Critics call out plastics industry over recycling "fraud"

About 48 million tons of plastic waste is generated in the United States each year, but only 5 to 6 percent of it is actually recycled. A new report from the Center for Climate Integrity, "The Fraud of Plastic Recycling," accuses the plastics industry of a decades-long campaign to "mislead" the public about the viability of recycling. Correspondent Ben Tracy talks with the report's co-author, Davis Allen, and with Jan Dell, a former chemical engineer, about an inconvenient truth surrounding the lifecycle of plastic.
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[@tb5032]

"The only thing the plastics industry has actually recycled is their lies, over and over again." -Jan Dell

[@bostonphotographer20]

The 10 rivers that carry 93 percent of the trash in the ocean are the Yangtze, Yellow, Hai, Pearl, Amur, Mekong, Indus and Ganges Delta in Asia, and the Niger and Nile in Africa. The Yangtze alone dumps up to an estimated 1.5 million metric tons of plastic waste into the Yellow Sea.

[@Darkray3479]

@@bostonphotographer20 I guess that's a more modern reason to call the sea "yellow"

[@kennychad2821]

They lied, now we have micro plastics in the ocean, the fish, and now in our blood. This industry needs to be held accountable, we're polluting the earth and our bodies.

[@speedyme200]

♻️🤥

[@bostonphotographer20]

@@protonflux5766 Scientific American. Article title, "Stemming the Plastic Tide: 10 Rivers Contribute Most of the Plastic in the Oceans" Scientific American is the most highly regarded Science magazine in the world. Is that good enough for you?

[@serraangel7465]

We could just go back to glass bottles and cans it tastes better.

[@exaudi33]

Already hurting from inflation, I'm paying $2 more per glass bottle of milk but it is worth it for taste and sanity.

[@evilsharkey8954]

@@exaudi33Are you returning the glass bottles for the deposit?

[@evilsharkey8954]

When I was a kid, all drinks came in aluminum cans or glass bottles. The bottles were returned to the store for a deposit, and the bottler would pick them up, sanitize them, and refill them.

[@pamc3212]

And charge a fee for them we get back when returned, to keep them from being thrown on the roadways.

[@serraangel7465]

@evilsharkey8954 homeless ppl could make a living off of collecting bottles and cans. But it would be so much easier with city recycling. Heck the city could use the money for services.

[@rkevic]

getting charge a container tax and not having a recycling program is a fraud.

[@gizmonovack]

Trick to get more money out of you

[@ctgottapee9020]

often those containers where they are taxed and people use the programs do get recycled; it's just a drop in the bucket. the overage on the tax collected vs the amount redeemed pays for some of the extra costs.

[@goodgrief888]

The city of San Francisco used to have a program called “Zero Waste” claiming that we recycled 100% of our plastics. A few years ago they changed it to “Waste Zero” after China stopped accepting shipments of all of our “recyclables.” China was burning it all. They never told the public that their recycling campaign was a massive failure. It’s all for show.

[@CraftAmundous]

Hmmmmm, good be an entire theme...

[@gizmonovack]

But the government paid trash people to dump trash in oceans , buried trash underground and use trash to generate electricity that causes tons of pollutions in the air But they don’t want to fund on something like sorting out the waste and re molding them is what recycling is , it’s a scam

[@ChrisMantia]

Micro plastics, EVERYWHERE!

[@kkbo3478]

Even in our bodies 😮

[@MattChance]

If there was an option, I would always go with more recyclable or compostable products or packaging. Yet I can’t even buy simple paper or bamboo plates without them coming in plastic bags. The industry has made it so hard to make the better choice.

[@edp2506]

We basically have to go to mom & pops stores near us(none to be found) and committ to having a natural carrying basket like in the old days. Not gonna happen in this crazy modern days counting your productivity mindset we live in, not to mention Amazon & Wal-Mart's monopolized everything.

[@prophetzarquon1922]

I haven't even seen bamboo plates that weren't bonded with plastic... "Bamboo" textiles are mostly rayon _made from_ bamboo cellulose. Most stores that sell socks, sell poly & wool & _blends,_ but not regular cotton socks anymore.

[@username7763]

The only reason we can use paper plates are because they are coated in plastic. Otherwise the food would soak into the paper. Plastic is so damned useful.

[@woodstream6137]

Use a regular plate and wash it when done. I hear the bamboo craze has a bit of fraud. The processes required for bamboo fabric or other materials uses a crazy amount of harsh chemicals.

[@Chromaticgranny]

Go back to glass and paper. Use hemp instead of trees. Hemp can replace a lot of uses . Amendem I stand corrected about using glass. Bad idea right?

[@ekop1778]

AND STEEL AND WOOD BOXES LIKE THEY DID 45 YRS AGO

[@johnd.5601]

The problem with hemp is everything, but hemp is removed from the farm. When trees are growing, nothing needs to be removed, and the birds and animals can remain on the farm. Animals will eat the hemp.

[@DistrustHumanz]

Aluminum?

[@ThraxMan84]

I’d rather save a tree.

[@Chromaticgranny]

@@johnd.5601 ???? I don't understand what you mean by that

[@shuffleaccount1985]

WE SHOULD SEND ALL PLASTIC BACK TO THE COMPANIES THAT MAKE THIS PRODUCT !!!!!

[@exaudi33]

Agreed, but would those corporate america liars would just throw it in the nearest landfill.

[@Tammy166]

And then what? So we waste fuel sending plastics back to these companies, for them to just end up in the landfills anyway? That’s adding more issues to existing ones. And what do you hope that these companies will learn? Because they aren’t going to learn anything; the people you want to come across the trash you send in, are so high up on the food chain, they’d never have to know.

