Plastic producers have known for more than 30 years that recycling is not a permanent solution. A recent study found that companies including Exxon Chemical and the Society of the Plastics Industry have misled the public about recycling to avoid regulatory action and revenue losses. The study shows that the plastics industry has been aware that certain plastics are impossible to repurpose, but are mixed in with those that can be, making sorting difficult and expensive. Nevertheless, these companies have continued to push recycling in marketing campaigns that still exist today. Industry insiders have been sounding the alarm for decades, saying plastics recycling is not economical and can’t go on indefinitely. The shocking truth is that approximately 32% of Americans currently recycle, but 91% of products end up in landfills, with only 9% actually being recycled.
