Reducing our environmental footprint is on everyone's mind, and many see plastic recycling as a key step forward. However, it might not be delivering the results we hope for in solving our plastic challenges.
While recycling plays a critical role in combating plastic pollution, it's evident that we need alternative solutions to handle the vast quantities and wide range of plastics we consume daily. At Office H2O, we've already helped over 600,000 individuals ditch plastic bottles in office settings with our bottle-free water coolers, but is it enough? We're merely a small piece of a global issue, and we're here to tell you that not enough of our plastic waste is being recycled.
Why is Plastic Waste a Problem?
Plastic is omnipresent, from everyday items like bags and bottles to car components and construction materials. In 2015, nearly 7 million tons of virgin plastic were manufactured globally, and only 9% of that has been recycled, while 12% has been burned, and the rest remains in use, in landfills, or polluting our environment. Energy recovery from incineration can sometimes occur. However, in poorer regions, waste plastic is often just burned, further harming the environment by releasing hazardous chemicals into the air.
The plastic waste crisis is worsening, and it's becoming increasingly urgent to act. In just 60 years, plastic production has skyrocketed, leading to a staggering 8.3 billion metric tons, most of which are single-use items like bottles that quickly turn into waste. Even the scientists who initially tried to calculate the number of plastic materials produced, discarded, and disposed of were stunned by the enormity of the figures.
Plastic can take over 400 years to decompose, so the vast majority of it ever created still exists in some form today. By mid-century, it’s estimated that the oceans will contain more plastic waste than fish, measured by weight. That's 35,000 times heavier than the Empire State Building.
In Landfills:
The recycling industry is facing a severe crisis due to overwhelming amounts of non-recyclable materials mixed in with recyclables. When China stopped accepting America's recyclables in 2018, the situation worsened, causing hundreds of cities to reduce or completely halt their recycling programs. As a result, massive amounts of valuable recyclable materials have ended up, and continue to go, into landfills. In 2018 alone, landfills received 27 million tons of plastic. Recent studies warn that if we don't act now, the world's mismanaged plastic waste could triple by 2060.
In the Oceans:
It's difficult to avoid waste, as plastic marine debris makes up around 80% of trash in the world's oceans. Even more alarming, a separate study by the World Wildlife Fund found that fishing gear and nets account for 10% of marine litter annually, totaling between 1 and 2 billion pounds.
Beyond fishing gear, our marine environment is inundated with other plastic debris, from packaging materials and cigarette butts to bottles and grocery bags found in large quantities. The Ocean Conservancy reports that most marine plastic pollution enters the oceans due to landfill leaks, beach littering, mismanaged waste, and sewer and storm overflows.
Why Most Plastic Isn’t Getting Recycled:
Plastic recycling is often celebrated for its positive environmental impact, but the reality can be disheartening. Less than 10% of the world’s plastic waste has been recycled, with most ending up in landfills and the world’s oceans. According to a Greenpeace study, several factors contribute to this, including the difficulty in collecting plastic waste, the near impossibility of sorting it for recycling, the environmental harm caused during the reprocessing phase, the toxicity of the materials, and the lack of economic viability for recycling.
Compared to plastic, paper, cardboard, metal, and glass require less effort for recycling and are successfully processed at higher rates. Current recycling facilities' capacities need to catch up with the amount and types of plastic we discard. That’s why we must find quick solutions to address the massive plastic pollution problem worldwide!
What is Recyclable and Non-recyclable:
Understanding which plastics cannot be recycled is essential in choosing eco-friendly alternatives. Recycling plastic is not a one-size-fits-all process. While most plastics are recyclable, the effectiveness and frequency of recycling can vary widely between the seven different categories of plastics. Each plastic type requires unique machinery and processes, and some products can even pose hazards to recycling equipment, such as plastic bags and packaging that easily jam.
Have you ever wondered what the numbers on the bottom of plastic products mean? They're not random digits. They're a crucial part of the Resin Identification code, which categorizes plastic products based on their resin composition. Simply check the number at the bottom. If it reads #3, #6, or #7, it’s not recyclable. Knowing this can help you make informed decisions and minimize waste.
What to Do with Plastic That Cannot Be Recycled:
Start by contacting your local recycling center to determine if they can recycle specific types of plastic. If not, explore free nationwide recycling programs offered by select centers. Some centers accept a variety of typically hard-to-recycle waste streams such as contact lenses, makeup products, e-waste, oral care products, cigarette waste, and more!
5 Interesting Ways to Recycle:
Discover how to transform plastic materials into something entirely new with these creative ideas.
Build Eco-Bricks:
Create your building material at home with eco-bricks made from recycled items like old jars, food wrappers, and fishing gear! Not only are they environmentally friendly and free from toxic chemicals, but they are also versatile and can be reused for different purposes. You can use them to build raised gardens, planters, or walls while retaining water and preventing erosion.
Create Vertical Gardens:
Repurposing soda bottles is a budget-friendly way to create your vertical garden. Simply remove the cap, add soil, and start planting. Not only is this an excellent money-saving solution, but it’s also environmentally friendly.
Reuse Glass Bottles as Vases:
Transform empty glass bottles into beautiful vases with just a few paint strokes! Not only is it cost-effective, but it’s also a responsible way to repurpose and reduce plastic waste. Spruce up your interior décor or outdoor space with this effortlessly stylish DIY project.
Upcycled Art:
Want to be more creative with your sustainable practices? Try upcycled art! Instead of throwing away plastic debris and raw materials, use them to create unique pieces like collages made from recycled plastic or sculptures crafted from scrap metal.
Do More for the Environment with Office H2O!
Transitioning to a more sustainable lifestyle can be easily achieved through a simple guideline: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle! Reducing plastic consumption while improving the quality of your drinking water in the office is now possible with an Office H2O bottle-free water system! Our cutting-edge filtration process ensures that your water is safe and of the highest quality, and doesn’t require the use of plastic bottles or jugs.
With nine stages of purification technology, you can trust that every drop is free of impurities and contaminants. Say goodbye to wasteful plastic bottles and enjoy fresh, clean water on demand! Get in touch with us today to start your FREE 7-day trial.
Photos by Muhammad Numan on Unsplash, Killari Hotaru on Unsplash, Tim Mossholder on Unsplash, Nick Fewings on Unsplash.
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