Half of All Plastic Made Since 2007, But Hope Remains

The plastic crisis feels overwhelming, but here's a stunning fact that also offers hope: half of all plastic ever produced was made since 2007, the year the iPhone debuted.

That means plastic pollution is a surprisingly recent problem, and we still have time to fix it, argues Judith Enck in her new book "The Problem with Plastics." As a former senior environment official under President Barack Obama, Enck knows the challenges we face but sees real reasons for optimism.

The numbers are staggering. Only 5 to 6% of plastics actually get recycled in the United States, despite decades of industry promises. Unlike metal, paper, or glass, consumer plastics are made of thousands of different polymers, making large-scale recycling economically impossible.

For years, companies promoted the "myth" of plastic recycling, Enck explains, shifting responsibility onto consumers while production soared. Early campaigns popularized terms like "litterbug" to make individuals feel guilty, while industry quietly expanded operations.

Today's version of that myth is "chemical recycling," which sounds promising but delivers little. A report by Beyond Plastics, the nonprofit Enck leads, found just 11 such facilities handling about 1% of US plastic waste, with three already shut down.

The health stakes are real and growing. A 2024 study found that people with microplastics in their heart arteries face increased risk of heart attack, stroke, and premature death. Around 33 billion pounds of plastic enter the ocean every year, equivalent to two garbage trucks per minute.

Communities near petrochemical plants, especially people of color and low-income families, suffer most. In Louisiana's "Cancer Alley," cancer rates are seven times the national average. "Our zip code is dictating our health," Enck said.

The Bright Side

Despite federal setbacks, progress is happening where it matters most: in communities. This week, New Jersey enacted its "Skip the Stuff" law, requiring restaurants to provide single-use cutlery only upon request, a simple change proven to significantly reduce waste.

Similar wins are building momentum at state and local levels across the country. These aren't symbolic gestures but real policy changes that measurably reduce plastic use.

Enck's approach combines personal action with systemic change, but she refuses to shame individuals. "We don't have a lot of choice when we go to the supermarket, so you do the best you can," she said. "But what we really need is new laws that require less plastic."

Her book offers practical advice on organizing, lobbying local governments, and advancing model legislation that works. The recent surge in plastic production stems from a glut of gas from fracking operations seeking new markets, but that same recent timeline means the problem hasn't become permanent yet.

The fight against plastic pollution is winnable precisely because it's so contemporary, and communities are already proving that change is possible.