The Recycling Problem (Spencer Mottley)


     An article on the New York Times titled "Trash or Recycling? Why Plastic Keeps us Guessing" By 

Winston Choi-Schagrin and Hiroko Tabuchi discusses all the factors that make recycleing is so confuseing 

and challenging for so many pepole, these challenges include a complex numbering system (which 

indicate what plastics are recycleable or not), differing local policies when it comes to what can and can't 

be recycled and the fact that some cities and towns don't recycle at all. Additionally the article discusses 

how the difficulties associted with recycling along with other factors make recycleing largely ineffective at 

reduceing plastic pollution and the CO2 emissions that come with makeing new plastic, and steps  

consumers and goverments can take to reduce our relince on single use plastics and pressure coperations 

into makeing their products more recycleable. After reading this article I was left with a question, how can 

consumers reduce their reliance on single use plastics? My answer to this question is to use more refillable

containers, for instance useing a metal waterbottle over a flimsy plastic one thats only made to last a single

use. Also ditching straws while eating out at a restrant is another good way for pepole to limit their

relinance on single use plastics. 

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