[@UmmYeahOk]

Isn’t that what we used to do back when they sold everything in glass bottles? They were the ones reusing them. In fact, there use to be a pretty wicked subscription service where fresh milk was delivered to your door step, and they picked up your used bottles to clean and reuse for the next day. You didn’t have to go to the store! No gas wasted, not even a car needed. They came to you.

[@CeruleanSky1111]

90% of the plastic we use is the US comes from China. That's why we had a difficult time getting cleaning and disinfectant products during the pandemic. We had the chemicals (made in USA), but no bottles were being shipped from China due to supply chain break down.

[@justinatwell8187]

Right... just as long as you buy it first.

[@laurad3497]

I’ve had a feeling for about 15 years. Once I learned that “one dirty container ruins the whole batch”. I prefer paper and glass.

[@chahahc]

Remember when grocery stores phased out paper bags in favor of plastic because it was better for the environment?

[@joeb4294]

To be fair, paper bags are terrible for the environment in different ways. Also, I remember how paper bags would more easily rip and fall apart on the way home. Plastic bags are far more durable and reusable than paper. Of course, a fabric bag is the best choice, as long as it gets reused for many years.

[@TwisterTornado]

​@@joeb4294 Properly folded paper bags are sturdier. It's the ones that are just glued at the bottom, that fall apart.

[@Alaryicjude]

And I remember my conservative father freaking the Heck out about it, yeah.

[@csdarlington86]

@@joeb4294 Paper has a 68 percent recycling rate compared to nine percent for plastics.

[@stevegabbert9626]

I never stopped using paper bags, and they rarely break on me.

[@thetracywilliamsshow]

The only way to help is to stop buying so much plastic. Very hard to do.

[@yvonneplant9434]

It's almost impossible. 😮

[@wolfumz]

It's so hard, dude, I know what you mean. But it's about progress, not perfection!

[@matthewtaylor3347]

It’s single use plastics such as disposable pens, pill containers, straws, milk cartons, bags, etc that’s the problem. Things made out of plastic such as Tupperware or pvc pipes are more ok in my book.

[@celebrityrog]

Plastic today is as ubiquitous as Bakelite and glass and metal in the 40s

[@julierogers1155]

VERY. HARD. TO. DO. I do still try ...

[@towzone]

When will people realize corporations will always lie to improve their perceived bottom line. Unfortunately the actual bottom line is in the grave.

[@judithdomangue9995]

Thank you Jan, for your efforts to call these plastic industries out. How horrifying, what people will do, to make money. The problems we are left with are truly awful, and getting worse. Governments need to step in, to stop it.

[@cindymeyerson2099]

And each person needs to do their part by not buying plastic as much as they can.

[@Me97202]

Governments won’t step in as long as the plastics industry keeps giving millions to individual politicians.

[@rlud304]

@@Me97202 You forgot to end that sentence with “in the US,” where literal bribing is legal and congresspersons can commit insider trading with impunity. Or you can write “…the plastics industry giving millions to US politicians.”

[@iuyozx]

Judith, quit relying on the government to solve problems.

[@rlud304]

@@iuyozx That’s the whole point of government, professor🤦🏻‍♀️

[@itslizmcmahon]

It seems like most people don't realize plastic is made from oil and gas. And that the plastic industry is playing by the same rulebook.

[@username7763]

To me, that is the biggest risk with our plastic use. Our landfills are fine and microorganisms have and will evolve to break down plastics. But oil is a limited supply.

[@slrsouth64]

I once worked in a refinery in Port Arthur, texas. They had a flare burning almost the entire first 3 months that I was working there. I realize that no matter how much I recycle, I had just watched the amount of fuel that I would use for my entire life, which was burnt in 3 months.

[@fj06carnone]

Wait, what? Your point is that bc a refinery polites, you shouldn't care about doing your part?

[@Chesterfierce]

Plastic is so pervasive. No matter what you buy at the grocery store, the majority of products have some plastic component in the packaging. Produce - here, have a plastic bag to put it in, etc. The amount of plastic surrounding our food and food production now means that we have plastics flowing through our bloodstream. It’s infuriating.

[@Fools_Requiem]

there is currently no better material Alternatives have limited uses and/or are expensive to produce, which would mean more expensive to buy. People with tight budgets can't budget around "no plastics". Other materials also don't have the durability tbat plastic has. Plastics don't break down easily, so it makes for the perfect long-term storing material.

[@ebybeehoney]

The plastics companies should be forced to pay for all removal of plastic from the environment. And also the replacements to new products. I avoid plastic containers and have changed away from things like deodorant and shampoo and plastic water bottles. Even wrapped up in plastic will stop my purchases.

[@bostonphotographer20]

They make a legal product that has saved millions of lives. The responsibility lies on the user. Stop looking for the government to solve your problems

[@john-smith.]

@@bostonphotographer20 The Government where I live is "We the people".

[@beejls]

@@bostonphotographer20 they lied to us and got us addicted to plastic. It’s almost impossible to buy anything that’s packaged without plastic. How can the consumer have any agency in this when we’ve been lied to and now have a forced reliance on a product we can’t find a substitute for? You come off as an industry shill .

[@bostonphotographer20]

@@john-smith. That’s what it’s supposed to be. It ain’t true.

[@Norsilca]

Yeah, that's basically it. Plastic is everywhere because it's "cheap", but it's only that cheap because they don't pay the real cost, which includes the damage it does. Just make it cost what it actually costs the world.

