Should we stop recycling?! Is recycling just a big waste of time?

[@clothyoriginal]

We are super lucky where we live (not in usa) our recycling collectors take almost everything. Most plastics, tetra packs, plastic bags and plastic wrapping like those plastic sweet (candy) wrappers, crisp packets (potatoe chips) as well as all the usuals youd expect. They dont take glass but glass recycling bins are located within 10 mins walking distance in all directions. The only recyclable thing we have to drive to get rid of is styrofoam but i think thats happened once in the last 10 years. Between recycling & compost collections, we dont have much to actually dump.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

that's so cool!

[@Anotherhumanexisting]

I’m now trying to save plastic containers (especially cups) to use as nursery pots for plant propagations to give away / sell on FB marketplace. And easy enough to cut / melt drainage holes in the bottom. I have a pesto container I’m gonna put basil in and the bright green lid will be a stylish drip tray! And mini rice pudding cups actually fit perfectly in several of my smaller decorative cache pots. I use an old wood burning tool to make super uniform drain holes, but there are other ways too! And maybe using reused plastics will inspire whoever gets the plant from me to be mindful as well.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

love that idea!!

[@4-kathryn]

I feel encouraged to email some (plastic) water-bottle brands. Here's hoping they'll update the print, 'see your local municipality on how to recycle this product'. Much thanks for your video.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

keeping my fingers crossed!

[@leanneono6237]

Completely agree with supporting companies who use recycled materials, I don’t think it’s enough to JUST recycle, we need to be encouraging a circular system at other points. I heard somewhere that it’s hard/not possible for something to be made from 100% recycled plastic, it needs virgin plastic too… I am not sure how true that is…

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

I'm quite confident that is true since recycling plastic makes the fibers weaker

[@LV-qr8fr]

This video inspired me to actually look up my city's recycling rules and I found out there are things I've been tossing that I could have been recycling which is cool! So ty for that 😊

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

woohoo! keep recycling correctly!

[@ashleystanley7941]

Recycling definitely doesn't take us that much time now that we know our city's rules. We've been doing it for about six years, and it's definitely easier when you live in the same place for a long time!

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

for sure it's really not that hard once you know what you're doing!

[@cecribeiro]

@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist, I've been watching your environmental concerns and tips for a while now and I agree that the circular system is a must in order to impact the biosphere the least as possible. I've those concerns as well… The three R's (reduce, reuse and recycle) impact a LOT on someone's life style. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and ideas to move forward!

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

yay thanks for being here for so long :)

[@varinafulcher5898]

Keep up the good work, and videos.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

thank you so muxh!

[@CreativeRedundancy]

Hello Emma listening I can recycle carton board(drink type mostly), glass, cans cardboard and paper. I actually reuse grey water, rainwater or snow to “rinse a peanut butter container and wipe with a label. Reduces smells. Another thing is seeing them doing it and how it works. 3 dimensional plastic non flatten is easier to sort from what I’ve seen. I try to reuse those recyclables like cardboard boxes or plastic containers before recycling. “Small action” but it’s a beneficial one. ❤

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

love to see it!

[@varinafulcher5898]

Our council does not do tetra packs, or butter tubs, yogurt tubs, or foilx

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

oh no!

[@chrstopherblighton-sande2981]

Only 44% of plastic waste generated here in the UK is recycled which is a very low number, so I am certainly someone who wants to see recycling improved and increased. I don't think recycling will ever be the solution to the problems of waste generated by overconsumption and I think people have treated it as such at times. I think reducing consumption and reusing things is always better, but recycling has to play a part so I think that recycling systems must be improved, companies should be forced to recycle the waste that their products generate, and we as individuals should learn to recycle better (and your content has helped me to recycle so much better).

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

that's actually VERY high for plastic! Worldwide it's only 9%. You're so right though that people use it to ease their conscience for overconsuming. We need better!

[@ironically_iconic9848]

I wish america recycled that much 😭

[@reissval]

Our curbside takes everything except plastic 6 and styrofoam. I take those to a community recycling center that takes everything for a donation. Our city also does an electronics recycling and paper shredding events several times a year.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

that's great to hear!

[@MichaelSmith-fj7di]

In my opinion, recycling is preferable to the landfill, but it should be used as a last resort and only after reducing and reusing. For instance, we shouldn’t be recycling bottled water. We should instead be drinking tap water if it’s safe to do so. There’s a reason that those are mentioned first. I’d also like to add that we should be buying things made of recycled materials where possible such as toilet paper and printer paper. I use 100% recycled printer paper, 100% recycled tissues, and 100% recycled paper towels in the event that I have a gross cleaning job. I plan to switch to 100% recycled toilet paper once my current supply runs out.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

I totally agree!! yay for 100% recycled!

[@varinafulcher5898]

Or precycling.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

@@varinafulcher5898 woah what is that?

[@alyciairlbeck3640]

Will you PLEASE put together a video about Jill Stein and her proposals for climate change in this year's presidential election?? I think it would make a really great video considering she seems to be the only candidate even addressing the climate crisis right now. Thank you so much for your channel, I'm a proud supporter! 🌎

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

Perhaps I can, thanks for being here! Is it likely she will win? or rather I should just highlight her cause she's cool?

[@szargos]

Hmm, I'm looking up this topic to decide if I should stop recycling plastic. I will 100% keep recycling paper and metal, but plastic might not be worth it, which is what I'm researching. Not sure I caught it here, but on the CBS/60 minutes (and other) videos, its not just that plastic is not recycled and reused, its that most of it CAN'T be recycled. It is chemically impossible, that's part of the scam. So, 'we' put it in our recycling bin, it gets shipped to other countries, ends up as their problem, or worse yet, ends up in the rivers and oceans where it is everyone's problem. So I'm thinking its better to just landfill it here where at least it gets buried. No, that's not a good solution, but its better than the other option. At least until something is really done to stop all this plastic use, which won't happen till we destroy ourselves and the planet.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

Yes, I talk more about that in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKrVkGppj7aNhKM I say keep recycling the recyclable plastics! Most areas commonly accept #1-2 and should be recycled. Why not try?

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

recycling does NOT get shipped overseas anymore! That was overturned in 2017 :)

[@joni1]

♻️ we recycle soft plastic bags with paper. Hope they do recycle everything.

[@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist]

that is the rule in your area? That is bizarre!