of information to move the needle towards less use of plastics.

      • jadero
        1·
        1 year ago

        That’s not what I got from the article. They seemed to be talking specifically about chemicals have absorbed from what they’ve been in contact with.