Hundreds of Toxic Chemicals Present in Recycled Plastic Pellets

An analysis published in 2023 looked at chemicals in recycled plastic pellets collected by IPEN member groups from thirteen countries. The testing identified and quantified 491 chemicals in the recycled plastic, including pesticides, industrial chemicals, PCBs, and other toxic substances. The results add to the increasing evidence that plastic recycling spreads toxic chemicals uncontrollably and is not a solution to the plastics crisis.