Seattle's Plastic Recycling Efforts: How Effective Are They?

Seattle's recycling stream is mostly paper and glass, with plastics making up only about 5%. The city faces challenges in its recycling programs, including the introduction of new types of non-recyclable packaging by manufacturers, particularly plastics that end up in landfills or contaminate recyclable materials. Consumers are also confused about what can be recycled, leading to a high contamination rate. While Seattle has made efforts to improve its recycling process, such as creating a Responsible Recycling Task Force, the fate of plastic waste remains uncertain. Despite the challenges, some sources indicate that certain types of plastic containers, like PET bottles and jars, have higher recycling rates.

Plastic bags and plastic wrap are no longer allowed in recycling bins

This change came into effect on January 1, 2020, and applies to plastic bags, including grocery bags, produce bags, bread bags, zip-top sandwich bags, shipping pillows, and bubble wrap. Plastic wrap is also no longer accepted, including packaging for items like paper towels, toilet paper, and dry cleaning bags.

So, what should you do with these materials now? One option is to take them to a drop-off location to be recycled, as long as they are clean and dry. Many grocery stores have recycling boxes for these materials, and you can find a drop-off location near you by visiting www.plasticfilmrecycling.org. Alternatively, you can put them in the garbage.

It's important to note that other types of plastic can still be recycled in Seattle. Rigid plastic containers, such as bottles, cups, tubs, jars, and lids wider than 3 inches, can be recycled as long as they are empty, clean, and dry. However, it's worth noting that Seattle's recycling stream is mostly made up of paper and glass, with plastics accounting for only about 5%. There are challenges with recycling programs, including the introduction of new types of non-recyclable packaging and consumer confusion about what can be recycled.

Plastic recycling is mostly a lie, everywhere

While Seattle has demonstrated strong support for recycling, the city faces significant challenges in effectively recycling plastic waste. Seattle's recycling stream comprises primarily paper and glass, with plastics accounting for a mere 5%. This highlights the broader issue of plastic recycling being largely ineffective, not just in Seattle but worldwide.

The inefficiency of plastic recycling can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, manufacturers continually introduce new types of packaging that are neither recyclable nor compostable. These plastics often end up in landfills or contaminate the stream of recyclable materials. Secondly, consumers are often confused about what can be recycled, leading to non-recyclable materials ending up in recycling bins. This issue is exacerbated by the "three-second shrug" phenomenon, where consumers, unsure about the recyclability of an item, dispose of it in the nearest bin.

Another challenge arises from the collection process, where materials are compacted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the number of trips to collection facilities. However, this compression flattens plastic items, making them indistinguishable from each other and easier to mix with other materials, such as paper. Plastic bags also get caught in the sorting machinery, resulting in mis-sorting.

The responsibility for the pervasive myth of plastic recycling lies with the plastic industry itself, specifically Big Oil, which includes the largest oil companies in the West. These companies, heavily invested in plastics made from petrochemicals, have promoted the idea that recycling can solve the plastic pollution crisis. However, as early as 1974, the industry was aware that recycling most plastics was not economically viable. Despite this knowledge, they continued to deceive the public, using symbols like the "chasing arrows" to indicate recyclability and running ads claiming that "a bottle can come back as a bottle, over and over again."

The deception was further exposed when a 1994 trade meeting revealed that while companies were committed to the activities of plastic recycling, they were not committed to the results. This indicates that the industry's focus was on maintaining the perception of recyclability rather than ensuring the actual recyclability of their products. Furthermore, chemical recycling, promoted by the industry, has been criticized as uneconomical and ineffective, breaking down plastic polymers without addressing the underlying issue of plastic production.

Consumers are confused about what is recyclable

This confusion is further compounded by the introduction of new types of packaging that are not recyclable or compostable, particularly plastics that end up in landfills or contaminate the stream of recyclable materials. Consumers are increasingly holding brands and retailers accountable for the full breadth of sustainability and expecting them to provide clear guidance on recycling.

