What Does the Data Say About Recycling?
Over the past 70 years, the world has produced an astounding 8.3 billion metric tonnes of plastic, with about 6.3 billion metric tonnes turning into waste. Shockingly, only 9% of that waste has been recycled. In the UK alone, just 8.7% of discarded plastic was recycled in 2018, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Why Aren't We Recycling More?
The reasons behind our low recycling rates are complex. They include a lack of industry standards, inconsistent regulations, high costs, and a general lack of knowledge about recycling. Many plastics are made from a mix of chemicals that need to be separated before they can be recycled, which is often costly. Additionally, contamination from mixing non-recyclable plastics with recyclable ones or including dirty recyclables can send potential recyclables straight to landfill or incineration.
Recycling at Home
A Consumer Reports survey from May 2021 found that 65% of Americans usually separate plastics for recycling. However, well-meaning consumers often put all kinds of plastics into recycling bins, hoping they will be recycled. This forces recycling centres to sort out the non-recyclable items, which is challenging, costly, and can lead to contamination of recyclables.
The Perception of Recycling
Many people believe that by participating in curbside recycling, they are helping the environment. Businesses often promote their use of sustainable products, contributing to the perception that recycling is a solution to environmental issues. This growing awareness has been around since the 1960s, pushing governments to act, which led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1970.
Current Recycling Practices
Despite the perception that plastic is bad and recycling doesn’t work, there have been improvements in recycling processes due to increasing concerns about climate change. Most municipalities now operate single-stream recycling, allowing all recyclables to go into one bin, though some communities still require separation at drop-off stations. New recycling alternatives and developments are continuously being explored to improve recycling rates.
High-Demand Recyclable Plastics
Certain types of plastics, like coke and water bottles (PET) and milk jugs (HDPE), are in high demand for recycling. Milk jugs can be transformed into toys, furniture, park benches, and more. Water bottles, usually made from a single type of plastic, are particularly sought after. PET plastic is the most recycled type, used to create new bottles, textiles, carpets, shoes, auto parts, containers, and packaging.
In 2018 in the States, 29% of the plastic used in bottles and jugs was recycled. This indicates that consumers need to boost their recycling efforts. There are existing and emerging programmes aimed at increasing PET recycling rates. While all plastics can technically be recycled, the infrastructure for other types of plastics isn't as robust, and demand for them is lower.
So what about all of the 7 plastics? Are they all recyclable? And how easy is it to do so? Stay tuned to find out. Let's continue working together to improve our recycling efforts and make a positive impact on the environment!
