The Ecology Center convened the Berkeley Plastics Task Force in February of 1995 to investigate the waste issues associated with the full lifecycle of plastics. Ecology Center staff and Board members were joined by representatives of Berkeley’s recycling programs, the academic community, and other experts on environmental issues. The Task Force consulted with environmental organizations, plastics industry experts, recycling program operators, solid waste management companies, and public agencies.
The Berkeley Plastics Task Force summarized their findings in a comprehensive report published April 8, 1996. Access the full report here or read excerpts from the report below.
CHAPTER 1: What Plastics are Made Of and How They are Made
CHAPTER 2: The Plastics Industry
CHAPTER 3: Overall Impact of Plastics on the Environment
CHAPTER 4: Reusing Plastic Containers
CHAPTER 5: Reprocessing Plastics
CHAPTER 6: Plastics in the Discard Stream
CHAPTER 7: Comparative Collection Costs and Benefits
CHAPTER 8: How Other Communities Have Handled Plastics
CHAPTER 9: Seven Common Misconceptions About Plastic
CHAPTER 10: Alternatives to Plastic
FULL REPORT OF THE BERKELEY PLASTICS TASK FORCE
SUMMARY OF REPORT FINDINGS
- A link exists between the promotion of plastics recycling and an increase in production of virgin resin.
- Plastic packaging production in recent years has outstripped plastic recycling by as much as a six to one-margin, and most of that production is from virgin materials.
- Plastic packaging is not produced from petroleum waste, but from natural gas that could be used otherwise or not extracted at all.
- Although all plastic containers bear the recyclable symbol, most are not recyclable.
- Picking up plastics at curbside costs about $800 of taxpayer money or more per ton.
- Much of the plastic collected for recycling is shipped overseas, and processed under, at best, dubious conditions.
- Many of the products made from the plastic resin that is being recycled are not themselves recyclable, making the “recycling” only temporary diversion from landfill.
- Many of the chemicals used to produce plastic resins pose serious health risks. Significant toxic emissions into air and water have been associated with plastics plants, with the plastics industry contributing 14% of the national total of air emissions. Emissions of contaminated wastewater are estimated to be 300-500 gallons a minute per plant.
PLASTICS TASK FORCE MEMBERS
Richard Lindsay Stover, chemical engineer
Kathy Evans, recycling consultant
Karen Pickett, Ecology Center
Contributors
Charles Gary, Ecology Center
Mark Gorrell, architect
Copy Editors
Daniel Knapp, Urban Ore
Mary Lou Van Deventer, Urban Ore
Berkeley Plastics Task Force Members
Pam Belchamber, Community Conservation Centers
Leona Benten, Ecology Center
Kathy Evans, Recycling Consultant
Charles Gary, Ecology Center
Emma Gilbride, Ecology Center
Mark Gorrell, Architect
Judy Johnson, Environmental Educator
Daniel Knapp, Urban Ore
Nick Morgan, Environmental Engineer
Karen Pickett, Ecology Center
Coy Smith, Materials for the Future Foundation
Richard Stover, University of California, Berkeley
Michael Warburton, Public Trust Legal Fund
David Williamson, Urban Ore