Welcome to Plastic Free July! In honor of this newer environmental annual observance, we’re taking a deep dive into the wonderful (see: horrifying) world of plastic.
We’ve all heard about how plastic is bad, how it infiltrates ecosystems and now exists in some way—quite literally—in all of us (real nasty stuff, microplastics). But there’s still a lot of misinformation out there about plastics; particularly, about recycling plastics. It’s a myth that has been pushed by and directly benefiting petrochemical companies for decades; that, “the solution to plastic pollution is easy. You just have to recycle, silly goose!”
Yeah, um, no. Not exactly.
Only 9% of plastic globally is recycled, and of that 9%, much of it is inferior quality plastics. The truth—the real truth—is plastic can only be reused (recycled) so many times before it degrades and becomes unusable. It’s then tossed into a landfill, or worse, disposed of irresponsibly and ends up on our oceans, on our beaches, and permanently damaging marine ecosystems.
And the worst kinds of plastics? Single use. Plastic bags, utensils, to-go containers (Styrofoam), straws—the list goes on and on. Again, this is no secret; by now, you’ve likely heard about this time and again. But if we’re all so aware this is a major problem, then why is it still happening?
There are a few major reasons. Namely—
Let’s talk about it.
The rules and regulations of America’s recycling system have always been rife with confusion and rather difficult to access for the majority of the public. Inconsistent rules across legislative boundaries and vague information about how recycling works and what can and cannot be recycled are what have allowed major plastic producers to continuously pump out plastic products over the past decades, rapidly increasing their demand while pushing the narrative that they’re essential, more convenient, and—most importantly—disposable; something not worth putting in any effort to preserve or recycle.
For example, numbered plastics. What do they even mean? Do you know? Often, people see a number at the bottom of a plastic container and assume that it’s recyclable when it’s, unfortunately, not. And why do some recycling plants take certain numbers while others do not?
The Old Farmer’s Almanac has a great graphic to help break down these numbers:
Each number represents a different type of plastic which each has its own measure of recyclability. For example, plastics labeled 1 and 2 are made of higher density materials that are easier to melt down and reuse, while plastics marked with some higher numbers can be reused fewer times or possibly not at all. Whether or not a recycling plant can take these items is determined by what equipment and recycling methods are available to them. And because America relies on a single-stream recycling system, the responsibility of knowing what and where to recycle falls back on the consumer’s shoulders. It’s not convenient and it’s not obvious; it can be challenging to know exactly what you can recycle depending on where you live. And, like we said before, this frequently changes city by city, region by region, and state by state.
“Well, what about federal laws,” you might be wondering to yourself. “Surely the federal government can create a universal system of recycling.” And to that we say, yes, they absolutely could. But the U.S. prioritizes state powers (re: the Tenth Amendment) and so it’s unlikely (at least currently) that any federal laws will be put into effect regarding how to recycle.
What this DOES mean is that your vote and your voice has even more power where you live. Make sure you’re reaching out to your representatives, locally and at a state level, to emphasize the importance of recycling programs and recycling program reform.
More than 90% of plastics made on an annual basis (all 400 million tons of it) is considered “primary plastics,” meaning it’s plastic that’s been created from scratch, not from recycled materials. 70% of these new plastics will end up in a landfill. Our recycle-to-plastic-production rate is abysmal. But, why?
Because it’s all about the money, baby.
In fact, there are just 20 companies—we repeat, TWENTY companies—responsible for more than 55% of all single-plastic use and waste. Who are they? Let’s name some names:
Other countries with companies in the Top 30 include Canada and Japan. And the top 100 companies? Responsible for 90% of all single-use plastic across the globe. Recognize many of these names? If your answer is no, you’re not alone. Petrochemical companies are often not at the forefront of the consumer market, but they’re incredibly powerful corporations nonetheless.
The sheer scale of this influence—55% of all plastic waste created, 90% of all single-use plastic waste—strongly supports the assertion that we can’t recycle our way out of climate change or the plastic problem because people, individuals, aren’t the ones producing most of the waste—companies are. And they’re making A LOT of money for it, too. The plastics industry is worth more than half a trillion dollars (and growing). To top it off, these petrochemical companies receive a lot of government support in the form of subsidies, meaning plastic production (and, as a result, plastic waste) is coming directly out of the pockets of U.S. citizens. New plastic plants are opening every day, and it’s currently cheaper for these plants to create brand new plastics than it is to recycle the old. Until restrictions or regulations are put in place to discourage this, our annual plastic production total is expected to rise 30% by 2050.
