US social costs of plastics may total over $1 trillion annually, report finds

A new Duke University analysis puts a striking price tag on America’s plastic problem, estimating that production, use, and disposal saddle the country with up to $1.1 trillion in hidden social costs each year. Most of that burden falls on public health, from chemical exposure to the emissions tied to fossil-fuel extraction. The report arrives as states push for stricter rules and industry groups push back, underscoring a widening divide over how far the nation should go to curb plastic use — and who ultimately pays the price. Shannon Kelleher with The New Lede has the full story.

Shannon Kelleher

The New Lede

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