The Recycling Conundrum

For decades, we have been told recycling is the best way to be green. We all instantly recognise the green triangle, arrows representing an infinite circular system which is good for the planet. As children we were taught if we recycle, we were doing our bit for the environment. However, as plastic production increases, our recycling systems are struggling to keep up. Plastic recycling is, at the moment, far from a circular system, and we could be misled into thinking it’s the easy answer to a complex issue. With plastic, out of sight is definitely not out of mind. What’s worse, it’s claimed the big plastic producers have known this for decades.

A new report by the Centre for Climate Integrity, says that plastic producers have been promoting recycling despite knowing the huge pitfalls. That they have used single-use plastics as a way of making unending profit out of a fossil fuel by-product, and intended to keep it that way. Low costs, big volume … and big profits.

Here are some uncomfortable revelations about recycling in the UK

How much of our plastic waste do we recycle?

In March, thousands in the UK joined together for The Big Plastic Count 2024. In 2022, the count revealed just how over overwhelmed the UK’s system is by the tide of plastic being produced. It said, of those that participated, only 12% of their plastic is recycled. That meant 6.4 million pieces of plastic were thrown away.

But if I put plastic out for recycling, it gets recycled, doesn’t it?

Not always…

The Big Plastic Count report says a whopping (17%) is being shipped overseas than being recycled at home. Often to countries that are already struggling to deal with their own plastic pollution crisis.

Investigations in the past have found UK recycling to be illegally burned or left in uncontrolled landfill sites in Turkey. Pollution issues has led some countries to shut their doors to waste imports. In 2022, however, the UK still sent 19% of plastic exports to Turkey.

Plastic can be recycled many times though?

Mechanical recycling is the main way many plastics are recycled. The process involves grinding, washing, sorting and reprocessing the plastic material, which is converted into pellets to be re-sold, and eventually remoulded. Great right? Not quite.

There are significant barriers and complications we need to overcome before plastic recycling is circular; contamination of plastics, sorting complications, degradation or ‘downgrading’. There is further impact on the environment through emissions and chemical additives, not to mention the huge cost of our recycling infrastructure. At the moment, plastic recycling is all too often a process that will eventually lead to landfill.

At least it’s clear what can and can’t be recycled?

Plastic vary greatly in composition. Recycle Now lists many different recycling labels that can appear on packaging, and some products don’t have labels at all. This leads to huge uncertainty to what can actually be recycled at home, what needs to be brought to specialised recycling points, and what can’t be recycled at all. Not only that, different types of plastics cannot be recycled together, adding to the complications.

Recycling collections vary widely depending on your postcode. Currently, there’s no uniform recycling policy in the UK. In 2018, there were 39 different sets of rules across UK household collections.

The hard truth is…..

We need the government to stop delaying on plastic reduction policies such as a UK wide Deposit Return Scheme, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). We must follow through with our commitments to the Global Plastic Treaty.

So…should we stop recycling?

No, recycling is an important cog in the system. But it’s not the whole answer.

Here’s 3 things you can do to make an impact, as well as recycling:

1. Stay wise when you see plastic recycling being used as a marketing tool. Find out more about plastic greenwashing and how to not to get caught by it.
2. Talk to your local MP and ask them to support plastic reducing policies such as DRS and EPR.
3. Say no to single-use plastic – to find out more and get your Individual Action Plan