[@chrisgarver7904]

Plastic should be outlawed. There are better materials that can be used.

[@dmiller1000]

Better, how? Cheaper? No. More versatile? No. More environmentally friendly? Maybe, maybe not. Like most 5-minute pieces on CBS, only one side is briefly presented as QED. A longer story with both arguments would be a lot better.

[@dawnkeckley7502]

All plastics? I’d definitely say much plastic could be eliminated if people stopped buying food and drinks in plastic containers. Stop buying bottled water. Bring back glass bottled drinks. Buy food in cans and glass jars. Bring your own bags to grocery stores. Those few steps would have enormous consequences. I love getting sauces in glass jars because I reuse them to store broth I make, sauces I make, to drink smoothies from, to store dried herbs in, etc.

[@evilsharkey8954]

Some plastics are needed for medical, industrial, and scientific use. Single use, non-medical consumer plastics are what should be targeted.

[@codymclean9733]

Sure lets look at the paper straws that went really well. 🙄

[@evilsharkey8954]

@@codymclean9733 Another alternative is plastic lids with the little sippy flap instead of a straw. I mean, people don’t usually drink with straws at home.

[@360EZ]

Corporations and manufacturers have always put the onus to clean up their mess on consumers

[@DistrustHumanz]

The entire eastern half of the U.S. is filled with old, unused buildings and facilities used by PRIVATE companies and individuals, not just corporations and manufacturers.

[@rlud304]

No it’s our useless corrupt government taking zero responsibility and putting it on individuals even though it is absolutely the government’s job to create the infrastructure and write and enforce laws that protect the public from being poisoned with plastic

[@user-zu5do6ri6r]

Why not. You bought it.

[@pleiadiblu2365]

Makers must be responsible for the whole lifecycle of their products. Enough with cost externalization.

[@K03sport]

​@@pleiadiblu2365 with that thought, what about the automotive industry...does Chevrolet or Ford have to be responsible for the cars they produce from initial production to scrap/junk yard? It sounds good, but once the product is sold, it's technically not their "problem". The plastics ppl just told a story to avoid unwanted regulations and hits to their profits.

[@rcisneros8567]

Time for a MASSIVE class-action lawsuit.

[@MrBrewman95]

I wish we could go back to glass.

[@gizmonovack]

Cost too much

[@Fools_Requiem]

Expensive. Limited application uses. Fragile.

[@steveblankenship5474]

Recently I went to 3 recycling centers with a car load of plastics and all of them told me “we don’t take plastic”.

[@stop08it]

I take mine to a local grocery store they have a container for recycling more flexible plastic like plastic bags

[@chrisn8349]

The majority of those stores end up sending it to landfills anyway. News reporters put airtags in the plastic bag recycling to follow where it ends up.

[@BRCH1987]

@@stop08it so clearly you didn't watch the video then...you just used the word recycling.

[@kristinw3610]

@@stop08itExcept those bins are lying to you. Those plastic bags aren’t recycled.

[@Hazanko83]

​@@stop08itthe "flexible plastics" like bags/etc are ones of the worst examples... Cleaning that stuff is basically impossible, and the amount of plastic is weighed in the grams/mgs so the overall amount of work vs yield is literal garbage.

[@Aggies44]

I would like to point out that there are cities/towns where people and businesses have been fined for not recycling. Let that sink in

[@rwh5350]

I worked with a group of youth to start a recycling program at their HS….spent all year picking up and sorting. Went with the maintenance guy one day…everything thrown in same dumpster🙄

[@smrk2452]

Been seeing for 25 years in the workplace, all the separated garage goes into the same bag.

[@MainelyLove]

None of the trash haulers in my state separate waste as far as I know; therefore, another link in the chain that we are not being informed (or reminded) about.

[@barrymccaulkiner7092]

If your business model is to _sell as much new plastics as possible_ it's counter productive to fully commit to recycling old plastics. So to mitigate public unrest just throw labels on new plastics that say it's recyclable.

[@ilovegodzilla]

I hate seeing those plastics industry recycling promotion commercials. Lies.

[@lizzytish]

The only way to change the way plastics are made is to replace plastics - with biodegradable packaging, and going back to paper and glass.

[@westiemafia2704]

You're on to something, but is paper for 8 billion people sustainable? Are 8 billion sustainable? To 1st World standards? Sadly I think only the wealth controllers will win no matter what.

[@Tammy166]

I think you mean compostable, because biodegradable doesn’t mean what you think it does. You know all the microplastics we have? They’re from “biodegradable” products; these products break down into tiny particles that can’t easily be seen, and we assume that they aren’t here anymore.

[@lizzytish]

@@Tammy166 biodegradable-(of a substance or object) capable of being decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms.

[@ctgottapee9020]

@@Tammy166 and then compostable, doesn't always mean basic compostable, as it requires the product to be uncontaminated and put in an industrial composting system, of which few exist for consumers. I've put some compostable products into my composter and seasons later they come back out just the same.

[@smrk2452]

Anybody who ever stayed late in an office has seen janitors empty all the separated garbage into one big bag. The separate containers you see at Whole Foods and outdoor parks all seem to collect everything too. So what are we doing here? It’s not just the plastics industry, but local governments and other corporations are lying to us too.

[@mmmbbq]

Not to mention that an entire second garbage truck comes to my house to pick up this stuff to “recycle”. So many opportunities to take our money! Disposal company gets some, town gets some. And I get double the noise and pollution from doubling the garbage trucks!

[@AggrievedPuggle]

Not only this but the auto arms that pick the containers up spill a ton of garbage.

