Maya Ellison
Despite the efforts of many environmentally conscious people to dutifully separate their plastic waste for recycling, the reality is that most plastic is not recycled. In the US, only 5-7% of plastic waste is properly recycled, and globally, the rate is only slightly higher at 9%. This is due to a variety of factors, including the inherent unrecyclability of most plastics, the high cost of sorting and reprocessing, and the deception of the fossil fuel and plastics industries, which have long been aware that recycling is not a viable solution but have continued to promote it regardless. Investigative journalism has exposed the failure of recycling programs, with plastic bags intended for recycling often ending up in landfills or incinerators, or being exported to countries struggling with plastic waste. While some plastics can be recycled, the process can release microplastics into the environment, and the resulting products are often full of toxic chemicals. As such, it is clear that the recycling of plastics is largely a lie, and the focus should be on reducing plastic use and turning off the plastics tap.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic recycling rate in the US | 5%-7% |
| Global plastic recycling rate | 9% |
| Plastic recycling rate in the UK | 5%-6% |
| Plastic recycling is a lie manufactured by | The plastic industry, Big Oil |
| Purpose of the lie | To distract from the real issues of plastic pollution and to sell more plastic |
| Role of Big Oil | Invested in plastics, which are largely made from petrochemicals; makes $400 billion a year producing plastic |
| Role of the plastic industry | Created Resin Identification Codes (RICs) to dupe people into believing that plastic is recyclable |
| RICs | Numbers 1 through 7 imprinted on plastic products to indicate composition |
| Recyclability of plastics with different RICs | 30% of plastics with RICs 1 and 2 are recycled; plastics with RICs 3 through 7 are much more difficult to repurpose; plastics with RICs 6 and 7 are virtually impossible to recycle |
| Effect of believing in plastic recycling | Consumers worry less about the amount of trash they generate and produce more of it; consumers feel relieved of guilt |
| Real solution | Phase out the use of plastic |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic producers have known for decades that recycling is not a feasible solution
- The success rate of plastic recycling is abysmal, with the US rate at roughly 7%
- Plastic recycling is a lie to distract from the real solution: reducing plastic use
- The plastic industry has perpetuated the myth that plastics are recyclable
- Plastic recycling can release huge quantities of microplastics into the environment
Plastic producers have known for decades that recycling is not a feasible solution
Despite the public's growing awareness of the environmental and health hazards posed by plastics, the industry has continued to promote recycling as a solution. However, evidence suggests that plastic producers have long known that recycling is not a feasible solution for managing plastic waste.
In 1974, an industry insider revealed that there was no economically viable way to recycle most plastics. Yet, the plastic industry continued to perpetuate the myth of recyclability, even going so far as to create Resin Identification Codes (RICs)—numbers 1 through 7 imprinted on plastic products—to dupe consumers into believing that plastic is recyclable. While 30% of plastics marked with 1 and 2 are recycled, higher-numbered plastics are much harder to repurpose, with types 6 and 7 being virtually impossible to recycle.
Internal documents and statements from industry insiders further expose the deception. In 1994, an Exxon employee admitted that while the company was "committed to the activities [of plastics recycling], [it was] not committed to the results." That same year, an Eastman Chemical representative expressed doubt about the feasibility of plastic recycling, acknowledging that it was more likely a pipe dream than a realistic solution. These revelations align with the findings of a 2016 behavioral economics study, which indicated that consumers produce more waste when they believe it will be recycled.
The plastic industry's misconduct has had severe consequences. By shifting the blame for plastic pollution to consumers, companies have continued to increase plastic production unchecked. Today, plastic pollution is pervasive, reaching even the most remote parts of the planet. As the truth about the infeasibility of plastic recycling becomes more widely known, there is a growing recognition that the focus should be on reducing plastic use, rather than relying on recycling as a panacea.
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The success rate of plastic recycling is abysmal, with the US rate at roughly 7%
Despite the efforts of many environmentally conscious individuals, the success rate of plastic recycling is abysmal, with the US rate at roughly 7%. This issue is not due to a lack of effort on the part of individuals but rather the result of systemic challenges and industry practices that have perpetuated a myth of effective plastic recycling.
The low success rate of plastic recycling is attributed to several factors. Firstly, there are thousands of distinct varieties of plastic, each with unique characteristics, chemicals, additives, and colourants. This diversity makes sorting and processing plastic waste extremely challenging and expensive. The degradation of the material with each reuse further limits its recyclability, typically allowing for only one or two cycles.
The economics of plastic recycling also plays a significant role. The process of collecting, sorting, transporting, and reprocessing plastic is costly, and creating new plastic from oil is often cheaper and easier than using recycled plastic. This economic reality has led to the proliferation of misleading symbols and advertising campaigns that give consumers a false sense of environmental responsibility and encourage continued consumption of single-use plastics.
The plastic industry has been accused of deceiving the public about the effectiveness of recycling. Despite internal knowledge that recycling was not a viable solution, industry leaders promoted it as a way to alleviate consumer guilt and maintain product sales. The birth of Resin Identification Codes (RICs), the “chasing arrows” symbol, and ad campaigns contributed to the myth of a thriving recycling industry.
The focus now needs to shift from recycling to reducing plastic use. Investigative efforts have exposed the challenges and limitations of plastic recycling, and it is evident that the solution lies in phasing out plastic wherever possible. While niche recycling programs for "hard-to-recycle" plastics exist, they often turn out to be scams, reinforcing the need to address the problem at its source.
