Why is recycling plastic so complicated?

Every year we produce more plastic — more than 400 million tons of the stuff, in fact. And researchers estimate that we’ll only continue to produce more. It’s predicted that plastic production will double by 2050.

In the face of this seemingly unceasing procession of plastic, recycling arises as an appealing solution. It feels good, rinsing out that yogurt container and tossing it in the recycling bin, but does it do anything? Will it even be recycled?

Here’s some info you might not have heard before about recycling plastic.

Plastic can’t be recycled the same way as some other materials.

Consider two regularly recycled materials: glass and paper. 

Virtually undegradable, glass can be melted down and recycled again and again with no decrease in quality. Paper is comparatively flimsy — it can only be recycled between five and seven times before the fibers become too short, but as they’re biodegradable, these unrecyclable remains can be broken down naturally into organic matter.

Plastic occupies an infuriating middle ground. It degrades, but it doesn’t biodegrade.

Instead of breaking down into organic components, plastic breaks into smaller and smaller pieces, called microplastics. 

And because plastic degrades, even the ideal chunk of salvageable plastic can only be recycled two or three times before its quality will degrade beyond usability.

Only a small amount of plastic is ever recycled.

Less than 10% of plastics get turned into another consumer product. When plastic recycling works as intended, it can help conserve resources and reduce pollution.

Most plastic products are stamped with a number in the center of the “chasing arrows” recycling symbol. Typically, items labeled “1,” “2” or “5” can be processed by most recycling plants, provided they are clean, larger than the palm of your hand and not attached to other materials. 

But every local recycling collection program has different rules on what can and can’t be accepted, so make sure to check what your recycling center can accept.

“Downcycling” delays pollution, but doesn’t prevent it.

Since plastics degrade so quickly, most plastics that are recycled are turned into a product that is not recyclable, or less recyclable than the product from which it came.

This process is called “downcycling” because it doesn’t truly prevent pieces of plastic from being thrown away. The products of downcycling are eventually unable to be used to create any new material anymore, so they become waste. 

Downcycling delays the production of waste, but doesn’t completely avert it the way that true recycling – that is, reusing the same material over and over again to make new things – would be.

Sometimes, the “chasing arrows” recycling symbol can appear on items never made to be recycled.

Plastic companies have been touting the value of recycling for decades, and started using the iconic “chasing arrows” symbol in 1988. This begs the question: If we’ve been successfully recycling for this long, why is there so much plastic pollution?

For too long, the plastics industry has spread misinformation about the effectiveness of recycling plastic. 

Right now, companies are technically allowed to put the chasing arrows symbol and the use of the word “recyclable” on items that can’t be universally recycled. 

That’s why it is so important to pay attention to local recycling guidelines, familiarize yourself with the specific type of plastic you’re buying, and make informed decisions about recycling and waste disposal.

Even more of your plastic recycling questions, answered.

Check out our list of frequently asked questions for even more information about plastic recycling: