In the dark age hovel, I work hard to reduce plastic exposure. I've discussed the "free" municipal wood chips I get for the garden. I got about 100 gallons this week and hand sifted it. This is the plastic (and a bit of other trash) I removed:
There is more plastic contamination in the environment every year, and more plastic being measured over time in human brains, testicles, placentas and other organs. This municipality is better than most as far as keeping the plastic out, but they aren't good enough.
While the periphery breaks down rather slowly at first, the capital cities of the hegemon should collapse suddenly and violently.