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Plastic recycling is a lie to distract from the real solution: reducing plastic use
The lie of plastic recycling is perpetuated by the very companies that stand to profit from the sale of plastic products. Oil and gas companies, in particular, have a vested interest in promoting the idea of recycling to sell more plastic. Despite knowing that recycling is not a realistic solution, these companies have engaged in advertising campaigns and created symbols, such as the "chasing arrows" logo, to mislead consumers into believing that plastic is recyclable. Even the Resin Identification Codes (RICs) imprinted on plastic products, which indicate the composition of the plastic, have been used as a marketing tool to dupe consumers into thinking that plastic is widely recycled.
The economics of plastic recycling further expose the lie. Collecting, sorting, transporting, and reprocessing plastic is extremely expensive, and the process of recycling itself degrades the quality of the plastic, limiting its reuse. Additionally, the variety of plastic types, each with unique characteristics, chemicals, and additives, makes it challenging to sort and process them for recycling. These factors contribute to the dismal recycling rates, with the United States recycling only 5%-7% of plastic waste annually.
The truth is that the only way to address the plastic crisis is to reduce plastic use. Niche recycling programs that claim to handle "hard-to-recycle" plastics are not real solutions and often turn out to be scams. Investigative journalism has revealed that plastic bags intended for recycling often end up in landfills, incinerators, or countries struggling with plastic waste exports. Advanced recycling technologies, which break down plastic waste into other products, are also not the answer, as they have detrimental environmental and economic impacts.
It is time to end the charade of plastic recycling and focus on phasing out plastic use. While recycling can play a small role in managing plastic waste, it cannot solve the problem on its own. By reducing our reliance on plastic and transitioning to more sustainable materials, we can make a more significant impact in combating plastic pollution and protecting our planet.
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The plastic industry has perpetuated the myth that plastics are recyclable
The plastic industry has long perpetuated the myth that plastics are recyclable. In reality, most plastics are not recyclable, and the industry has known this for decades. The idea that plastic can be recycled has been a convenient lie to distract from the very real issues of plastic pollution and to assuage consumer guilt.
In 1974, an industry insider revealed that there was no economically viable way to recycle most plastics. However, instead of being transparent about this, the industry doubled down on its deception. In the 1980s, as public opinion began to turn against plastics, the industry launched ad campaigns and introduced the Resin Identification Codes (RICs) – numbers 1 through 7 imprinted on plastic products to indicate their composition. These were a clever marketing tactic, as they gave the impression of a vast and thriving recycling industry.
The industry also introduced the "chasing arrows" symbol, now widely recognized as indicating recyclable plastic. However, experts have long criticized this symbol as highly misleading. Despite knowing that recycling was not a realistic solution, the industry continued to promote it. In 1994, an Exxon employee admitted that while they were committed to the activities of plastic recycling, they were not committed to the results.
The economics of plastic recycling are a significant challenge. Collecting, sorting, transporting, and reprocessing plastic is extremely expensive, and the process of recycling can release microplastics and toxic chemicals into the environment. Even when recycled, most plastic products can only be reused once or twice as the material degrades with each use.
The plastic industry has prioritized profits over the environment, and its deception has had real-world consequences. It is time to hold these companies accountable and focus on phasing out the use of plastics wherever possible.
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Plastic recycling can release huge quantities of microplastics into the environment
Plastic recycling has been promoted by the plastics industry as a key solution to the growing problem of plastic waste. However, it has been argued that recycling is a "false solution" that mainly serves to relieve consumer guilt. A 2016 behavioral economics study found that when consumers believe their waste will be recycled, they tend to produce more of it.
The plastics industry has been accused of deceiving the public about the effectiveness of plastic recycling. For example, in the late 1980s, the industry introduced the "chasing arrows" symbol, which is widely recognized as an indicator of recyclable plastic. However, experts have long claimed that this symbol is misleading, and federal regulators have recently echoed these concerns.
The plastics industry has also been criticized for promoting chemical recycling, which involves breaking down plastic polymers into tiny molecules to create new plastics. Critics argue that chemical recycling is uneconomical and environmentally harmful. In support of this claim, a study published in the Journal of Hazardous Material Advances found that a state-of-the-art recycling plant in the UK discharged up to 2,933 metric tons of microplastics annually before the introduction of a filtration system, and up to 1,336 metric tons afterwards. The study also revealed that more than 90% of the particles were under 10 microns, and 80% were under 5 microns, making them ingestible by various organisms, including humans.
The issue of plastic recycling is complex and multifaceted. While recycling can help reduce plastic waste, it is not a complete solution. The plastics industry's promotion of recycling has been criticized as a deception, and the low recycling rates globally indicate that our efforts to sort and recycle plastics may not be as effective as we believe. As such, there is a growing realization that the focus should be on reducing plastic use and production, rather than relying solely on recycling as a solution.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, plastic recycling is a lie. While some plastics can be recycled, the process is not a realistic solution to the plastic waste problem. The plastic industry has been aware of this for decades but has continued to promote recycling and mislead consumers. The success rate of plastic recycling is abysmal, with only 5-9% of plastic waste being properly recycled globally.
Plastic recycling is not a solution because it is not economically or technically feasible. It is an extremely expensive process that requires meticulous sorting, as most of the thousands of chemically distinct varieties of plastic cannot be recycled together. The material also degrades each time it is reused, limiting its reusability.
Instead of focusing on recycling plastic, the priority should be on reducing plastic use and phasing it out wherever possible. This involves turning off the "plastics tap" and advocating for a reduction in the production of fossil fuel-based plastic.
