Recycling plastic is a total bust, industry critics say

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Americans' use of plastic boomed during the pandemic, including mountains of single-use items such as takeout containers, plastic bags and, of course, face masks. At the same time, we're recycling less of this waste than in the past, according to a pair of recent studies.

Even before the health crisis, only 5% of plastic made in the U.S. was recycled in 2019 — less than the amount of plastic that was burned that year, scientists with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory wrote in April.

"It is dismally low," said Judith Enck, president of advocacy group Beyond Plastics of the nation's recycling rate.

Beyond Plastics and The Last Beach Cleanup recently examined government data from the Environmental Protection Agency and on U.S. exports to come up with a recycling estimate. Their report found that, similar to the NREL's study, only between 5% and 6% of plastic made in the U.S. is recycled.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/recycling-plastic-is-a-total-bust-industry-critics-say/ar-AAX9QlH

[CrispyQ]

1. Was it Carlin who did that routine & said "Earth want's plastic."

It's been awhile, but I laughed. Now, IDK, there's so much of it, I wonder if plastic will be human beings most lasting legacy.

[RockRaven]

2. Plastic "recycling" has always been a greenwashing scam promoted by plastics manufacturers.

If people felt guilty about using it, they'd use less. So give people a reason to believe they've been liberated of the ethical implications of their consumption, and voila!!! use remains high.

[Effete Snob]

3. That's exactly what plastic recycling is about

[hunter]

4. Maybe we could mandate no new plastic made from fossil fuels...

... and that all used plastic must be buried in areas geologically likely to be covered by sediment someday.

In a few million years plastic could be the new coal!