Volume 2 - Issue 3, May - June 2026

The rapid increase in global plastic production over recent decades has led to a multidimensional crisis characterized by environmental degradation and economic inefficiency. This issue generates complex consequences, including ecosystem disruption, loss of biodiversity, increasing risks to human health, and simultaneously rising waste management costs for governments. Existing research indicates that the impacts of plastic waste extend beyond the environmental dimension, also affecting the macroeconomic level by creating hidden economic losses. In this context, the traditional linear economic model of “take–make–dispose” has proven to be unsustainable, and the circular economy (CE) model emerges as a more efficient approach. Within the framework of the circular economy, recycling, green innovations, government regulations, and active participation of the private sector serve as key mechanisms in managing plastic waste. In particular, the application of recycling is not limited to reducing environmental burdens; it is also of strategic importance in terms of improving resource efficiency and generating new economic value. Furthermore, policy instruments such as Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) encourage producers to take a more active role in waste management, thereby fostering systemic change. In parallel, within the green economy framework, the development of the recycling sector contributes to job creation and sustainable economic growth.

Nemətova Ulviyya Fakhraddin, Mammadov Ozgur Hasan,"The Economic and Environmental Ramifications of Plastic Waste: Transitioning Towards a Circular Economy through Recycling" International Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Research and Educational Development, V2(3): Page(283-287) May-June 2026. ISSN: 3107-6513. www.ijamred.com. Published by Scientific and Academic Research Publishing.