[@hauserinnovations9430]

You do realize states and these environmental groups are forcing this right?

[@joeb4294]

Not where I live. I was off from work this week and I watched my garbage and recycling all get thrown into the same truck. At first I thought this was part of the scam but after looking into it, the truck has two separate compartments. But I'm still skeptical and I expect that most of my recycling ends up in the dump.

[@smrk2452]

Ever notice in outdoor parks sometimes they have three separate garage cans, but people don’t care so every separate container gets everything…

[@edp2506]

​@@joeb4294Since only 5% is recyclable according to the expert, it's probably not worthwhile to separate anyway. Am trying my best to the right things but if the powers that be don't, what's the point?

[@SeanAllocca]

Imagine what else we are being lied about...

[@lucakat9262]

Oh, yeah, if you really look into the real picture, the water we drink, the food we eat, the pills we take -- a lot of it has forever chemicals we are putting into our bodies and that has long-term effects on our bodies and brains. I've learned so much about a lot of things over the years. And the US is just way too capitalistic. Recently, I have been finding videos on how much Europeans think about health first and then money and other things. However, from what I am hearing, there are companies over there that are slowly but surely trying to implement bad things over there too. So, yeah, the absolute corruption of everything is at an all time high.😮

[@username7763]

@@lucakat9262 How do "forever chemicals" effect our body? Isn't the whole forever part mean they are non-reactive?

[@user-rl7mt4gh3o]

capitalism is whats behind it all

[@username7763]

@@user-rl7mt4gh3o With how many plastic products are produced in China, that isn't close to accurate. These problems involve physics, mankind's place on earth, our modern way of life. The problems are so much greater than political squabbles.

[@user-rl7mt4gh3o]

@@username7763 problems are we dont have fusion energy or have a new plan to replace negative chemicals into positive safe chemicals.

[@joytotheworld2100]

I was told about 20 years ago from a manager at our local recycling center "we do not give tours" i took that as "we really dont recycle we just collect it & pass it along to be put with other waste" In other words " dont look behind the curtain you might not like what you find"

[@yolyprog2561]

Amazon packages are such a major waste. You order a very small product that is delivered in a very large cardboard box filled with large plastic bubble wrap!!!

[@Lunafalls]

They've gotten better over the years. Now they send a lot of things in jiffy bags, sometimes the new paper type that can be recycled with paper and cardboard.

[@MoneyManHolmes]

I’ve been telling Amazon for years that they need reusable envelopes and I would even pay a core charge to participate.

[@jeanetteschock4744]

Ah, the oil companies 😢😢😢

[@user-rl7mt4gh3o]

fossil fuels are just polluting everything we need to end it to something better

[@mikef8846]

Why is laundry detergent still allowed to be sold in plastic bottles. They have sheets now that can come in cardboard boxes. They have pods that come in plastic bags that use way less plastic than liquid bottles. And powdered detergent has been available forever in bags and boxes. There's just no need for these plastic laundry detergent bottles, and they need to be banned, just like incandescent light bulbs.

[@iuyozx]

What else should be banned

[@username7763]

Funny you mention incandescent light ban. Incandescent lights (other than the halogen ones) don't contain any plastic in them. But the new LED replacement ones sure do. Plastics aren't good or bad, but a tool. Sometimes we use them to help the environment too.

[@AC-qi9wo]

I try and not buy single plastic container or bags, it's disgusting, the lies of recycling .

[@frogmantoad8110]

Well, aren’t you special? 😂😂

[@mj8495]

@@frogmantoad8110If everyone brought their own bags, yes, it would help. We have to start somewhere unless people just don't care 😢

[@krobbins8395]

I try to avoid buying plastics as much as I can as it's obvious other materials are much more recyclable. I think hemp and other green materials are being over looked because it's cheaper to produce more plastic. Hemp has a 90 day crop cycle that can be grown in poor soil, use less water, clean and amend the soil, has multiple textiles and can pull carbon from the atmosphere. Ive seen tech that can use seaweed as well. These seem like better options to pursue.

[@everythingpony]

How? Littlery everything

[@ShaunDakin]

Lies lies and more lies from industry

[@BrettVano]

I appreciate, support, and respect any journalistic effort to expose the plastics industry. Please keep up the pressure. I don't want to live in a world trying in vain to keep up with plastics by recycling. I just want the plastic gone. Package stuff in glass, paper, and metal.

[@laurendemi_art]

Absolutely outrageous. Big oil execs should be jailed for life. Period.

[@lhaley9873]

Where I work we use 5 different locations to brig garbage and recycling. The recycling is to complicated for collage educated people to understand, clearly labeled containers are ignored. Aluminum in the plastic, plastic in the aluminum, garbage in both, idiots in desks.

[@JV-pu8kx]

Don't forget the hype over _compostable_ plastics. They require _industrial_ composting facilities, not your backyard composting bin.

