"Trash or Recycling? Why Plastic Keeps Us Guessing."

"Did you know the ♻ symbol doesn’t mean something is actually recyclable? Play our trashy garbage-sorting game. Then, read on about how we got here, and what can be done."

"The universal symbol for recycling, known as the “chasing arrows” logo, is stamped on so many things. But that doesn’t mean they’re recyclable.

Manufacturers can print the logo on just about any product. That’s because its main purpose isn’t to say whether it’s recyclable, but to identify the type of plastic it’s made from. (For example, if there’s a “3” in the center, it’s PVC, which most curbside recycling programs don’t accept.) The logo is so widely misunderstood that last year California banned its use on things that aren’t recyclable.

There are efforts to improve the system. But first, the central question: Why is this so hard?"

Winston Choi-Schagrin and Hiroko Tabuchi report for the New York Times with illustrations by Rinee Shah April 21, 2022.

Source: NYTimes, 04/29/2022