OECD: 60% recycling rate of waste plastics by 2060

On June 3, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) warned that if no measures are taken, global plastic consumption will nearly triple in 2060 compared to 2019, from 460 million tons to 1.
231 billion tons, while waste Plastics will also increase in the same proportion, from 353 million tons to 1.
014 billion tons
.

If global action is taken, the OECD estimates that the amount of plastic waste will drop from an estimated 1.
014 billion tons to 679 million tons, and the recycling rate will rise to 60%
.

Emerging economies in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa are expected to see the fastest growth in plastic use

Global Plastics Outlook: Policy Scenarios to 2060

The OECD has released a preliminary version of the Global Plastics Outlook: Policy Scenarios to 2060, with research showing that waste plastics have doubled over the past decade, without radical action to curb demand, extend product life and improve waste management and recyclability, plastic pollution will rise rapidly as population and income increase
.
The report estimates that nearly two-thirds of plastic waste by 2060 will come from short-term products such as packaging, low-cost products and textiles
.

All plastics use projected to increase significantly by 2060

OECD experts predict a significant increase in waste plastics in rich countries in 2060, especially in the US and Europe
.
In 2060, the per capita waste plastics in developed countries will reach 238 kilograms per year, which is three times the average level of other regions (77 kilograms)
.

About half of global plastic waste in 2060 will end up in open or exposed landfills, 20% will be incinerated and only 17% will be recycled
.
An estimated 15% of waste plastics will pose a threat to the natural environment in landfills and surrounding areas
.
While this figure is down from the current 22%, it is still high
.

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Global action to reduce use and waste by one-third

Under the mandate of the negotiators of the international treaty, the OECD is evaluating two action plans to reduce plastic waste, with intensified measures to varying degrees, covering the entire life cycle of plastic production, use, recycling or disposal
.

Regional Action Policy Scenarios reflect regionally differentiated engagement, with OECD countries having more ambitious goals than non-OECD countries

The Global Action Scenario explores a very stringent set of policies aimed at reducing global plastic leakage to near-zero levels by 2060
.

Policies targeting different life cycle stages can significantly reduce plastic leakage to the environment, annual value in million tonnes (Mt), rate of change from baseline

Significantly increasing recycling rates requires concerted global action to prevent waste plastics from leaking into the environment
.
For example, the UN Environment Assembly on developing a legally binding agreement on plastic pollution, the G20 "Osaka Blue Ocean Vision", voluntary actions by industry,
etc.

Global action could reduce use and waste by about a third compared to the "baseline": by 2060, plastic use will fall from 1.
231 billion tonnes in the baseline scenario to 827 million tonnes
.
The amount of plastic waste will also rise from 1.
014 billion tonnes in the baseline scenario as plastic demand and production are suppressed
.
reduced to 679 million tons
.
The recovery rate rose to 60%
.
The market share of recycled plastics will surge to 41% by 2060 due to important demand-pull industry policies such as increasing recycled content targets
.