Topic analysis

Recycling's next big thing — or big bluff?

In 2022, the City of Houston launched an advanced plastic recycling program in partnership with industry leaders like ExxonMobil, LyondellBasell, and Cyclyx International, claiming it could recycle up to 90% of plastics—far exceeding the U.S. average of less than 10%. Environmental activists from Air Alliance Houston have documented instances where plastic waste was stored instead of recycled, while scientists and critics argue the technology generates hazardous waste, poses health risks, is financially uncompetitive with virgin plastics made from fossil fuels, and serves as a distraction from reducing single-use plastic production.