NIMBY

North Americas Gift to the World...

With the collapse of negotiations on the Global Plastics Treaty, it may be time to look closer to home. Plastic production and waste are not only global issues, they are woven into our daily lives and economies. When we ask who creates the most plastic in North America, the numbers are revealing.

Plastics are not all the same. Polystyrene, used in disposable cups and food containers, is notorious for leaching toxins. PVC, found in plumbing and flooring, has been linked to hormonal disruption and long-term health issues. Polycarbonate plastics, including some water bottles and food containers, expose people to BPA with risks to reproductive health. Black plastics in food packaging release harmful chemicals into meals. Microplastics, the fragments of larger plastics, contaminate waterways, move through food chains, and ultimately end up inside us.

In terms of production, the United States leads by a wide margin. It generates more than 42 million metric tons of plastic waste each year, representing about one third of global output. Mexico follows with about 7 million metric tons annually, while Canada produces around 4.5 million metric tons, with its plastic industry valued at 35 billion dollars.

Recycling paints an even more troubling picture.

The United States recycles only 8 to 9 percent of its plastics. Canada performs slightly better at 9 to 10 percent, while Mexico struggles at 6 to 7 percent. By comparison, China recycles around 31 percent of its plastics and operates the world’s largest recycling capacity. Adding textiles shifts the averages only slightly higher. Both Canada and the United States recycle about 14.7 percent of textiles, raising Canada’s combined recycling rate to 11.85 percent and the United States to 9.85 percent. Mexico’s combined rate is only 7.5 percent.

The deeper problem lies in where plastics come from. About 98 percent of single-use plastics are derived from petrochemicals tied to oil and gas. Their production and disposal release large amounts of carbon, accelerating global warming. Plastic production also contaminates water when pellets spill into rivers and oceans, harming aquatic life. As plastics break down into microplastics, they embed themselves in soil, water, and food, creating risks for wildlife and people alike.

What if companies were required to clean up the pollution they cause? The financial burden would be enormous. Industries would face higher costs, forcing them to adopt cleaner practices. Governments would introduce tougher regulations. Public awareness and activism would likely grow. In the long run, cleaner environments would mean healthier populations and potentially lower healthcare costs.

The stakes are already clear. Canada alone faces an estimated 123 billion dollar cleanup bill from oil and gas damage, and the cost continues to rise. If accountability were enforced, industries and governments would be forced to change how they operate.

And yet, even with all this knowledge, daily life goes on. Someone still reaches for another bottle of water from the 48-pack at the store. Someone else buys a new top made from synthetic fibers. The question remains: is this really the price we are willing to pay?