[@evilsharkey8954]

Some plastics actually can be recycled a few times quite easily or at least downcycled into lower grade products like carpeting or plastic boards. The problem is most people suck at recycling and contaminate the waste streams so bad that no one will buy the bulk plastic, and it gets sent to the landfill. People need to stop wishcycling, throwing any paper, plastic, or metal object into the comingled recycling stream. Find out what materials the local recycling company will actually accept and what condition they have to be in. If they only take number 1 and 2 plastic, only recycle those. If they have to be rinsed, rinse them. If they have to be unbagged, pour them from your indoor bin into the outdoor bin and pray there’s not a breeze when they collect it. As a general rule, if it’s not clean enough that you would keep it in a bagless bin inside your house for several days, it’s probably too gross for the recyclers, too. Humans hand sort a lot of the plastics after they’ve been sitting in the outside bins for days and mixed with everyone else’s recycling. Have some decency and rinse out your dairy containers. The bulk plastic buyers don’t want to pay for food scraps, either, so they’ll refuse bales of plastic that are fouled. My workplace is trying to improve our recycling streams to only include things that will actually be sorted and bought, and we learned that some materials that should be recyclable are refused by plastic buyers, even if they’re clean, just because other people leave them dirty so often that they just assume it’s all fouled. Do NOT throw plastic bags into the recycling bin. They clog up the sorting machines and shut down the line. No clothes, cables, hoses, twine, oily cardboard (including pizza boxes), diapers, food waste, plastic utensils or straws, styrofoam, rubber, or anything too small to sort.

[@MainelyLove]

I do these things. Our local landfill used to have a staffed area where we could sort our recycling into four categories. A few years ago, it went to a transfer station and now we have "single stream" recycling. I still separate and take it to the landfill when I can (our trash haulers do just that), but now less of it will actually be recycled for being all mixed in together.

[@user-rl7mt4gh3o]

all plastics should be in garbage

[@evilsharkey8954]

@@user-rl7mt4gh3o Not true. Many are recyclable or at least able to be downcycled, but the stuff most people send to the sorting centers is filthy and mixed with too much crap, reducing the value of the plastics.

[@kerikah]

And just think about how shrinkflation has exacerbated our plastic consumption. We have to buy more of it to buy the same amount of food.

[@kathleengeiser6956]

If our government is not hand in hand with the oil industry , then why are they not enforcing the recycling laws? Why are they allowing them to get away with this? There needs to be federal and state investigations on this fraud.

[@rlud304]

The government is so full of sh*t. They get to blame the bad corporations for being bad rather than take responsibility for being a corrupt utterly useless excuse for a government

[@evilsharkey8954]

The laws don’t require anything to actually be recycled. Waste collection companies are allowed to refuse recycling trucks if they have so much contamination in their recycling streams that they can’t get anyone to buy their bulk plastic and they’re losing money. Other companies buy the plastic, sometimes for recycling or down cycling, sometimes for incinerator fuel. The better grade the plastic, the more likely it is to be recycled.

[@iuyozx]

There are no “recycling laws”. Lol

[@mixedfeelingsaboutturning1910]

because we don’t need anymore seatbelts

[@maggie7843]

People put plastic bags in their blue recycling bins?? Good lord, America is getting dumber. 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@energyjournalist1]

the recycling bins are made of plastic

[@rasengan124]

I find all kinds of garbage and dirty containers thrown into our blue bins… even used dirty paper towels. (Though the cruel irony is those are more recyclable than the plastic food containers I painstakingly clean 😢)

[@JinHime0412]

I have an annoying neighbor who dump dirt and leaves into my recycle bin 😡

[@user-rl7mt4gh3o]

@@energyjournalist1 they should be metal bins

[@pedromain]

Metal, glass or paper thats it. Since almost a year I never buy a plastic packaged product if there's a metal, glass or paper alternative available.

[@MemoGrafix]

I tried to get away from plastic by reducing & reusing - mere a drop in the bucket. However, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE during this day to eliminate 100%. You won't be able to even at a micron level, all that means nothing even if We all on Earth stopped using plastics the problem of it still remains. Do Your best. DOW/DuPont/The J.P. Morgan's/Rockerfeller's/and their ILK knew what they were doing for $$$ $$$ $$$. They all Lobbied/PAID Politicians and got *_George Washington-Carver's_** Bio-Degradable Hemp & Soybean Plastics* BANNED. Now a few environmentalist groups are having _fake eureka_ moments of his Plant-Based Bio-Plastic. However never giving him CREDIT. *_ NOW PETROL-BASED PLASTIC IS EVERYWHERE:_* Plastic Dust Particles are NOW FLOATING in the Air & Drinking Water entering Our bodies. Electronics & Electronic Musical Equipment - All of them Medical Equipment Food Packaging Fruit/Vegetable Wax Coatings _- sometime is Petrol-based Paraffin Wax_ Metal Food Cans _- Plastic coating inside_ Children's Toys/Games Clothing/Footwear Roller Skates & Skate Boards Surf Boards Motor Vehicles _- Cars Buses Trucks Airplanes Boats Ships_ Row Boats LED Lightbulbs Furniture _- Upholstered/or not (all metal & all wood don't count)_ House Siding Doors & Windows Adult Intimate Toys Hygienic & Beauty Products Synthetic Fabrics Vinyl Fences Disposable - Diapers & Sanitary Pads Electrical Cord Coverings Epoxies Medication & Vitamin Packages Boat Sails Bags Cases Wallets Purses ID Bank Credit _- Cards_ Firearms with plastic parts Arrows Buckets/Garbage Cans Above-Ground Swimming Pools Diving boards Park Furnishings _- Swings, See-Saws, other children stuff, Benches_ ETC. ETC. ETC.

[@aguerra1381]

In Colombia they have been successful in utilizing recycled plastics to make blocks for building homes and as roofing materials.

[@tazboy1934]

It degrade over time and releases micro plastic

[@bobv7753]

Industry (primary oil) greed created this growing plastics polluting nightmare. Our planet & we are literally dying because of it! We eat, drink & breath plastic by products. It's no wonder cancer rates are so high! The average person can do little to resolve this mess. We must hold the industries that created it accountable for fixing it.

