Chapter 09 — Big & Curious
Is recycling actually working?
Partially. Aluminum and cardboard recycle well and repeatedly. Most plastics don't — under 10% of plastic ever produced has been recycled, and most 'recycling' of plastic is downcycling into lower-grade uses.
Follow-up questions
Which numbers can I recycle?
1 (PET) and 2 (HDPE) are widely recycled. 3–7 mostly aren't, regardless of the arrows on them.
Do I need to rinse containers?
Rinse enough that food residue doesn't contaminate the batch. It doesn't need to be dishwasher clean.
Are compostable plastics better?
Only in industrial composting facilities. In landfills or oceans they behave much like regular plastic.
What actually helps?
Reduce and reuse — the two words that came first in the slogan for a reason.
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