[INFORMATIVE] The Truth About Recycling

The Truth About Recycling

By: Cora Stogner

Plastic isn’t actually being recycled, even if you put it in the recycling bin. Well, why isn’t it? Our intention while recycling is for it to be reused to prevent waste in the world. So, where does this waste actually go, and how do we recycle sustainably and even use these recyclables for other purposes?

Much of the plastic being dropped in recycling bins isn't actually being recycled. Currently, more than 380 million tons of new plastic are produced annually, and less than 6% is recycled. With this being said, where does this waste actually go?

Where it goes:

• Out of country
• Landfills
• The ocean

Out of country:
Plastic waste exports have been shipped off and counted as recyclables for decades. Believe it or not, in the USA in 2014, 22% of PET plastic collected for recycling was transported out of the country. These plastics go to countries such as Canada, Mexico, India, Malaysia, and Vietnam. In some of these areas where we dump all of this waste, the waste management rates are already very high, meaning they are losing space to put the plastic recyclables. The main problem with this is that even when we move plastic out of the US, it's still polluting these other areas. Once these areas run out, we won’t have anywhere to put all of this leftover trash, which is a huge issue.

Landfills:
Landfills are the most known problem around the entire world. Recycling can end up in landfills for a number of reasons, including contamination, a lack of consumer education, and inadequate waste processing technologies. When non-recyclable materials are mixed with recyclables, the quality of the recyclables can be compromised. A lack of consumer education is when people don’t know how to recycle locally or what items can and can’t be recycled. And finally, inadequate waste processing technologies are when some recycling facilities do not have the proper technology to process certain recyclables, leaving them to slowly biodegrade.

The Ocean:
And finally, the ocean is where the plastic with no room to go goes. There are currently 75 to 199 million tons of plastic polluting our oceans. According to the 2021 National Academy of Sciences report, the U.S. is the world's leading contributor to plastic waste, with an estimated amount of 1.13-2.24 million metric tons of plastic dumped into the ocean annually. While countries are top contributors, companies also contribute to this. The top companies that produce the leading plastic waste are:

• Coca-Cola
• PepsiCo
• Nestlé
• Unilever
• Mondelëz International
• Mars
• Procter & Gamble
• Philips Morris International
• Danone
• Ferrero Group

So, with all of these countries, organizations, and companies irresponsibly recycling waste, what are some ways we can cut down on plastic waste and recycle sustainably and safely?

Solutions:

• Reusing waste
• Check to see what can be recycled.
• Reusable everyday items

Reusing Waste:
Reusing waste is a great way to cut down on the plastic products polluting our world every day. Some good, sustainable ways to reuse waste are:

• Bird feeder using plastic bottles
• Piggy bank with empty milk carton
• Sprinkler with plastic bottle and hose
• Planters from plastic bottles
• Lunch bags from plastic bags

All of these ways are great ways to reuse plastic waste and could even be cost-efficient for households. Instead of buying a sprinkler, why not use one? This also ensures that these recyclables aren’t misrecycled by others. If we can save money, why don't we save our world too?

Check to see what can be recycled:

Checking to see what can and cannot be recycled can solve the problem of cross-contamination between these items. Other upsides are that it reduces landfill waste, saves energy, conserves natural resources, and reduces CO2 emissions. Recycling correctly can benefit your community, the economy, and the environment. Products should only be recycled if they cannot be reduced or reused.

Reusable everyday items:
A simple switch, such as a metal straw, reusable water bottles, and even reusable earplugs, can also cut down on the amount of waste that could be recycled insufficiently by companies. All of these items reduce carbon footprints, which can save the world. Some more benefits include reduced greenhouse gas emissions, improving communities, and waste reduction as a whole.

Even though recycling may make us think we are doing something for the world, we actually may be doing more harm than good, as more than half of the plastic we recycle isn't even recycled properly. Using some alternative, you now know the alternatives to recycling, how to actually recycle, and how to save the world.


WORKS CITED:

Truth About Recycling — 5 Gyres. “5 Gyres.” 5 Gyres, 2014, www.5gyres.org/truth-about-recycling?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw_ZC2BhAQEiwAXSgClnhE1VuMS9OeJ8wbF0pd_l_js3hb1ooaXfpdANC6it72NgY0EUY4tRoCxEYQAvD_BwE. Accessed 20 Aug. 2024.

admppc. “157,000 Shipping Containers of U.S. Plastic Waste Exported to Countries with Poor Waste Management in 2018.” Plastic Pollution Coalition, 6 Mar. 2019, www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org/blog/2019/3/6/157000-shipping-containers-of-us-plastic-waste-exported-to-countries-with-poor-waste-management-in-2018#:~:text=Informal%20processing%20involves%20washing%20and,operating%20at%20260%2D400%E2%84%83. Accessed 21 Aug. 2024.

Team Viably. “How Much Recyclable Waste Goes into Landfills and What Can Be Done about It?” Viably Waste and Recycling Solutions, 8 Apr. 2024, thinkviably.com/resource-library/how-much-recyclable-waste-goes-into-landfills/#:~:text=Why%20Does%20Recyclable%20Waste%20End.

“2024 State of Recycling Report.” The Recycling Partnership, recyclingpartnership.org/residential-recycling-report/#:~:text=Only%2021%25%20of%20recyclable%20material.

https://www.npr.org/2022/10/24/1131131088/recycling-plastic-is-practically-impossible-and-the-problem-is-getting-worse#:~:text=But%20the%20numbers%20are%20low,into%20something%20new%20by%202040.

“Recyclables Going into the Ocean - Google Search.” Google.com, 2024, www.google.com/search?q=recyclables+going+into+the+ocean&oq=recyclables+going+into+the+ocean&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRifBTIHCAUQIRifBdIBCDU4NzhqMGo3qAIIsAIB&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#:~:text=Oct%2013%2C%202022-. Accessed 21 Aug. 2024.

Jones, Asher. “US among Top Contributors to Ocean Plastic Pollution.” VOA, 3 Nov. 2020, www.voanews.com/a/science-health_us-among-top-contributors-ocean-plastic-pollution/6197943.html.

Nolan, Katie. “12 Genius Ways to Reuse Your Plastic Bottles.” Bob Vila, 24 Apr. 2018, www.bobvila.com/slideshow/12-genius-ways-to-reuse-your-plastic-bottles-52038/. Accessed 26 Aug. 2024.

US EPA. “Recycling Basics and Benefits.” Www.epa.gov, 27 Nov. 2023, www.epa.gov/recycle/recycling-basics-and-benefits.100 Everyday Reusable Items: The Definitive List. 30 Jan. 2020, ecofreek.com/reusable/reusable-items/.