Member-only story
To Transform the Plastic Crisis: Invest in Local Recycling Infrastructure, Globally
(This is part of the series for 7 Main Areas of Focus to Transform the Plastic Crisis)
Overall it is true “we can’t recycle our way out of the plastic crisis,” and still that is only part of the story.
Imagine how much we’ve invested in computers, production, manufacturing vs. recycling since the 60s or 70s. In most of the US recycling has not changed since then.
Using the recycling process and technologies today and saying recycling doesn't work, is like using a Commodore 64 today and saying computers don’t work.
We can’t rely on recycling using the ways recycling systems work today — they’re not. Only 9% of all plastics have ever been recycled — that should be evidence for anybody to recognize it’s not working. Does this mean we throw our hands-up, declare an entire industry should be shut-down and give-up? Not so fast.
Given proper processes, quick turnarounds and true RE-cycling it is part of the future of societies around the world. As long as there is a single item made of plastic — i.e your car’s dashboard, the toy truck, shoe soles, beauty products, etc. -recycling, and much stronger, efficient…
