More than 8 . 3 billion metric tons of plastics have been produced since the 1950 s , according to a new study published in the journal Science Advances . As of 2015 , humans had generated 8 . 3 billion tons of plastics , 6 . 3 billion tons of which had already become waste . Of that waste total , only 9 percent was recycled , 12 percent was incinerated and 79 percent accumulated in landfills or the natural environment . The research predicts around 12 billion tons of plastic waste will be polluting the natural environment or in landfills by 2050 . [ 코리아 헤럴드 ] [ K - POP HERALD ] [ 페이스북 ] <ⓒ KoreaHerald ( www . koreaherald . com ) 무단 전재 및 재 배포 금지 >