How the world’s recycling system broke

For decades, we've been told that recycling is one of the best things we can do for the planet. We dutifully rinse our containers, sort our plastics, and feel good about doing our part. But here's an uncomfortable truth: the recycling system isn't working the way most of us think it is and in 2018, much of it came to a screeching halt.

This isn't meant to discourage you. It's meant to empower you with knowledge so you can make choices that actually make a difference.

What Happened in 2018: China's National Sword Policy

For years, the United States and other Western countries shipped their recyclable materials to China for processing. We're talking about millions of tons of plastic, paper, and other materials crossing the ocean to be sorted and recycled. Then, in January 2018, China implemented their "National Sword" policy, effectively banning the import of most recyclables. Why? Because much of what we were sending wasn't actually recyclable and it was contaminated with food waste, non-recyclable materials mixed in, and plastics that couldn't be processed.

The immediate impact:

• Recycling facilities in the US had nowhere to send materials

• Many municipalities stopped accepting certain types of recyclables

• Millions of tons of "recyclables" ended up in landfills

• The economics of recycling collapsed overnight

The system we relied on for decades was suddenly broken.

The Uncomfortable Truth About Plastic is that most of it can’t actually be recycled.

Of the seven types of plastic (marked with numbers 1-7), only #1 (PET) and #2 (HDPE) are regularly recycled—and even then, only a small percentage actually gets recycled.

The numbers:

• Less than 9% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled

• About 12% has been incinerated

• The rest (79%) is in landfills or the environment

Plastic Degrades Each Time It's Recycled

Unlike glass or metal, plastic can't be infinitely recycled. Each time it's processed, the quality degrades. A plastic bottle might become a lower-grade product once, but then it's done.

"Recycling" Often Means Something Else

Much of what gets "recycled" is actually:

• Downcycled - turned into lower-quality products that can't be recycled again

• Incinerated - burned for energy (releasing greenhouse gases)

• Exported - sent to countries with less environmental regulation

• Landfilled - when contamination is too high or markets don't exist

The recycling crisis isn't your fault. The system was flawed from the start:

1. Industry Shifted Responsibility

In the 1970s, beverage and packaging companies facing criticism for waste created the "Keep America Beautiful" campaign. The message? Litter is YOUR problem, not ours. This clever marketing shifted responsibility from manufacturers to consumers.

2. Wishful Recycling

We've been encouraged to "when in doubt, recycle it"—but contamination ruins entire batches of recyclables. That pizza box with grease? That plastic bag? They contaminate everything they touch.

3. Economic Dependency

Recycling only works when there's a market for recycled materials. When virgin plastic became cheaper than recycled plastic (thanks to fracking and oil subsidies), the economics collapsed.

4. Lack of Infrastructure

The US never built adequate domestic recycling infrastructure because we relied on shipping materials overseas. When that stopped, we had no backup plan.

This isn't about guilt or giving up. It's about understanding what actually helps so you can focus your energy where it matters most.

The Hierarchy of What Works (In Order of Impact):

1. REFUSE Don't accept what you don't need.

• Say no to single-use plastics

• Decline freebies and promotional items

• Refuse excessive packaging

2. REDUCE Use less of everything.

• Buy only what you need

• Choose quality over quantity

• Opt for products with minimal packaging

3. REUSE Extend the life of what you have.

• Use reusable bags, bottles, containers

• Repair instead of replace

• Buy secondhand when possible

4. RECYCLE Only after the above three.

• Focus on materials that actually get recycled (aluminum, steel, cardboard)

• Keep it clean and uncontaminated

• Know your local recycling rules

5. ROT Compost organic waste.

• Food scraps belong in compost, not landfills

• Reduces methane emissions

• Creates valuable soil

High-Impact Actions:

Based on current research and infrastructure, here's what you can do that truly helps:

Aluminum & Steel Cans

• These ACTUALLY get recycled at high rates (around 50-70%)

• Infinitely recyclable without quality loss

• Economically valuable - there's always a market

• What to do: Rinse and recycle all aluminum and steel

Cardboard & Paper

• High recycling rates when clean and dry

• Can be recycled 5-7 times before fibers break down

• What to do: Keep dry, remove tape/labels when possible, flatten boxes

Glass

• Infinitely recyclable

• Some municipalities struggle with economics/weight

• What to do: Check if your area accepts glass; if not, some stores take it back

Reduce Plastic at the Source This is the MOST important thing you can do:

• Bring reusable bags, bottles, cups, containers

• Choose products in glass, metal, or cardboard instead of plastic

• Buy in bulk when possible

• Support legislation requiring manufacturers to reduce packaging

Your Action Plan: Small Steps That Matter

This Week:

Don't try to do everything at once. Pick one or two changes to start:Learn your local recycling rules (they vary widely!)

