Privacy Policy Terms of Sale Terms of Use Children's Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Cookie Consent Tool. That's not bad, but bottles and jars aren't the only things made from PET so are grocery store clamshell containers for things like berries and muffins, known in the industry as "thermoforms." You can email story ideas to Emily.Chung@cbc.ca. FTC Green Guide regulations state that a company can claim that a plastic bottle is recyclable only if recycling facilities for that type of plastic are available to at least 60 percent of the consumers or communities where the product is sold. To learn more, visit, linked to disrupting hormonal growth and carcinogens. 
The same piece of plastic can only be recycled about 2-3 times before its quality decreases to the point where it can no longer be used. Before you throw something away, check what your city actually recycles. So when you read the label recycled material, think twice about what the word recycled actually means in that context. Its a system dictated by market demand, price determinations, local regulations, the success of which is contingent upon everyone, from the product-designer, to the trash-thrower, to the waste collector, to the recycling factory worker. Accurate information stripped of greenwashing claims, she says, can create demand forand incentives to bring to markettruly recyclable and sustainable products and materials. your trash) must compete with virgin materials in the market, so quality matters. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. Calling the recycling labels a misinformation campaign, Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune said, These major plastic bottle manufacturers have known for decades that their products arent truly recyclable, and the public deserves to know the truth.. Take a look a second look at your recycling this week and be sure that you are recycling water bottles right according to your local rules. But plastic rarely breaks. HEALTH EFFECTS: plastic has been linked to disrupting hormonal growth and carcinogens. #1 (PET), ex: water bottles highest recycling value; keep out of the sun to prevent toxins leaking into the container (no bueno for your health). We consumers play a much more critical role than we might imagine-- depending on how we use our products and in what shape we throw them away, determines their value and quality post-use. For many, environmentalism begins with the recycling symbol and ends at the recycling bin. Many water bottle labels are made of film plastic that isn't recyclable. So, rinse out or fully wash your recycling before throwing it into the bin. 
According to the Science History Institute, [c]urrent healthconcerns focus on additives (such as bisphenol A [BPA] and a class of chemicals called phthalates) that go into plastics during the manufacturing process, making them more flexible, durable, and transparent.. #7 (OTHER) is the catch-all category. Only plastics labeled PLA are made from the sugars in corn or other plant-starches like cassava. For example: glass and metal (including aluminum) can be recycled infinitely without losing quality or purity in the product. Learn the ingredients in Tom's of Maine Simply White Natural Toothpaste. By submitting a comment, you accept that CBC has the right to reproduce and publish that comment in whole or in part, in any manner CBC chooses. Not necessarily, especially when it comes to waste collected at a business or institution rather than from someone's home, asCBC'sMarketplace showed in an investigationlast September. Lauren Cullum, Sierra Club Californias Sacramento-based policy advocate, said the suits are part of a broader effort to pick up lost ground after the ambitious California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act stalled in the legislature in 2020. He also sees the shortage of recycled PET as a "convenient argument," but he doesn't buy it he thinks they would be able to get what they need if they were willing to pay more for it. Please email [emailprotected]. Since 1888, National Geographic has pushed the boundaries of exploration, investing in bold people and transformative ideas, providing more than 15,000 grants for work across all seven continents, reaching 3 million students each year through education offerings, and engaging audiences around the globe through signature experiences, stories and content. National Geographic Headquarters 1145 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20036, National Geographic Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. 100% recyclable? Even the portion that does get recycled is never 100 percent recyclableabout 28 percent is lost to processing or contamination and ends up in landfills. Let's all try to be a force for good recycling in the world!
global campaign and creates music videos, info-graphics, and maps to transform people's perceptions of trash from something disposable to something valuable. These layers are not visible to the naked eye, making it difficult to understand THAT THE PRODUCT cannot be recycled AS IS. In Taiwan, there are several groups of people who sort trash, remove food remnants from bento boxes, and then send the containers to the recycling factories (since the outside material is generally paper). 
2022Sierra Club.The Sierra Club Seal is a registered copyright, service mark, and trademark of the Sierra Club. A flow of water moves floating cap flakes one way and sunken water bottle flakes in a different direction. All rights reserved. Thesuits allegethat these companies labeling and marketing claims about the full recyclability of their beverage bottles are not just a little off, but blatantly false and a violation of consumer and environmental protection laws. in Political Economy from the University of California, Berkeley and was named 5 Under 25: Leaders in U.S.-China Relations. 
(Spring Pool Glass Co. Ltd., a glass recycling and innovation company based in Taiwan, is an excellent example of this.). 2. Subscribe to our magazine by becoming a Sierra Club member today. The fund is supported by Ontario municipalities and Stewardship Ontario, a non-profit recycling organization funded by manufacturers. The recycling plant process typically separates the lids from the bottle by how their plastic content floats in water. Ive spent the last five months talking to various experts in Taiwan, one of the worlds innovators in recycling systems AND major producers of plastics, to put together this list. Well, its a little more complicated than that. Government and ratepayers are being swamped, Cullum said. Crystal Howe, the company's sustainability manager, says the company buys about 80 to 85 per cent of PET plastic collected from recycling programs in Ontario. The views and opinions expressed in any guest post featured on our site are those of the guest author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of Tom's of Maine. One company that makes bottles from 100 per cent recycled PET, Ontario-based Ice River Springs Water Co., even claims they're "infinitely" recyclable using its recycling process. Oh no! Thats capital loss. Comments are welcome while open. Feel good once you finish your Starbucks and place that innocuous paper cup in the recycling bin? Thermoplastics are plastics that can be re-melted and re-molded into new products, and therefore, recycled. By helping others recycle, you are cutting down on recycling contamination. After all, at the moment, most PET bottles in North America go directly to landfill. It is made from plant-starch instead of petroleum, and therefore, marketed as biodegradable. (For your reference, most synthetic plastics come from crude oil. Given its prominence, and the fact that scientists estimate it takes somewhere between450 -1,000 years to decompose (some argue it will never decompose), it is essential for us to understand this material. "Fibre has always been the largest application for recycled PET," says Michael Schedler, the Vermont-based plastic recycling consultant who produced the report for the CIF. The simple act of throwing something away into a large box marked with a recycling sign is enough to make some of us feel like weve done our part. Something went wrong. A package of new laws seeks to make the state's economy more circular, Whoops! arranged in repeating units often much longer than those found in nature.. It looks like you're using an unsupported browser. Both are recycled separately. This reduces the smell and general unpleasantness of unwashed recycling. Thanks for signing up for the Green Life email newsletter. "At the end of the day, they've made the decision to put the containers out there," he said. Plastic recycling has changed over the past few years. In Canada, where most communities have blue box programs that accept PET, there was a 79 per cent recovery rate for PET bottles and jars in 2015,says a 2017 study commissioned by the Continuous Improvement Fund. Nestle, Coca-Cola and and Pepsi all average less than 12 per cent recycled content in their beverage bottles. "As long as there are companies making 100 percent recyclability claims that are false, consumers can't make an educated decision in the marketplace, and businesses lack an incentive to create an actually recyclable product," she said. Should you even bother recycling? Water bottles (100% PET plastic) are a prime example of this. Growing your own food is possible, even if you don't have a huge backyard. The brands specifically called out in the suits for allegedly deceptive recycling labels include Dasani, Arrowhead, Poland Springs, Ozarka, andDeer Park(in both lawsuits), and Niagara, Costco Kirkland, Save Mart Sunny Select, and Save Mart Market Essentials (in just the consumer class action lawsuit). 7 infographics correspond to the 7 classifications of plastics and debunk common (mis)assumptions about plastics & recycling. It includes both non-recyclable and biodegradable plastics. Theweight difference will result in the consumption of more fuel duringtransportation. So then why did we make the switch to plastic? For example: 1. If the demand isnt there, or the quality of the materials post-use is incurably dirty, they end up in landfill or incinerators. (As a consumer, you cant tell the difference. So the negative effect on the environment is more fuel-burning, which results in more pollution.. If they are confused or given false information, they end up making choices they might otherwise avoid.. More recycling bins in public places: Howe suggests that having more recycling opportunities away from home at places such as gas stations would help boost recycling rates. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper, and PepsiCo have also committed $100 million US to the American Beverage Association initiative called "Every Bottle Back" that aims to increase public awareness of recycling, modernize recycling infrastructure in the U.S., and reduce plastic use.
If they know the truth, I believe they will change those choices, just as they did with grocery bags. We consumers play a much more critical role than we might imagine depending on how we use our products and in what shape we throw them away, determines their value and quality post-use. Add some good to your morning and evening. One major exception to this caps-on rule is metal lids. The plaintiffs argue that these companies must be compelled to admit that their claims of recyclability are false and to end them. Subsidies, investments and public support go a long way. But some recycled PET did get turned into packaging about 30 per cent was used in bottles and about 12 per cent in clamshell containers. Judith Enck, aformer EPAregionaladministratorwho now leads the Vermont-based Beyond Plastics project, said the lawsuits pull the curtain back on the abysmal failure of plastics recycling and the beverage companies attempts to market their way out of taking responsibility for the damage their products cause. That act would have reinvented recycling in the state and created a system of producer responsibility, in which manufacturers of wasteful products such as plastic water bottles would have to bear the dollar cost of environmental damage and cleanupan extension of the polluter pays concept in the state that already exists for the oil and gas industry. Plastics Industry Development Center (PIDC). Cullum says the costs to California cities to clean up single-use product litter on beaches, parks, and streets is massive: nearly a half billion dollars statewide, according to 2017 data compiled by the Natural Resources Defense Council. For other applications, those things don't matter as much. Some recycling factories then take these goods and wash them multiple times before they are cut, reheated and transformed. Nearly half of Canada's recycled PET in 2015 was sold to the U.S. as "fibre," which means it gets turned into things like carpets, stuffings for pillows and futons and the occasional fleece sweater.
Because there are two different materials, the cups cannot be recycled unless the materials are separated, which is impossible to do by hand and requires a special machine. Previously, she was a FulbrightNational Geographic Digital Storyteller documenting Taiwans waste management system, plastics recycling and circular economy initiatives. The end goal with all this is to get further and further away from relying on any type of single-use products, Cullum said. From the clothes we wear to the food we eat, plastic has become a household staple for families and communities around the world. So what to do? Heres what really happens and what's needed to boost recycling. Instead, they end up in the world's landfills or worse, in the ocean. The two kinds of plastic are then separated in a float-and-sink tank where the cap flakes float because they are a different density and the bottle flakes sink. ), I use quotations here because its important to know that current biodegradable products can only decompose if they are sent to a special factory, where the temperature and humidity is specially controlled, and lumped together with other compostable plastics. It's technically one of the most recyclable plastics in use today. ). Sign up to receive daily reports about how you can enjoy, explore, and protect the planet. In general, virgin PET made directly from raw materials derived from fossil fuels is cheaper and easier to source than recycled PET. wax layer for the label, or the aluminum layer to prevent external heat from altering the chemical composition of the item before you purchase it. Follow him on Twitter@edwardhumesand atwww.edwardhumes.com. She said the suits are part of a larger campaign to educate consumers and businesses about recycling myths and the true impact of single-use plastic products on the environment. while so many plastic products are disposable, plastic lasts forever in the environment. Deposit-return laws: Requiring people to pay a deposit whenthey buy beverage bottles and getting it back when they return it will result in a higher recovery rate and higher-quality, less contaminated plastic, Schedler says. Your local government also plays an essential role. Tweet this Theres no need to add additional virgin material in the recycling process recycling glass and metal is the ultimate form of circular economy, the process of using and then reusing materials without generating any waste. Keyboards maybe, if you get it to the right person. The company has addressed some of the business challenges by starting its own plastics recycling company, Blue Mountain Plastics, which buys bales of bottles from municipal recycling programs mostly in Ontario and processing it into rPET itself. She has previously worked as a digital journalist for CBC Ottawa and as an occasional producer at CBC's Quirks & Quarks. ), Another example of a #7 plastic is melamine, a non-recyclable plastic used often in food containers like bowls. Here's a closer look at what actually happens to those bottles after use and what needs to happen to boost recycling in the future. To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). By that standard, these companies 100% recyclable claims are completely false, said Sierra Club attorney Marie McCrary of San Francisco law firm Gutride Safier LLP.
Dasdy Lin, Sustainability Consultant at the Plastics Industry Development Center (PIDC), shared these three reasons: Safety consistency and stability of products without risk of breaking, Say for example, I ship 100 bottles and in the end, I only receive 98 because 2 broke. 3. However, since 2010, one Ontario-based company, Ice River Springs, has been using 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles for both its own brand and store brands that the company is commissioned to produce. So, seize those opportunities to talk to your coworkers, your household, the members of your playgroup, your children's teacher, and extended family members about how to recycle this common plastic the right way. Learn about the ingredients in Tom's of Maine Antiplaque Floss. However, most plastic labels are made of non-stretchy film plastic that is not recyclable and should be landfilledand will be through the recycling process. Just because IT has the recycling sign doesnt mean it ACTUALLY gets recycled. #7 is the other put-everything-else-that-is-not-#1-6 category. But unfortunately, most of the time, it's a lie. Every time plastic is recycled, the polymer chain grows shorter, SO ITS QUALITY DECREASES. Under 60 percent, and all recycling claims have to be qualified on the labelsuch as saying, for example, This product is recyclable only in the few communities that have appropriate recycling facilities.. Recycling is determined by two really important things: the market and city government.Tweet this If theres a demand in the market, then recyclers and companies will pay for your post-consumer recyclables. Any steps in that direction are what we need., People want to make consumer choices that are good for the environment, says Hoiyin Ip, Sierra Club California zero waste committee co-chair. However, by 2025 it plans to reduce its use of virgin plastic by 20 per cent compared to 2018. Most mini water bottles are eight ounceslarger than a four ounce yogurt containerso they are fine to recycle. Coca-Cola recently announced that it will sell 100 per cent recycled plastic bottles in Sweden to help meet a goal of having 50 per cent recycled plastic in all its bottles in Western Europe by 2023, Reuters reported. On June 16, federal lawsuits were filed bythe Sierra Clubanda group of California consumersagainst major bottled water manufacturersCoca-Cola,Niagara, and BlueTriton (a subsidiary of global giant Nestl). Whoops! Consider gifting, donating, or crafting them into something completely different! It is a priority for CBC to create a website that is accessible to all Canadians including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. What really happens to plastic drink bottles you toss in your recycling bin | CBC News Loaded. The number is its "resin code," which often appears in a triangle that resembles the recycling symbol. Plastics are classified into 7 categoriesaccording toResin Identification Codes (RIC). Contamination is a big problem in the recycling industry, but you can be a force for good to make sure you're recycling right. plastics labeled PLA are made from the sugars in corn or other plant-starches like cassava. (If those plastics are thrown into landfill and mixed in with other trash, it doesnt matter if theyre compostable or not. She is an active contributor to National Geographic's Planet or Plastic? Similarly, our faith in the magic of the recycling bin makes purchasing and using plastic products a little more guilt-free. The plastic used to make water and pop bottles is polyethylene terephthalate or PET, which is also known as No. Only powered by knowledge can we take the necessary actions to transform our relationship with plastic and protect our families, communities & the environment.
Worldwide, bottles contain even less recycled content on average. Pepsi has set a goal to use 25 per cent recycled content in its plastic packaging, but hasn't said by when. Home|Contact Us|Careers|En Espaol|Terms and Conditions of Use|Privacy Policy/Your California Privacy Rights|Website HelpSierra Club and "Explore, enjoy and protect the planet" are registered trademarks of the Sierra Club. In fact, that's one argument that's been used by the beverage industry as to why they shouldn't increase the recycled content in their bottles. Something went wrong. You read that right. Recycling is determined by two really important things: numerical classification (#1 #7) only informs you what type of plastic it is. Howe says the company has found bottle-to-bottle recycling reduces energy use by 70 per cent and water consumption during manufacturing by 99 per cent. It's important to know how to recycle water bottles the correct way, so be sure you're up to date on the latest recycling rules!
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