The Problem With Plastics: Could New Recycling Tech Help the Planet?

Bold Names

The Wall Street Journal

Technology

4.4 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 11 November 2022

⏱️ 20 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

World leaders are still trying to figure out how to handle the hundreds of millions of tons of plastic waste generated every year. Back in the 1990s, it was tough to switch on the TV and not see ads or shows offering viewers a simple solution: to reduce, reuse, and recycle plastics. Nice words, but it turns out that wasn’t enough to solve the problem. New high tech methods have shown promise in breaking down plastics or creating new ones that are easier to recycle. But they’re expensive alternatives. Will the economics work out? WSJ’s Danny Lewis sorts through the future of plastics recycling. Would you pay more for plastic products designed to be easily recycled? Email us at [email protected] Further reading: U.S. Recycles 5% of Plastic Waste, Studies Show The 100% Recyclable Running Shoe That’s Only Available by Subscription ‘Widely Recyclable’ Label Introduced to Plastic Packaging Soda Brands Are About to Get Possessive of Their Trash Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Join the Wall Street Journal online October 12th for WSJ Pro Sustainable Business Forum
0:05.8	and take away practical advice on how to build a sustainability strategy that's right for your business.
0:11.5	From now until September 21st, you can save 25% on your ticket by registering at WSJ.com
0:18.8	slash Sustainable Business, no code required. That's WSJ.com slash Sustainable Business.
0:30.0	What's America doing with plastic soft drink bottles? Recycling them.
0:38.0	When I was growing up in the 90s, recycling was everywhere. In commercials,
0:42.5	if you're not recycling, you're throwing it all the way.
0:45.2	TV shows, like the Magic School Bus?
0:47.4	If you've sorted it up, let's recycle this stuff.
0:51.0	The mighty Morphin Power Rangers?
0:52.4	I want to start a cleanup club.
0:54.2	One day, we can do some recycling.
0:56.5	And there's no way we're leaving out Captain Planet.
0:58.9	Only you can make less trash and remember the 3Rs.
1:02.4	Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.
1:08.1	These were all about what we individual consumers could do.
1:12.1	It basically came down to put plastics in the blue bin and you're all good.
1:16.2	Someone else would take care of it from there.
1:18.4	That old soda bottle would be remade into a new bottle,
1:21.2	or a polyester sweater, or insulation.
1:23.6	The power is yours!
1:26.3	But it was never that simple.
	...

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