Plastic pollution: Recycling with radiation to protect the environment (Russian Edition)

Over 5000 kilometres from the nearest major land mass, Henderson Island is perhaps the most isolated place on earth. Yet, despite a complete absence of people, this paradisical South Pacific island is awash with over four billion plastic pieces and particles. The litter lining Henderson's beaches is not only unsightly, but also deadly to the marine life that is choked or trapped by it. Plastic debris like this is just one example of the fate of over eight billion tonnes of plastic that have been produced since 1950. The IAEA is working with experts from all over the world to change that fate and protect marine life and the environment from plastic pollution. With its partners, the IAEA is researching and developing ionizing radiation techniques to affordably reprocess and recycle plastics. These techniques involve using electron beam accelerators to irradiate post-consumer plastics to recycle them and to more easily reform them into other products.