Hard as it is to imagine, it wasn't always thus -- and doesn't have to remain this way, argues Judith Enck in her new book, "The Problem with Plastics." Last year, the administration helped derail a global plastics treaty and reversed a phase-out of single-use plastics in national parks. 'Myth' of plastic recyclingEnck's book traces the history of plastic: from its earliest incarnation in 1909, when Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, through the "myth" of plastic recycling promoted by industry from the mid-20th century onward. Along the way, Enck argues that responsibility for the crisis has been systematically shifted onto consumers, even as plastic production continues to soar. "In the United States, only five to six percent of plastics actually get recycled," she notes.

Source: Philippine Star January 22, 2026 01:29 UTC