Although recycling rates for other materials have risen in the past few decades, the percentage of recycled plastic remains disappointingly low.

While the proportion of paper and cardboard and glass recycled went from 21% to 69% and 5% to 25% respectively from 1980 to 2018, the percentage of recycled plastic hung at a dismal 9% from the original 1%. With such low rates, it is essential to expand what products can be recycled and increase opportunities for people to recycle, especially in public.

If plastic is not being effectively recycled, we must make the transition to replace the waste and cut out single-use plastics. The plastic bags used to hold produce at grocery stores are not recyclable, and a bill has been signed to eliminate them by 2025, and will be re[placed with compostable bags. Reusable items must become the status quo, as they produce no waste, but the real issue is spreading and normalizing reusable products.

I wanted to write more about this, but I kind of hit a dead end in the articles I was looking at. That’s alright, though, because I always have the following weeks. I think plastics are an interesting topic. To be fair, I like it all. I procrastinate these until the day of, but I truly enjoy researching and learning about it. That’s the whole point of this series: to remind me to always search and learn. Luckily for you, you can tune in next time to learn with me!

Muschick, Paul. “US Stinks at Recycling Plastic; Seems We Don’t Care.” Morning Call, 05/13 2022. ProQuest; SIRS Issues Researcher, https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2671767117?accountid=163174.

Rogers, Paul. “This Common Item Is on the Way Out at California Grocery Stores.” Mercury News, 10/10 2022. ProQuest; SIRS Issues Researcher, https://explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2731522955?accountid=163174.