Down in the Dumps

   (Public Domain)

As far as the myth about recycled plastic is concerned, John Oliver’s decided to bag it.

He recently explained that “less than 9 percent of the plastic ever created in the U.S. has been recycled.”  The rest simply doesn’t qualify and therefore ends up in landfills and oceans.  Fish eat micro-plastics and humans eat fish, so who then ends up with a bellyful of what?

Yet isn’t there a recycling logo on so many plastics?  And isn’t that a guarantee of some sort?  Short answer: Not necessarily.  Its number system can be quite misleading, especially when you get past 1 and 2. 

Bottom line is that recycling stations are often selective about which numbered logos they’ll accept.  Some seemingly green items therefore end up in the dump.   

Resources

https://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/foodnews/john-oliver-reveals-the-big-lie-about-recycling-plastic/ar-BB1eQvwr 

Copyright March 22, 2021 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved