Did you know that recycling programs have been around for more than50 years in the U.S.? Yup – ever since the 70s, people have been sorting their waste into various bins, doing their bit to close the loop.
And after doing it for so long, you’d think we all knew the ins and outs of recycling. It’s pretty intuitive, after all – just toss the cans into the bin. Right?
Right. But the recycling industry is always changing, with new techniques and obstacles turning up as the years pass. And still, many old ideas about recycling linger, eventually turning intomyths. While the recycling industry moves on, we keep on believing what we always have, completely unaware.
And no, it doesn’tsound like a big deal, but it actually makes recycling a lot less efficient than it could be. So today, we’re busting7 common myths about recycling, to helpyou sift through all the claims out there and stay up-to-date.
Ready to see some recycling myths debunked? Let’s get to it.
Do you ever walk through the forest, glancing up at the sunlight moving through the bright, green leaves and just wonder at the peace and quiet?
In our busy, globalized world, big and widespread forests are slowly disappearing. But the ones we do have are a gift – offering some peace and quiet away from the hustle of traffic and demands of everyday life. A place to daydream, and recharge.
But forests have also given us another gift; paper. From toilet rolls, to newspapers, and cardboard boxes – our world wouldn’t quite be the same without it, and we owe it all to our beautiful trees.
You may have recently seen an ad discussing Pepsi and Coca-Cola's newest sustainability initiative. The ad was created by the American Beverage Association. In the commercial, three actors talk about how major water and soda companies are now going to make their plastic bottles more recyclable.What may seem like a step in the right direction for plastic producers is run-of-the-mill greenwashing.
At this point, it’s no secret – we love our recycling.
But once we’ve dropped our items into the recycling bin, most of us don’t stop to think about where they go. We’ve done our part – from there, someone else picks up the torch, right?
But recycling is more than just a bin in your kitchen. It’s a global, billion-dollar industry.
And you may have heard little whispers that the recycling industry is broken. That somewhere along the way, recycling went wrong. But what, exactly, happened?
Recycling is one of the biggest topics in the sustainability world. It's also one of the first steps people take when they want to live with less impact on our beautiful planet – and with good cause.
For one, it’s fairly easy to do, and once you’ve learned how to recycle, you’ve got your bases covered. Right?
Well… about that. There’s one thing we rarely discuss when it comes to recycling – the fact that some materials are easier and better to recycle than others.
In the sustainability world, recycling has long been everyone’s favorite pet. And for good reason – it’s impactful and simple to do, which is guaranteed to give us earth-lovers a good kick.
But the world is always turning, and new solutions are constantly being invented. So, while you might be very familiar with recycling… have you heard of upcycling?
