Washington D.C.— The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) issued the following statement in response to CBS Sunday Morning’s anti-recycling piece which aired April 14, 2024, and perpetuated false claims against recycling and recyclable materials. The following can be attributed to Matt Seaholm, President and CEO of PLASTICS:
“Disappointingly, CBS News offered a one-sided, biased view of recycling, citing false claims that plastic materials cannot be recycled – nothing could be further from the truth. By showcasing extremists who denounce recycling and have no interest in finding actual solutions to addressing plastic waste, CBS has amplified the false narratives of privately funded organizations that seek to eliminate plastic altogether.
“CBS has essentially suggested that people refrain from recycling, an odd approach to sustainability which we do not support.
“Plastic is vital for society, for our health, safety, protection, nutrition, wellness and way of life, and our industry is dedicated to ensuring it is sustainable. Our industry continues to find ways to work together to address our environmental challenges and suggesting that recycling is not feasible or economical only hurts our environment.
“Unfortunately, instead of reporting on the billions of dollars in investments made by our industry into developing new recycling technologies, CBS cited the use of outdated information from the 20th century and false claims offered by activists that have no interest in finding viable solutions to addressing plastic waste.”
The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) is the only organization that supports the entire plastics supply chain, including Equipment Suppliers, Material Suppliers, Processors, and Recyclers, representing over one million workers in our $548 billion U.S. industry. PLASTICS advances the priorities of our members who are dedicated to investing in technologies that improve capabilities and advances in recycling and sustainability and providing essential products that allow for the protection and safety of our lives. Since 1937, PLASTICS has been working to make its members, and the seventh largest U.S. manufacturing industry, more globally competitive while supporting circularity through educational initiatives, industry-leading insights and events, convening opportunities and policy advocacy, including the largest plastics trade show in the Americas, NPE2024: The Plastics Show.