January SATO Snap

 The Scam of Recycling 

Recycling seems like a simple concept, but in reality, only 6% of plastic in the US was recycled in 2021. Many plastic items are created with dyes and additives which change the properties of certain plastics. These additives not only affect the melting point of plastic making it harder to recycle, but it makes it harder for consumers to know what they can recycle The majority of people think that the triangle of interlocking arrows means that the product is recyclable, but those symbols only reveal the categories that indicate the type of plastic the product is made of. Only a couple of categories of plastic are recyclable. 

PVC (#3) is used for things like plastic food wrapping and it is not likely for recyclers to take those products. It is also unsafe to reuse PVC products because they contain toxins that can be harmful to food or children. LDPE (#4) is usually the material that plastic bags are made of, which is not usually recyclable. PP (#5) is used for many food packages like yogurt or cereal bags or containers. It is technically recyclable but many recyclers do not accept it due to food residue. PS (#6) is used for many styrofoam containers, which are not recyclable, and are found in marine animals' stomachs. It can also contain harmful chemicals that hurt human health. Finally, other plastics (#7) should never be assumed as recyclable. They can contain many harmful chemicals like xenoestrogen that can cause many health problems like impairing human reproduction. However, there are instances where some of these products are recyclable, depending on the plastics your local recycler accepts. Recycling non-recyclable products is a waste of time and can be harmful. They will end up in landfills of jam-up recycling machinery requiring manual removal. One of the most significant issues with people recycling is contamination. Food particles, direct, and moisture can prevent recycled products from being processed. That’s why we all need to be more aware of the products we are purchasing and disposing of.

National Geographic, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/why-recycling-plastic-doesnt-always-get-recycled?loggedin=true&rnd=1674828521085. Accessed 27 January 2023.