With support from the Fund, Rebecca John obtained documents revealing that, as early as 1974, the plastics industry knew its products could not be recycled. For DeSmog, John assessed the relevance of the documents for current treaty negotiations in which fossil fuel-producing nations and companies that help make plastic have lobbied against limits on plastic production. John also examined the documents’ relevance for new lawsuits alleging that U.S. plastic producers have deceived the public about recycling since the 1980s.
Grantee uncovers proof that plastic industry knew recycling was a false solution in 1974