[@rlud304]

How about holding your government accountable for not doing its job🤦🏻‍♀️

[@bobv7753]

@@rlud304 This is a global issue created by many factions. Many global corporations & governments. Global efforts will be needed to resolve the plastics pollution issue.

[@rlud304]

@@bobv7753 Please stop writing global haha Also, you don’t know what you’re talking about. Other modern actual first world countries like Germany, the Netherlands, Spain… are leap years ahead of the US in handling trash. The US is literally the same as a third world country. People in other actual civilized countries are shocked and disgusted that we throw away food scraps with the rest of the trash as one example. That is so backwards!

[@rlud304]

@@bobv7753 What countries have you lived in or visited for an extended period where you gained so much of your global knowledge on the global factions and all the global governments and the global corporations… such thorough attention to detail…could you be a little more vague? 🤣 Global.

[@bobv7753]

@@rlud304 It's clear that plastics pollution is a global crisis and issue. No additional response is needed.

[@Sarcastic_Asmodeus]

About time we start doing something about this. We need to start holding these companies accountable already.

[@TaylorMMontgomery]

the only way this will truly be solved is if you stop buying plastic. And that's everyone. Food manufacturers, online sellers, the end consumer at the grocery store. Make it unprofitable for plastics to continue to be used... and it'll stop.

[@iuyozx]

That’s a fantasy.

[@TaylorMMontgomery]

@@iuyozx you're my fantasy

[@iuyozx]

@@TaylorMMontgomery oh my ☺️

[@prophetzarquon1922]

When you create something, you aren't absolved from what it does just because you sell it to someone else. Everything should go back to the manufacturers; they can hire companies to deal with it on their behalf, but let it be at _their_ expense because _they made it._

[@growtocycle6992]

Plastic reduces spoilage. It's not perfect, but it's actually better than any alternatives... No plastic is worse for the environment

[@RonnieStanley-tc6vi]

They take more energy to recycle than it does to produce from scratch. Also, the types of plastic can't be mixed. And there are several types.

[@glados4765]

Can confirm. Disney in Orlando literally takes all the stuff from the recycle bins and dumps it in the bins behind the parks lol

[@jacksmith2610]

Burning used plastic is at least halfway sensible as long as it's used for power generation. The natural resource at least has been used more than once. Anything else is pretty much just a waste of time.

[@evilsharkey8954]

In the US, incinerator plants tend to be located near poor areas, and plastic fumes are really nasty.

[@beejls]

It’s crazy the lengths you have to go to to avoid plastic. I’ve learned how to make my own deodorant. I’m tired of all the plastic container I’ve had to throw away. I’m now looking into a home version of toothpaste and other toiletries that I can make so I can stop buying all those little plastic bottles. It’s work!

[@jessicac4751]

There are toothpaste tablets now in case you wish to look into them. You can also buy deodorant in little glass jars, some have a plastic lid but I don't care as much about a small lid versus a big deo tube. I haven't actually recycled the deo containers yet because I like how little and cute they are, lol. I wash them and then find other uses for them :)

[@beejls]

@@jessicac4751 I actually stole the recipe off of one of those little jars of deodorant and made my own and it works great! It's really cheap, and I don't have to buy new containers.

[@G.Snackwell]

These companies need to be held accountable and fined massively for this kind of malfeasance.

[@jazziez6467]

so we have extra garbage trucks that weigh a ton wearing out our sidestreets for false recycling, i've seen a single garbage truck take the recycleables along with garbage. I stopped recycling after seeing this many times years ago so stopped wasting my time and water cleaning the jars and cans, water is expensive today.

[@KennethRJones-SWEN]

I've seen that as well. We have separate dumpsters for trash and recycling. I've seen times where the same truck just takes both. Probably either shorthanded or running behind. Here I thought I was doing something good, by washing and recycling as much as I could. Just wasting water cleaning things that will never be recycled.

[@jazziez6467]

@@KennethRJones-SWEN like i said water is not cheap by no means, i don't have that much stuff anyways so don't feel bad about it anyways

[@joeb4294]

Some garbage trucks have two separate compartments to be able to collect trash and recycling at the same time. But I do not doubt that recycling and trash all thrown in the same spot at times. Maybe I'm too pessimistic, but these trucks might even exist mostly to perpetuate the lie of recycling since the truck could just be dumping it all off at the same destination.

[@jazziez6467]

@@joeb4294 i said we have a seperate truck and it didn't come those times when the garbage truck took all the trash & recycles. i thought i explained that

[@petebusch9069]

Funny thing is that if you eat properly you'll also find you don't need most of these plastic products. Most of the foods sold in fancy plastic packaging are just garbage food.

[@andybaldman]

I would be happy to have my food last not as long in my fridge if it meant not ending up with a trash bin full of plastic every week. EVERYTHING is packaged in plastic now.

[@Lunafalls]

With the price of groceries what it is? You'd rather have food spoil than wrap it in plastic?

[@andybaldman]

@@Lunafalls Yes. I'd rather buy less at a time, use it up before it goes bad, and not need to take up a tiny slice of the earth with my trash every time I eat something. It's about the bigger system, not just about you.

[@robirwin9514]

You didn’t tell me what I should actually do with my plastic!?!? It’s impossible to avoid completely, so what should I be doing with it?

