US has awarded $13.4m to aid in the fight against plastic waste

US has awarded $13.4m to aid in the fight against plastic waste: A total of $13.4 million (£9.9 million) in funding has been announced for next-generation plastic technologies that will help reduce the energy usage and carbon emissions of single-use plastics in the United States.

The seven research and development projects, led by industry and universities, will convert plastic films into more valuable materials and design new recyclable and biodegradable plastics.

Single-use plastics, such as plastic bags, wraps, and films, require a lot of energy to make, accounting for more than 3% of total US energy consumption, with many of the materials ending up in landfills.

“Single-use plastics generate large amounts of carbon pollution when produced, are hard to recycle and dirty our nation’s beaches, parks and neighbourhoods .” Said Energy Secretary Jennifer M. Granholm

“By advancing technologies that repurpose single-use plastics and make the materials biodegradable, we can hit a trifecta of reduced plastic waste, fewer emissions from the plastics industry and an influx of clean manufacturing jobs for American workers.”

US has awarded $13.4m to aid in the fight against plastic waste