To address this, brands have an opportunity to inform, educate, and lead their customers towards making more sustainable choices. They can do this by providing clear and easy-to-follow labels that specify which products or parts are recyclable and how to properly dispose of each material. For example, if certain products or packaging materials cannot be recycled together, such as bottles and bottle caps, brands can provide instructions on how to handle each component separately.

Additionally, brands should consider minimizing or eliminating single-use plastics and exploring recommerce options for durable goods, where they take back used products for refurbishing or material recycling. By taking radical ownership of the entire product pipeline, brands can empower their customers to make positive changes and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Plastic film and bags catch on the rollers in collection facilities' sorters

Plastic film and bags are a challenge to recycle. In Seattle, the issue is exacerbated by the fact that collection trucks crush materials, flattening plastic and making it indistinguishable from other materials, such as paper. This means that plastic can more easily slip in with other materials. Additionally, plastic film and bags can catch on the rollers in the collection facilities' sorters, leading to mis-sorting. This is a common issue with plastic film and bags, which can also get stuck in machinery at material recovery facilities (MRFs), causing operational disruptions.

The challenges with recycling plastic film and bags are not unique to Seattle. The US recycling infrastructure is not designed to handle small, thin, lightweight plastic film wrappers. Flexible plastic packaging, often made of multiple layers, is difficult to recycle or break down. This type of packaging can also fly into the air and cause issues at MRFs.

To address these issues, some retailers offer store drop-off programs that collect plastic bags and other flexible plastic packaging. Consumers can gather and save qualifying plastic films and bring them to specific stores for recycling. However, it is important to verify which flexible plastic packaging is accepted through these programs, as some materials may not be recyclable.

In Seattle, residents can recycle plastic bags and film by bundling and tying them together. Clean, dry, and stretchy plastic is preferred for recycling. Additionally, plastic items such as rigid food containers, bottles, cups, tubs, jars, lids wider than 3 inches, and plant pots can be recycled. It is important to ensure that all items are empty and clean before placing them in the recycling bin.

Despite these efforts, there are still challenges to recycling in Seattle. The city's recycling stream is primarily composed of paper and glass, with plastics accounting for only about 5%. Manufacturers continue to introduce new types of packaging that are not recyclable or compostable, leading to landfill waste or contamination of recyclable materials. Consumer confusion about what can be recycled further complicates the process.

PET bottles and jars had a 29.1% recycling rate in 2018

In 2018, the recycling rate of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) bottles and jars in the United States was 29.1%. PET is a clear, durable, and versatile plastic that is easily identified by the #1 resin code. It is accepted in almost all US recycling programs and is recycled at higher rates than other plastics. PET bottles and jars are part of the containers and packaging category, which had the most plastic tonnage in 2018 at over 14.5 million tons. This category also includes bags, sacks, wraps, and other packaging.

While the recycling rate of PET bottles and jars was relatively high compared to other types of plastic, the overall recycling rate of plastics is still relatively small. In 2018, the total amount of recycled plastics was three million tons, resulting in an 8.7% recycling rate for all plastics. This low recycling rate can be attributed to several challenges faced by recycling programs.

One major challenge is the introduction of new types of packaging that are not recyclable or compostable, especially plastics. These non-recyclable plastics often end up in landfills or contaminate the stream of recyclable materials. Consumers are also confused about what is recyclable, leading to mis-sorted materials and further contamination. The contamination rate in Seattle, for example, ranges from 11-20% depending on the material, which is well above China's stringent standard of 0.05% contamination for imported recyclable materials.

To improve the recycling rate of PET bottles and jars, and plastics in general, collaboration between manufacturers, consumers, retailers, and recyclers is necessary. Voluntary brand commitments and legislation, such as mandatory recycled content laws, have helped increase the demand for recycled PET. For example, in 2023, the rate of recycled PET content in US bottles reached an all-time high of 16.2%. Additionally, the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR) has been working to improve the collection and recycling of PET plastic through its "2023 PET Recycling Report".

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