Is recycling fake, and what can we do about it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The idea that recycling is a universal solution to waste has been deeply ingrained in public consciousness for decades. To be honest, before I had heard of this \u2018theory\u2019, I would have thought I was doing a stellar job in reducing (or at the very least, mitigating) my carbon footprint. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, a growing number of news websites, environmental activists and even people in my life are questioning its efficacy. The increasing skepticism about recycling might come from a complex interplay of historical industry practices, economic realities, and the logistical challenges of waste management. As hard as some countries have tried, with Kenya and Thailand going as far as banning the sale of plastic bags<\/a> in all major stores and supermarkets, 91% of global plastic waste goes unrecycled. But why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n At its core, the people saying recycling is fake say the vast majority of materials, particularly plastics, placed in recycling bins are not actually reprocessed into new products. Instead, the belief is these materials often end up in landfills, incinerators, or are shipped overseas only to be dumped. It tells everyone at home that the promotion of recycling has been a grossly misleading tactic, and we\u2019ve been sorting our bins and garbage and moving our stinky compost with bare hands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n