America's 'recycled' plastic waste is clogging landfills, survey finds

[lordsummerisle]

theguardian.com

Many plastic items that Americans put in their recycling bins aren’t being recycled at all, according to a major new survey of hundreds of recycling facilities across the US.

The research, conducted by Greenpeace and released on Tuesday, found that out of 367 recycling recovery facilities surveyed none could process coffee pods, fewer than 15% accepted plastic clamshells – such as those used to package fruit, salad or baked goods – and only a tiny percentage took plates, cups, bags and trays.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/feb/18/americas-recycled-plastic-waste-is-clogging-landfills-survey-finds

[CaptYossarian]

1. That leaves 2/3 of the iconic triangle: reduce and reuse.

One option is to collect and send back the plastic packaging to its source. The food companies should be able to sterilize the containers and send them back out in production of the food item they make.

Another option is to replace plastics with something biodegradable (why are we still making Styrofoam?).

The rule has always been #1 and #2 plastics were recyclable, but cottage cheese and other similar packaging with those numbers weren't recyclable.

Not all recycling centers can recycle all paper. In a county near me, they won't accept cereal or potato chip boxes and others that have that coating on them that make them glossy.

By now, the system should be perfect.