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Short Wave

The Myth of Plastic Recycling

Short Wave

NPR

Daily News, Nature, Life Sciences, Astronomy, Science, News

4.7 β€’ 6K Ratings

πŸ—“οΈ 12 December 2022

⏱️ 14 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

For many, recycling feels like a tangible way to personally combat climate change and to positively affect the environment. But after a years long investigation, NPR correspondent Laura Sullivan finds that reality is generally the opposite: Only a small fraction of plastic is ultimately recycled. Moreover, plastic production is on the rise.

Further reading:
- Recycling plastic is practically impossible β€” and the problem is getting worse
-
How Big Oil Misled The Public Into Believing Plastic Would Be Recycled

Transcript

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0:00.0

You're listening to Shortwave from NPR.

0:04.8

Hey everyone, today we are welcoming Laura Sullivan, NPR News Investigative Correspondent,

0:11.0

Longtime Truth Teller, first time Shortwave guest.

0:14.1

Welcome to the show, how are you?

0:15.9

So good to be here, doing great.

0:18.1

So we're talking today about recycling, the science of what happens and doesn't happen

0:22.8

with those peanut butter jars and yogurt containers lovingly placed in blue bins.

0:27.1

I know this life, but I don't know much about how it all works.

0:31.5

Laura, before you started investigating recycling, did you partake in it?

0:35.9

Oh, I grew up recycling.

0:37.7

I mean, we were drawing the recycling symbol, you know, with the three arrows in kindergarten,

0:41.9

taping them all over the school.

0:43.6

And I mean, there were all these contests.

0:45.5

I mean, who could draw the best blue planet with the chasing arrows symbol all over it?

0:50.4

Yeah, this wasn't some instructional PSA.

0:53.4

This was like a lifestyle.

0:54.6

Yes, I can totally picture a little Laura diligently.

0:58.4

And drawing these arrows and following these rules.

1:01.3

As a kid, recycled.

1:02.8

Totally, yeah.

1:03.9

I mean, recycling makes people feel good.

1:05.9

You know, you feel like a responsible steward of the earth.

...

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