Revolutionary new way to recycle unrecyclable plastic.
Despite the recycling symbol one sees on a plastic container indicating it is recyclable, most plastic containers are NOT recyclable except in very rare circumstances.. Most plastic containers we take to a recycling facility are not recycled but are put into a landfill where they slowly break down and produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
Plastic is made from petrochemicals (oil) which perpetuates the climate emergency. Avoiding purchasing plastic
is my way of contributing to the accumulation of plastic in landfills. But many plastic bags, toys, single use products, etc. do not end up in landfills, rather they end up in our oceans or green spaces where they slowly break down into microplastics which are consumed by animals or, worse, they get into the water table and end up in our drinking water. Microplastics are a scourge on our planet and will be discussed in a future article.
Then there…
I wish I had know this information earlier in my life. I used to get SO excited about recycling, because it is marketed as a solution. It's not though, it's a way to make us think we did our part and everything else disappears. There are so many harms from plastics, and yes microplastics are terrifying and a scourge on our planet! I'm grateful you're adding to this category and mentioned avoiding purchasing plastic as a Dream Green Dreams option. Thanks for the great info, link, and to BBC too!