[@dorothythornton4993]

Try to avoid buying it the best you can, which is relatively impossible but try

[@matthewtaylor3347]

Some things will only change at corporate level because of harsh federal regulations. However you can do things like buy less ziplock bags and use Tupperware type items. Instead of buying tons of water bottles, invest in a tumbler and charcoal water filters if needed. Anything to limit use of single use plastics. Remember there are 3 parts to the cycle. REDUCE->REUSE-> recycle. Companies leave out the first two because “if you are reducing and reusing you aren’t consuming “. I e they lose money on the first 2

[@sie4431]

recycle what you can

[@georginatoland]

Just throw it out with your regular trash. There’s nothing positive you can do to change things beyond reduce and reuse.

[@Ashley-xu1lk]

There's really not much else you can do with discarding your plastic besides putting it in the recycle or trash bin. The plastic industry has put the burden of discarding their product on the consumer when it should be the plastic industry's burden to come up with an end of life plan for their products. I wouldn't say avoid ALL plastics, but instead avoid as much single-use plastics as possible since it makes up at least 50% of plastic waste. In the same time, the individual's actions won't make enough of a significant difference to change the environmental consequences from plastic pollution, even if all of us started recycling. The only real way to make a difference with this issue is on the international level. But nonetheless, having the education and mindset that we all need to do better for our environment can cause change when it comes to voting in representatives, senators, governors, etc. who are actually dedicated to help us clean up the planet from all this plastic. You may be interested in this video from PBS kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4CtY4Cca7CEacksi=YnlCpponkoLnCuob

[@steveholder7289]

Seems like Penn and Teller had something to say about this 20 years ago.

[@patrickmccarthy6798]

So many comments say it's hard to get rid of plastics. We got rid of paper bags. Plastic wrapping is also an indication of processed food. Maybe by going to fresh food, we can solve two things at once and be healthier for it.

[@shawnstover917]

I knew this years ago. Nothing new here. Go volunteer at a recycling center, you'll throw away most plastic. Oh and if you don't "fully" clean your plastic cartons we throw them in the trash.

[@jessicac4751]

So the unclean products just skip a couple steps, eh? Sent to the trash a couple steps sooner than if they're clean... Friggin maddening.

[@evilsharkey8954]

@@jessicac4751Plastic buyers don’t want to pay for food scraps or fouling oils. Post consumer plastic is extremely low value already. Lazy consumers who can’t be bothered to wash out the food bits or just pitch it reduce the value further.

[@CadeFrost888]

This is WHY technology that breaks down bioplastics away from traditional plastics is SO important.

[@L.Spencer]

I didn't realize this has been going on since the 80's. I thought it was in recent years when the countries that bought the recyclables didn't want them anymore. But I thought they were being recycled all this time.

[@hummersd]

WTF. Not like separating out plastic from garbage is big level of effort, but if recycling isn't actually recycling... what's the point -- we're told that if we put in just one thing that's not actually recyclable into that bin, the whole thing goes into garbage. So if plastic isn't recyclable, then it's always going into garbage?

[@georginatoland]

Yes. And even when you separate everything out, if just ONE person in your neighborhood tosses something wet in their recycling (by accident), the entire batch of recycling can (and will) be rejected by the processor. So yeah. It’s all a wasted effort.

[@jessicac4751]

That always frustrated me-- basically you've got to convince your whole neighborhood to follow the rules to the T; otherwise it's pointless because one neighbor was a douchecanoe and chose not to clean out his mayo jar.... 😮

[@evilsharkey8954]

It actually is a pain to sort the plastics. Initial sorting is done by machines, which get clogged up by plastic bags, including the ones we tie our recyclables in (which should be clear if they’re used at all so workers know they’re not going to open a bag full of baby wipes), requiring them to be shut down and have all the bags cut off multiple times a day. Plastic types are sorted by hand on a conveyor belt. Anything weird, soiled, not accepted, etc. gets thrown away. Human beings have to handle it, and they’re not going to clean rotting food off of a takeout container to save it. Some places have electronic sorting, but that can’t sort black plastic, which most takeout containers are these days. Some don’t sort the plastic at all and sell it as bulk plastic. That’s extremely low value and usually landfilled because no one will buy it or sold for incineration for power.

[@prophetzarquon1922]

In fact, the main reason a lot of glass recycling has shut down, is due to plastic fouling the equipment. Plastic waste even makes recycling _other_ things more difficult!

[@franimal86]

It’s about time to ban plastics

[@username7763]

Try to find one thing you own or use that doesn't contain plastics? It is incredibly hard. We'd have to ban everything.

[@mikepsych283]

If they really wanted to dispute her they could have invited her out to one of their modern facilities and showed her how she is misinformed. But i guess its easier to write a letter then to actually prove it

[@prophetzarquon1922]

Especially when it isn't true. The modem facilities still operate at a loss & have horrific amounts of waste still to deal with. Steel, glass, & aluminum, still have plastics beat handily, once remediation is factored in.

[@Chromaticgranny]

I thought it was to good to be true 😢

[@rickchapman9232]

Back in the 90’s I worked at a bag forming plant and one of the bags we made was the insert for the powdered sugar that came in a box. We used plastic pellets to make the plastic bags and when we started up the extruder we would use old plastic from the previous run.

[@PopcornPopper]

We've been lied to? Oh..the shock of it. But it's the 1st time we've been lied to, right? RIGHT????

[@webbsurfer]

"...it's science fiction" - such a polite way to put it :)

[@notthemusewere]

Soylent Green is made of plastic!

[@kingti85]

My uncle told me recycling was a scam 30 years ago. Crazy

[@Luisventuralaw]

Reducing one's consumption is ever more important than recycling. Consume as little as possible and reuse to the max: plastic, paper, wood, etc.

