Image of a shark swimming underwater and about to consume plastic

When plastic winds up in the ocean, animals can mistake it for food.

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Plastic vs. the Planet

Much of the plastic we toss in recycling bins doesn’t actually get recycled. Find out why—and what you can do.

April 10, 2023

By Rebecca Zissou

As You Read, Think About: Why is recycling plastic difficult?

You just finished lunch and are about to head to recess. On your way outside, you toss your empty water bottle into the recycling bin. You’re keeping plastic from piling up and hurting the environment, right?

Maybe not. In fact, in 2021 only 5 to 6 percent of plastic waste in the U.S. was recycled. That’s according to a report from environmental groups The Last Beach Cleanup and Beyond Plastics.

That might come as a shock. But the truth is, recycling plastic is complicated and expensive. It’s often cheaper to send plastic trash to landfills, where it could take centuries to decompose.

Thankfully, many people are working to solve the problems with recycling. But will their efforts be enough to make a real difference?

You just finished lunch. Now you are about to head to recess. On your way outside, you toss your empty water bottle into the recycling bin. You’re keeping plastic from piling up and hurting the environment, right?

Maybe not. In fact, in 2021, only 5 to 6 percent of plastic waste in the U.S. was recycled. That’s according to a report from environmental groups The Last Beach Cleanup and Beyond Plastics.

That might come as a shock. But the truth is, recycling plastic is complicated. It’s also expensive. Sending plastic trash to landfills is often cheaper. In landfills, plastic could take centuries to decompose.

Thankfully, many people are working to solve the problems with recycling. But will their efforts be enough to make a real difference?

Piling Up

Plastic is used to make just about everything from shampoo bottles to takeout containers. What’s more, about 50 percent of all plastic produced is single-use. That means it’s used only once then thrown away. The average American tosses about 218 pounds of plastic each year. That’s up from 60 pounds per person in 1980.

All that plastic causes big problems for the environment. Countless plastic items end up as litter that gets carried into storm drains or rivers that flow to the ocean. Birds and sea animals may mistake it for food and choke on it or become sick.

Plastic is used to make everything from shampoo bottles to takeout containers. What’s more, about 50 percent of all plastic produced is single-use. That means it’s used only once. After that, it gets thrown away. The average American tosses about 218 pounds of plastic each year. That’s up from 60 pounds per person in 1980.

All that plastic causes big problems for the environment. Countless plastic items end up as litter. That litter gets carried into storm drains or rivers that flow to the ocean. Birds and sea animals may mistake the plastic for food. They could choke on it or become sick.

Symbol Smarts

These symbols tell you what type of plastic a product is made from. Items that are labeled 1 and 2 are the most commonly recycled.

Shutterstock.com

Water bottles, peanut butter jars

Shutterstock.com

Milk jugs, shampoo bottles

Symbol Smarts

These symbols tell you what type of plastic a product is made from. Items that are labeled 1 and 2 are the most commonly recycled.

Shutterstock.com

Water bottles, peanut butter jars

Shutterstock.com

Milk jugs, shampoo bottles

Not So Simple

Why doesn’t more plastic get recycled? For one thing, there are many different types of plastic. Think about a sports drink bottle versus a sandwich bag. Recycling facilities must sort the plastic and recycle each kind separately. That takes a lot of time and money.

Meanwhile, many recycling facilities can’t process certain plastic items. Grocery bags can get tangled up in the machinery, while straws and utensils can fall through.

Plus, plastic degrades each time it’s recycled. Glass and metals can be recycled over and over. But most types of plastic can be recycled only once or twice.

Why doesn’t more plastic get recycled? For one thing, there are many different types of plastic. Think about a sports drink bottle versus a sandwich bag. Recycling facilities must sort the plastic. Each kind of plastic is then recycled separately. That takes a lot of time and money.

Meanwhile, many recycling facilities can’t process certain plastic items. Grocery bags can get tangled up in the machinery. Straws and utensils can also fall through.

Plus, plastic degrades each time it’s recycled. Glass and metals can be recycled over and over. But most types of plastic can be recycled only once or twice.

Fixing the Problem

The good news is that scientists are working on solving these problems. One of their goals is to design a new type of plastic that doesn’t degrade when it’s recycled.

And each year, more cities and states pass laws to cut down on single-use plastics. Many have already banned plastic shopping bags, straws, and other items.

Melissa Valliant of Beyond Plastics points out that people should not stop recycling! But they should be sure to put the proper items in the recycling bin and the rest in the trash (see “How You Can Help”). If we really want to solve this crisis, she says, companies need to use less plastic in the first place.

“Until we stop producing so much plastic, this problem is only going to continue,” Valliant says.

The good news is that scientists are working on solving these problems. One of their goals is to design a new type of plastic. It wouldn’t degrade when it’s recycled.

And each year, more cities and states pass laws to cut down on single-use plastics. Many have already banned plastic shopping bags, straws, and other items.

Melissa Valliant works for Beyond Plastics. She points out that people should not stop recycling! But they should be sure to put the proper items in the recycling bin. The rest should be put in the trash (see “How You Can Help”). If we really want to solve this crisis, she says, companies need to use less plastic in the first place.

“Until we stop producing so much plastic, this problem is only going to continue,” Valliant says.