Plastic recycling is one of the most common and least understood types of recycling. From “All plastic eventually ends up in the great Pacific garbage patch” (false) to “All plastic is recycled into the same product it originally was” (also false), there are a lot of myths floating around. A primary reason for this is that what happens to plastic varies depending on where you live. Every country, state, and even county has a different waste management system and recycling facilities.
Here are some of the most common and important myths about plastic recycling debunked:
1. All Plastics Are Recyclable – False
If they were, using plastic wouldn’t be such a controversial topic. The truth is not all plastics are recyclable. Even if they have a recycling symbol on them. The number inside the triangle (1–7) represents the type of plastic. Only certain types are widely accepted by recycling programs. PET (#1) and HDPE (#2), like water bottles and milk jugs, are commonly recycled, while polystyrene (#6) and mixed plastics (#7) often end up in landfills. Developing innovative plastic recycling machinery that can deal with mixed plastics and polystyrene is a challenge that has yet to be solved.
2. If You Recycle a Plastic Item, It Will Be Recycled – False
Just because you place a plastic item in the recycling bin doesn’t mean it will actually be recycled. Many factors affect whether plastic gets repurposed, including contamination, market demand, and the recycling facility’s capabilities. If a batch of recyclables is contaminated with food waste or non-recyclable materials, it may go to a landfill instead. Rinsing out food containers can make the difference between whether plastic is repurposed or not. Advanced recycling machinery attempts to clean all plastics before recycling, but consumers shouldn’t count on it.
3. Recycled Plastic Becomes the Same Product Again – False
Unlike glass or aluminum, which can be recycled indefinitely without degrading, plastic loses quality each time it is recycled. Instead of becoming another plastic bottle, most recycled plastics turned into different products like plastic lumber, carpets, or polyester clothing with the help of plastic crushers and plastic granulators. Eventually, these materials reach a point where they can no longer be recycled.
4. Biodegradable and Compostable Plastics Are the Solution to Plastic Waste – False
Biodegradable and compostable plastics sound promising, but they come with challenges. Many biodegradable plastics take years to break down, especially in landfills where oxygen and sunlight are limited. Compostable plastics need industrial composting facilities to decompose properly and won’t break down in home compost bins or regular trash. In the short and mid-term, these materials often contribute to waste rather than solving the problem.
5. Plastic Recycling Is the Best Solution to Plastic Waste – False
Recycling helps, but it’s not the ultimate solution. The real issue is the sheer amount of plastic produced and consumed. Less than 10% of global plastic waste is recycled, with the rest ending up in landfills, incinerators, or the ocean. The best approach is to reduce plastic use, and recycle as a last resort.
6. Throwing Plastic in the Recycling Bin Is Always Better Than the Trash – False
Recycling is preferable to sending plastic to a landfill. It’s easy to put too much in the recycling bin, including things that don’t belong. Improper recycling can cause more harm than good. If non-recyclable items are mixed in or if plastic is contaminated with food waste, entire batches get rejected and sent to landfills instead. “Wish-cycling” is the term coined for putting non-recyclable items in the bin in the hope waste management facilities will recycle them.
7. Plastic Waste Is Mostly an Individual Problem – False
While individuals can make a difference by reducing their plastic consumption, the biggest contributors to plastic waste are corporations and governments. Many industries continue to push single-use plastics despite their environmental impact. Systemic changes are needed to tackle the problem of plastic. These changes include:
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policies
- Stronger regulations
- Better waste management infrastructure
- High-quality plastic shredders for recycling
Consumers can help by supporting brands that use sustainable packaging, advocating for better policies, and voting for those who will implement them.
8. Plastic Recycling is a Waste of Time – False
While there are some caveats to recycling milk bottles and yogurt containers, plastic recycling is by far the best decision when you have recyclable plastic waste. With AI sorting and more efficient plastic-crushing machines, plastic recycling may be a savvy move on the business front.
We like to think plastic recycling is a clean and simple process—waste in, product out. In reality, recycling is an important tool, but it’s a messy solution. Recycling is only as functional as the infrastructure that supports it. It relies on corporations and individuals seeing through the fog of myths that surround plastic recycling.
By understanding the realities of plastic recycling, we can make choices to work toward a more sustainable future. That might mean buying less plastic-wrapped food, signing a single-use plastic petition, or starting a next-generation plastic recycling plant.