[@LearningwithLani]

“They always viewed recycling not as a real problem they needed to solve but as a public relations problem.” 🙄👀😒

[@cartomancycarmen]

This irritates me. My family has recycled years before it was trendy or mandatory. I even wash my recycling. I work on production sets and get so annoyed how much Hollywood doesn’t recycle on sets and they should all be fined.

[@danb.709]

Recycling should be a subsidized public government service, not a privately run for profit business. I rarely say the government should spend morethan they already do, but in this case no one has the proper incentive to do it very well, and doing it well would be greatly beneficial to the public and the planet, and something most of us want.

[@justjustinin207]

The *most* recyclable kind of plastic is clear #2 (like most milk jugs). There’s actually a pretty good market for that! There’s also a market for other forms of #2, as well as #1 (like soda and water bottles). Plastic bags and film - the stuff that says “store drop-off” in the recycling label - is legitimately recyclable, as far as I know, but do *not* throw it in with curbside recycling as it can really jam the sorting machinery. All other kinds of plastic are basically crap. Heck, all plastic is generally crap. Use reusable packaging whenever you can, reduce the amount you buy in the first place, and speak up and encourage manufacturers and stores to use other kinds of packaging if it’s absolutely necessary.

[@AladeenZ32]

Stores are getting rid of plastic bags at check out, meanwhile nearly every single item in the store is packaged in plastic. It's sad, but plastics aren't going away.

[@Emiliodburgos]

Why did it take reporters almost 2 decades to report this....

[@meh1979100]

Corporations should be forced to switch to biodegradable plastics without repercussions. They've had the technology but refuse to switch.

[@evilsharkey8954]

Biodegradable plastics don’t biodegrade in a reasonable amount of time.

[@flowalsh5248]

I know of several towns, that have stopped with the recycling, because it’s way too expensive. Deltona, Florida, Lake Placid, Florida, and others. We don’t have to separate our garbage no more here where I live. Because the cost aren’t worth it for the towns.

[@Jack-ng3df]

The issue now is the public’s consensus is the that now all recyclable material isn’t recyclable when in reality plastic was never recyclable While metals, glass, and paper products* always have been.

[@stevee.2183]

We need to go back to glass and paper for as much of our packaging/bottling as possible.

[@christinebee9781]

My local recycler takes only plastic bottles (drinks, detergent, etc.) nothing else.

[@Dan-gy3cu]

Remember clean coal ?

[@username7763]

Reducing coal pollution is a good thing.

[@salcutrona4894]

Penn and teller already did this YEARS AGO!

[@vickioneal1401]

I recently heard Bernie Sanders say how many times he has brought up these topics and the powers that be aren't even trying to do anything about it because we all know that would hurt their pockets

[@vibesmom]

Your town will tell you what they take. The issue is people don’t read it. Not saying the plastics industry isn’t full of crap- they are. Your local recycler though is most likely not a liar. They are usually clear about what they can take. Unfortunately there is very little marketing. You have to do the work, look at your towns website, and only put in what they take. Finding ways to recycle different types of plastic is something we should be funding with grants and initiatives. Don’t leave it to the plastic industry, outsource it to people. The problem will solved faster, and industries will grow up around it.

[@Leumasleumas725]

There are three holes in the trash box at Starbucks but three kinds of trash are combined into one bag anyways😅

[@evilsharkey8954]

Most stores and restaurants are like that because people throw the wrong kinds of materials in them, and no recycler will take them.

[@irical100]

I'm so sorry, Mother 😪

[@BlindBiker3]

That’s ridiculous, I throw all the plastics I have in the trash. It’s a government who does the wrong thing.

[@rawwwrrr4024]

There are three ways we can reduce plastic waste, and recycling is the last of them. Reduce and reuse will make a much bigger impact than recycling. Get some reusable tote bags for grocery shopping. I've had a set for several years now, and I can't even imagine how many plastic bags I haven't used. Break the addiction to soda pop and switch to water. Get a decent Yeti-type tumbler and refill, refill, refill, refill. Go to the store and buy the things you need instead of having Amazon ship it to you. There are so many better ways to approach reducing our reliance on plastics that don't involve recycling. We just need to evaluate our habits and make the necessary adjustments. Make small changes every so often and eventually you'll notice how easy it really is. And that's not to say to give up on everything! Enjoy that ice cold soda on a hot day... but maybe do it from a can instead of the plastic bottle next time.

[@AI.Absurdity]

I knew this over 10 years ago and no one believed me.

[@thegadphly3275]

Sign on front of SAFEWAY grocery, WE RECYCLE, nice poster, I asked where was the reception, They said, "Oh no, WE don't actually recycle here," so yeah lots of BS!!!!

[@Monika-mh2je]

I think, plastic bottle water is one a the biggest problem.

[@88fatpiper]

Use more paper packaging. People forget that trees are a renewable resource.

[@stellangios]

I'm glad people are talking about this but you really do need to add that some recycling is possible and people need to check with their local facilities to see what they can actually use, not just put everything in the trash or believe the labels! These kinds of reports make people just give up

[@evilsharkey8954]

And follow instructions on cleaning and bagging. Most facilities these days start with an auto sorter, which gets clogged up by plastic bags.

[@debg70525]

❤ Thank you...This is a pet peeve of mind!! Ever look at packaging on pods ? I hate plastic especially when I touch it😢

[@superhitpix5955]

It's important that people know this. Unfortunately, i only see people just throwing plastic in their trash in apathy.

[@chrisk5437]

You mean to tell me corporations favor profit over social and environmental change?!?!? Say it ain’t so!

[@chrislee1096]

Often wonder why grocery stores can use paper bags.