• Start carrying a reusable bag

• Buy one reusable item (water bottle, coffee cup, shopping bag)

This Month:

• Audit your trash - what could you refuse or reduce?

• Switch one regularly purchased item to less packaging

• Start composting (even just coffee grounds and produce scraps)

This Year:

• Build a collection of reusable items for daily life

• Support businesses and brands reducing packaging

• Talk to others about what you've learned

Individual actions are important, but we also need systemic change:

Support Policies That Work:

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) - Making manufacturers responsible for end-of-life of products

• Deposit return systems - Financial incentive to return containers

• Bans on problematic single-use plastics

• Investment in domestic recycling infrastructure

Hold Companies Accountable:

• Choose companies committed to reducing packaging

• Avoid brands using excessive plastic

• Support businesses with take-back programs

Hope Amid the Broken System

Share what you've learned. The more people understand the reality of recycling, the more pressure there is for real solutions. Learning that recycling doesn't work as promised can feel defeating. I get it. But here's the hopeful part: now that you know, you can focus on actions that genuinely help.

Every piece of plastic you refuse is one less that needs to be "dealt with." Every reusable item you choose prevents waste from being created in the first place. Every conversation you have spreads awareness that can lead to better policies.

The solution isn't better recycling; it's less waste. And that's something each of us can work on, one decision/one bite at a time.

Learn More

My daughter Sage continues to educate people about sustainability and zero waste. Follow her on Instagram at @sagelenier for evidence-based information about what actually works for the planet.

For more information about recycling and what you can do:

• Your local recycling facility - Find out exactly what they accept

• EPA's Recycling Resource - epa.gov/recycle

• The Story of Stuff - Documentary about consumption and waste

• Your city's waste management department - Many offer free educational programs

Real Solutions

We've been fed a comfortable narrative about recycling that let us feel good without questioning the system. Now we know better. The recycling system broke not because we weren't trying hard enough, but because it was fundamentally flawed. Knowing the truth gives us power. Power to make different choices. Power to demand better systems. Power to focus on what actually works.

Refuse what you don't need. Reduce what you use. Reuse what you have. And recycle what's left smartly, understanding its limitations.

That's how we move forward. Not with false hope, but with real action.

One decision, one step, one bite at a time.

“Recycling is commonly conceived of as 'good for the planet'. What most people don't know is that it actually isn't, and that most of the recycling industry grinded to a halt in 2018. With the shape our planet is in, there's no time to waste on false solutions, so it's imperative that we understand the actions we can take that will truly benefit the earth.” Sage Lenier

What is actually recycleable?

Recycling can be very confusing and somewhat frustrating. According to the UC Berkeley Office of Sustainability the following is what’s actually recycleable.

Recycling must be CLEAN and DRY.

⁃ If bottles and cans have food or liquid in them, they will be thrown away at the recycling plant. Moreover, if a bag of recycling is more than 20% contaminated, either with food or non-recyclables, ALL OF IT will be landfilled.

⁃ If paper is wet or damp (or gets wet or damp because of wet bottles and cans) it will go to landfill.

What is recyclable?

⁃ Clean, dry aluminum foil (feel free to wash and dry it if it has food on it)

⁃ Aluminum cans

⁃ Plastic drink bottles/milk jugs, some plastic containers but not most

⁃ Glass

⁃ Clean, dry paper & cardboard (egg cartons too!)

What isn’t recyclable?

⁃ Film plastic (plastic bags or anything like that); they clog the machines at the plant

⁃ Coffee cups/boba cups/Solo cups

⁃ Anything contaminated with food

⁃ Any mixed material. For example, orange juice cartons are plastic layered with paper. They cannot be separated, and therefore can’t be recycled.

If you don’t sort properly, or if a few people don’t sort properly and contaminate our bin, all of our efforts to cycle resources will be wasted. So it is very important that this is followed.

Also, I encourage you all to avoid  packaging whenever possible. You can buy reusable mesh bags to put produce in instead of using plastic bags. The Strauss milk company sells milk in glass ($3) that you can return to the store and they give you $2 back when you return the bottle for reuse. These are two examples, but the best trash, and the best recycling, is the trash that was never created in the first place.