Batteries: The Curbside Recycling Nemesis!
Is My Plastic REALLY Getting Recycled?
You may have heard that scary statistic stating only 9% (or some other single digit number) of plastic gets recycled. Unfortunately, that statistic is usually presented without much explanation, so it is often misunderstood.
In hearing this statistic, one may feel shock and disappointment thinking, “Of all the plastic I diligently place in my recycling bin, only nine percent of it actually gets recycled?!” In fact, that is not what this statistic is expressing.
Think about it. Of all the plastic you send to recyclers, if they could only use and recycle nine percent of it, well, we would probably stop recycling plastics all together. Only recycling 9% would mean a 91% loss making plastic recycling an impossible business. There is no way this could be a reality. So, what does this frightening statistic mean?!
It goes back to a study conducted by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA). They compiled a lot of data, measuring the total amount of plastics manufactured in a year. Let that sink in… we are talking about ALL plastics manufactured in one year. Some of it is recyclable plastic, but there is so much more. Reusable plastics are a great example, which can include toys, furniture, accessories, building materials, medical equipment, or even the plastic in your electronics! So many things are made of plastic, and many are unfortunately not meant to be recycled in your home bin.
The EPA found that in one year 35.68 million tons of plastic were manufactured in the United States. Next, they compiled more data and found that of all plastics manufactured in that year, United States residents placed 9% of it into recycling bins.
What was being measured?
The percentage of plastics placed into recycling bins by U.S. residents out of all possible plastic items. So, guess what? If we all place more recyclable plastic in the correct bin, that percentage could actually go up.
Additionally, when we look at specific items instead of all plastics, the numbers get a little better. United States residents recycle almost 30% of their plastic water and soda bottles, and almost 30% of their milk and water jugs. While 30% is an improvement on 9, we still have a lot more material that could be recycled and put to use, instead of going to waste in the trash.
Long story short, the best way to improve those numbers is simple: Reduce, reuse, and recycle right.
