SUMMARY
The world produces an average of 430 million metric tons of plastic each year. The United States alone produces tens of millions of tons of plastic waste annually. Yet on average, only about 5 to 6 percent of plastic in the U.S. is recycled. NPR correspondent Michael Copley joins Ali Rogin to discuss a new report on the plastic industry’s tactics to push recycling and avoid regulation.
View the transcript of the story.
News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.
WARM UP QUESTIONS
- Who produces 10s of millions of tons of plastic every year?
- What is "advanced recycling"?
- When did the skepticism about the effectiveness of recycling within the plastic industry emerge?
- How does the plastics industry propose to address plastic waste?
- Why has there been historical skepticism within the plastic industry regarding the effectiveness of recycling?
FOCUS QUESTIONS
What role does public trust play in the effectiveness of the plastics industry's claims about future recycling initiatives?
Media literacy: How can students stay informed about climate change topics?
Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to find out more about?
FOR MORE
What students can do:
Watch the Student Reporting Labs video and answer the following question: What are some benefits of recycling?
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