Is recycling creating a toxic chemical problem?

Lai Cheng May 29, 2023 0 Comments
Chemicals building up in recycled materials could cause a problem for the circular economy. Photograph: Massimo Borchi/Getty Images

Research just published by the US Environment Protection Agency has found that recycled paper and construction materials “contained greater numbers of chemicals than virgin products”. Some 733 identified chemicals, including flame retardants, solvents and dyes, “had greater occurrence in recycled compared to virgin materials”.

The authors of the paper, published in Environmental Science and Technology, warned that “the circular nature of the recycling economy may have the potential to introduce additional chemicals into products”.

Read more:
https://www.endsreport.com/article/1728384/recycling-creating-toxic-chemical-problem