1. Plastic Recycling Blowing smoke?

2. http://www.ecologycenter.org/ptf/misconceptions.html Seven Misconceptions about Plastic and Plastic Recycling

3. Misconception # 1 Plastics that go into a curbside recycling bin get recycled. • 21.9 % of plastics recycled in CA in 1997 (highest rate in US) Two groups: • high grade, which is very clean, has minimal contamination with other types of plastic, and is made into containers; and • low or fiber grade, which is made into much less demanding products like jacket fill, fleece, carpets, and industrial plastic strapping. • The vast majority of recycled plastics is fiber grade. Data from the Washington DC-based Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers (APR) show that, in 1996, 77.6 % fiber-grade, 20.6 % to non-food containers, and just 1.7 % to new food containers. GRRNhttp://archive.grrn.org/resources/terrain.html

4. Cool stuff CAN be made from recycled plastic http://www.the9billion.com/2011/10/03/new-balance-introduces-sneaker-made-from-recycled-plastic-bottles/ https://www.globalgirlfriend.com/store/ggf/item/31928/recycled-plastic-anarkali-handbag http://keetsa.com/blog/eco-friendly/recycled-plastic-bottle-products/

5. Misconception # 2 Curbside collection will reduce the amount of plastic landfilled. • Recycling programs make people feel its OK to consume and they end up buying more. • study showed no reduction of plastic being sent to the landfill in the areas with curbside collection • since most plastic reprocessing leads to products that are not recycleable, it is only temporarily diverted from landfills.

6. Misconception # 3 A chasing arrows symbol means a plastic container is recyclable. • The arrows are meaningless. • The attorneys general of 11 states objected to false and misleading claims about plastic recyclability and recently won against the American Plastics Council

7. Misconception # 4 Packaging resins are made from petroleum refineries’ waste. • Most packaging plastics are made from natural gas. http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/energy_technologies/how-natural-gas-works.html

8. Misconception # 5 Plastics recyclers pay to promote plastics’ recyclability. • Most such ads are placed by virgin plastic manufacturers whose goal is to promote plastic sales. • These advertisements are aimed at removing or diminishing negative public conception of plastic as unrecyclable, environmentally harmful, and a major component of wastes that must be landfilled or burned. http://www.ecofriend.com/entry/zero-landfill-waste-a-long-way-to-go/

9. Misconception # 6 Using plastic containers conserves energy. • making plastic containers uses as much energy as making glass containers from virgin materials • much more than making glass containers from recycled materials. • Using refillables is the most energy conservative. http://rethinkwisconsin.org/campaigns/refill-wisconsin/

10. Misconception # 7 Our choice is limited to recycling or wasting.

11. http://tote4pgh.com/2011/11/25/recycling-plastic-bags-in-pittsburgh/plastic-bag-cycle1/http://tote4pgh.com/2011/11/25/recycling-plastic-bags-in-pittsburgh/plastic-bag-cycle1/

12. Five Strategies to Reduce the Environmental Impact of Plastics 1. Reduce the use2. Reuse containers3. Require producers to take back resins 4. Legislatively require recycled content 5. Standardize labeling and inform the public “Germany's Green Dot program, begun in 1991 and fully implemented in 1993, is a more thorough form of manufacturer's accountability. This legislation, the world's most progressive, requires manufacturers to take cradle-to-grave responsibility for their packaging.” http://archive.grrn.org/resources/terrain.html