Reducing our environmental footprint is on everyone's minds, and plastic recycling is seen as a key part of the solution. But the truth is, it might not be doing as much good as we hope. While recycling is essential in combating plastic pollution, it's clear we need additional strategies to deal with the sheer volume and variety of plastics we use daily.
At Office H2O, we've already helped over 600,000 people ditch plastic bottles in the office with our bottle-free water coolers. But is it enough? We're just a small piece of a much larger issue, and the reality is that not nearly enough of our plastic waste is being recycled.
Why is plastic waste such a problem? It's everywhere—from everyday items like bags and bottles to components in cars and construction materials. In 2015, nearly 7 million tons of virgin plastic were produced globally, with only 9% being recycled. Another 12% was incinerated, and the rest is either still in use, sitting in landfills, or polluting our environment. Energy recovery from burning can be beneficial, but in poorer regions, plastic waste is often just burned, releasing harmful chemicals into the atmosphere.
The scale of plastic waste is staggering. In just six decades, mass production of plastic has skyrocketed, leading to 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic—most of it used for single-use items like bottles that quickly end up as waste. Scientists were shocked by the enormity of these figures when they first tried to quantify plastic production, disposal, and recycling. Plastic can take over 400 years to degrade, meaning most of the plastic ever made still exists in some form today. By mid-century, it’s predicted that the ocean will contain more plastic than fish, weight for weight. That’s 35,000 times heavier than the Empire State Building.
Much of our plastic waste ends up in landfills. The recycling industry is in trouble due to an influx of non-recyclable materials mixed with recyclables. When China stopped accepting American recyclables in 2018, hundreds of cities had to cut or stop their recycling programs. As a result, millions of tons of valuable recyclable materials have gone—or continue to go—into landfills. In 2018 alone, 27 million tons of plastic were sent to landfills. Research suggests that if we don’t act now, the world’s mismanaged plastic waste could triple by 2060.
Our oceans are equally affected. Plastic marine debris makes up about 80% of the trash in the world’s oceans. A study by the World Wildlife Fund found that fishing gear and nets account for 10% of marine litter annually, amounting to between 1 and 2 billion pounds. Beyond fishing gear, our oceans are flooded with other plastic debris, including packaging materials, cigarette butts, bottles, and grocery bags. The Ocean Conservancy reports that most marine plastic pollution enters the ocean due to landfill leaks, littering, mismanagement of waste, and sewer and storm overflows.
Why does most plastic not get recycled? Plastic recycling is often lauded for its positive environmental impact, but the reality is often disappointing. Less than 10% of the world’s plastic waste gets recycled, with much of it ending up in landfills or the ocean. A Greenpeace study found several reasons for this: plastic waste is difficult to collect, virtually impossible to sort for recycling, causes environmental harm during reprocessing, contains toxic materials, and is not economically viable to recycle.
In comparison, paper, cardboard, metal, and glass require less effort to recycle and are processed at higher rates. The recycling facilities currently available often can't keep up with the amount and types of plastic we discard. This highlights the urgent need for quick solutions to address the global plastic pollution crisis!
Understanding what is and isn’t recyclable is crucial in making eco-friendly choices. Recycling plastic isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. While most plastics are technically recyclable, the effectiveness and frequency of recycling can vary greatly depending on the seven different types 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 jams.
Have you ever wondered what the numbers on the bottom of plastic products mean? They aren’t random digits; they’re part of the Resin Identification Code, which classifies plastic products based on their resin composition. Check the number at the bottom—if it’s #3, #6, or #7, it’s not recyclable. Knowing this can help you make informed decisions and reduce waste.
If certain types of plastic can’t be recycled locally, reach out to your nearest recycling center to see if they accept specific plastics. Alternatively, explore free national recycling programs offered by select centers that accept hard-to-recycle items like contact lenses, makeup products, e-waste, oral care products, cigarette waste, and more.
There are also creative ways to reuse plastic:
- **Build Eco-Bricks:** Create your own building material at home with eco-bricks made from recycled items like old jars, food wrappers, and fishing gear. These are environmentally friendly, toxin-free, and versatile.
- **Vertical Gardens:** Repurpose soda bottles by turning them into a budget-friendly vertical garden. Remove the cap, fill with soil, and start planting. It’s both cost-effective and eco-conscious.
- **Glass Bottle Vases:** Transform empty glass bottles into beautiful vases with a little paint. It’s an affordable and responsible way to reuse and reduce plastic waste.
- **Upcycled Art:** Channel your creativity by making art from recycled plastic or crafting sculptures from scrap metal.
Transitioning to a more sustainable lifestyle can be straightforward with a simple guideline: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle! Cut down on plastic use and improve the quality of your drinking water in the office with an Office H2O bottle-free water system. Our advanced filtration process ensures clean, contaminant-free water without the need for plastic bottles or jugs. With nine stages of purification technology, you can trust that every drop is safe and pure. Ditch wasteful plastic bottles and enjoy fresh, clean water whenever you need it. Contact us today for a FREE 7-day trial.
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