Apathy. It’s perhaps the most dangerous obstacle for environmental wellness and change. Taking action is challenging and, as a result, can lead to a feeling of helplessness; that nothing we do can make a difference. This is environmental apathy. Similar to voter apathy, it’s the figurative throwing in of the towel, the “nothing is ever going to get better so why should I care or try,” mindset. And it’s very, very dangerous.
Yes, large scale, systemic change is absolutely needed and, no, this is not something we can achieve as individuals. However, public opinion and action are absolutely essential to changing the public narrative and pushing these large-scale changes forward, whether representatives and Big Business like it or not. Even the small steps you take at home—reducing your use of plastic in general, educating yourself how recycling works (or if it even exists) where you live, adopting low-waste habits—can have a positive impact, not just on your immediate environment, but also on your mental health and wellbeing, and the overall health of the planet. Remember, small actions add up. The more of us who take these small steps, the larger the strides of our impact.
Shutting down and simply wishing the bad stuff away isn’t helping anyone, least of all yourself. We need to face apathy head-on, acknowledge that it’s a major problem, and make small efforts every day (even when they seem minute) to take action.
Okay, so… how exactly do we do that?
In addition to educating yourself about the recycling programs near you as well as common recycling myths and mistakes and tips and tricks for reducing plastic usage in your day-to-day life, you can also keep up with what practices are being put in place across the U.S. to help reduce plastic waste and encourage your representatives to adopt similar programs.
According to EarthShare Partner Surfrider Foundation, as of 2021, “over 500 local plastic bag ordinances have been adopted in 28 states, and 9 states adopted statewide plastic bag reduction laws.” These laws outlaw the distribution of plastic bags at point-of-sale for retailers. Instead, citizens are encouraged to bring their own reusable bags when shopping. In some states, like Delaware, stores are required to offer plastic bag recycling in order to prevent bags from being thrown away and entering critical ecosystems and waterways.
In Washington D.C., the Anacostia River Clean Up and Protection Act (a.k.a. the “Bag Law”) was implemented in 2009, requiring businesses selling either food or alcohol to charge for the use of plastic bags. The proceeds of these purchases are then donated to the Anacostia River Clean Up and Protection Fund. And boy, did it work—the data proves it. Plastic bag usage in the D.C. area dropped more than 50% since the bag fee was put in place.
To learn more about some of these city and state plastic bag laws, check out these examples:
This July, consider how you might reduce plastic in your own day-to-day life. Where can you cut back or reuse? How can you make positive changes that impact your local community and the global spaces we all share?
For more ways to get involved, check out EarthShare Partners spearheading plastic-free initiatives! And don’t miss an opportunity to learn even more about plastic and bag ban legislation across the United States with the following additional resources.
CONTENT QUESTIONS:
info@earthshare.org
PLATFORM QUESTIONS:
support@earthshare.org
Regenerative agriculture is the practice of enriching the land through farming and other agricultural practices; an effort that has been led by Indigenous Communities for thousands of years. Rather than stripping the ground of its nutrients, regenerative practices add to the health and strength of the soil and the overall ecosystem. In essence, it’s a decolonization of agriculture. 1“Regenerative Agriculture 101,” Natural Resources Defense Council ≫; “Native Growers Decolonize Regenerative Agriculture,” Green America ≫
Regenerative agriculture, as noted by One Earth, is “a pathway to an abundant and resilient future . . . shifting from the narrative of human dominion to one of healing our relationship with the Earth.” As a result, farms become more resistant to climate-related threats such as drought, flooding, and extreme shifts in temperature.2“Regenerative Agriculture and Food Systems,” One Earth ≫
Sustainable agriculture is the final step toward achieving regenerative agriculture. This is accomplished, in part, through the introduction of practices to improve environmental health, reduce the use of freshwater and harmful pesticides, and improve carbon storage in the soil.