Experts urge against "wishful recycling"

Only 32% of America's waste actually gets a second life via recycling, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. China’s ban on scrap plastic imports in 2018, among other factors, plays a significant role in this growing issue. Before the ban, American sorting facilities did little to mediate what was going into recycle bins—plastic toys, soiled paper plates, diapers, and more. It was essentially the wild west of recycling.

Now, the success and sustainability of recycling as an industry relies on markets. America's largest customer of scrap plastic is Canada, with Mexico and Malaysia trailing close behind. The U.S. accounts for nearly 9% of the global plastic recycling market, estimated at $3.1 billion last year. Essentially, a higher demand for recycled plastics means more products will be made from recycled plastics in the future.

On a local level, a Seattle-based company named Ridwell is working to help Washingtonians recycle items that would otherwise wind up in a landfill. Meanwhile, North Pacific Paper Corporation in Longview is working to turn recycled paper into boxes, bags, and other paper products. Cardboard and paper, which make up the majority of recycled materials collected, are traditionally considered less profitable.

Despite recycling efforts increasing in popularity over the past decade, the average American generates twice as much plastic waste as the average European. If all that extra plastic was to be properly and profitably recycled, the recycling process nonetheless relies on burning fossil fuels and produces greenhouse gases.

Instead, recycling authorities suggest minimizing consumption rather than focusing on "wishful recycling." For example, reusing items before tossing them out not only saves money but also minimizes waste. Alternatively, products like reusable food wrap made from beeswax eliminate the need for single-use items like plastic wrap.

While only 9% of plastic is recycled into something new, these numbers can be less impactful by reducing plastic consumption in the first place.

Click the PDF below to learn more about recycling best practices.

Recycling Best Practices.pdf

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