Comment: Recycling cannot solve plastic pollution problem alone

A recent report highlighted that France was falling behind on its recycling targets, with one nonprofit organisation calling for authorities to go further to limit packaging in the first place. 

“Reducing packaging waste is essential to tackle plastic pollution,” says Bénédicte Kjaer Kahlat of nonprofit group Zero Waste France, which campaigns to reduce disposable waste and encourages people to reuse products where possible with the aim of living a “zero waste” lifestyle. 

“Worldwide, two-thirds of the plastic produced has a lifespan of less than five years and of this, 40% is packaging waste. In France, more than 45% of plastic consumption comes from packaging, and plastic is also the predominant material in packaging waste.” 

France produces nearly 38 million tonnes of household waste every year with 35-40% being recycled. The rest is burned or goes to landfill, according to the organisation. 

A report submitted to the government in June found “major delays” in France’s recycling targets, especially in the recycling of plastics and aluminium. 

Read more: France way behind on reaching recycling targets, report shows

France has set itself a target of ending single-use plastic packaging by 2040, starting with halving the number of plastic bottles on the market by 2030 compared to 2018. However an increasing number of voices are calling for the government to focus more on tackling packaging before it ever becomes recycling. 

“The need to prevent and reduce packaging waste is finally starting to gain ground in the public debate given the observation that recycling – due to its many limitations – is incapable of solving the problem of waste and plastic pollution on its own,” says Ms Kjaer Kahlat. 

Replacing plastic packaging with what many would consider to be more eco-friendly materials, such as cardboard or paper, is also not the solution.

“It is necessary to reduce packaging waste, regardless of its materials. Despite people being encouraged to sort (their waste) more, 35% of our residual household waste is still paper and packaging waste. In other words, these are thrown into the black bin intended for non-recoverable waste, which ends up buried or incinerated.” 

“Reducing single-use plastic packaging by replacing it with paper and cardboard does nothing to solve the problem of disposable waste,” she says. 

Zero Waste France is campaigning for all sectors to be bound by a target of reducing packaging and urges consumers to think about whether they can reuse products before automatically putting them in the recycling. 

It also urges people to be aware of the importance of properly sorting your recycling. 

“Waste that has not been sorted at the source is difficult (or impossible) to recycle,” the organisation says. “It is therefore very important that everyone at home gets involved in waste source separation.” 

“Let us remember that every year colossal quantities of waste are buried or burned, with dramatic consequences on soil quality and the risk of contamination of water tables; but also on air quality, with knock-on effects on the environment and health. Regulations on industrial emissions are still lacking. The waste we burn is also the waste we breathe,” says Ms Kjaer Kahlat. 

The organisation has tips for adopting a zero waste lifestyle.