Facts About Recycling Plastic 2020
There are plenty of facts about recycling plastic to consider when going green!
For example, the economic benefit of recycling plastic has a large impact on local communities.
Plus, plastic is in many of the products we use every day—from soap bottles to the clothes you’re wearing!
Because of how much we use plastic each day, it’s important to understand why and how we should dispose of it.
To reduce your plastic waste, learn more with these facts about recycling plastic and go sustainable today.
1. It Can Take Up to 1,000 Years for Plastic to Degrade
This is one of the commonly known facts about recycling plastic.
But, it is still an important one to remember.
Overall, plastic material can take up to 1,000 years to fully decompose in landfills.
While plastic bags can take 10 to 1,000 years to degrade, plastic bottles can take up to 400 years to decompose.
2. There Are Recyclable Plastics Throughout Your Home
You might be surprised to learn that there are many recyclable plastics around your home!
For example, if you use shampoo and conditioner bottles, they are likely made from plastic. The same can be said for laundry detergent bottles as well.
One way to reduce your personal plastic waste is to recycle plastics you may not have thought about before.
Conversely, you can also find the products you love in more sustainable packaging!
3. There Will Be More Plastic in the Ocean Than Fish by 2050
This is one of the most surprising facts about recycling plastic—because it shows why we need to recycle.
While we can’t know the exact number, scientists estimate there are around 3.5 trillion fish living in the ocean.
According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, it has been estimated that there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
In other words, the weight of how much plastic is in the ocean will surpass the many fish who call the ocean their home.
4. Americans Today Have Access to More Recycling Programs
Since the 1990s, recycling plastic has grown in the United States.
This is thanks to the involvement of plastic manufacturers who invest in plastic recycling programs as well as general recycling awareness.
Plus, over 90% of Americans have access to personal as well as industrial plastic recycling services.
Due to the restrictions on what can be recycled at home or at work, it is necessary to have various programs for recycling types of plastic, like plastic film.
For example, when working with a company like Generated Materials Recovery, you can receive a recycling program tailored to your plastic waste needs!
5. 2.5 Million Bottles Are Thrown Away Each Hour in the United States
Have you ever wondered about the number of plastic bottles you throw away?
As of 2020, people in the United States collectively throw away at least 2.5 million plastic bottles per hour.
To put this in perspective, plastic bottles are the third most collected waste in the Ocean Conservancy’s annual beach cleanups.
So, the 2.5 million plastic bottles being thrown away each hour only make up part of the total plastic waste that landfills in the United States see each day.
Feel Fantastic About Recycling Your Plastic!
Now that you understand why not recycling plastic can have negative results, it’s time to take advantage of the benefits of going green!
First, however, you must know what your plastic recycling needs are.
For example, what kind of plastic are you looking to recycle? Is it bulk plastic recycling?
Knowing these unique needs can make partnering with professional recycling companies, such as GMR, much easier.
In the end, focusing on manufacturing and industrial recycling solutions allows GMR to provide clients with tailored recycling programs that work.