Reducing plastic pollution means rethinking recycling

I recently heard a fantastic speaker from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and learnt some eye-opening facts about recycling and plastic waste in the environment. 

I was shocked to hear that only about 10% of plastics produced are recycled, especially due to issues such as contamination. Even for those plastics that are recycled, loss of quality during the process is an issue which means there is a finite number of times plastic can be recycled. (Interestingly, glass and aluminium do not lose any quality during recycling, so can be recycled endlessly!) Remember, plastic is durable and built to last. It doesn’t biodegrade but only breaks down.

For me, these stats really hit home. Recycling is not the answer to reducing plastic pollution. We need to make a change at the other end of the process. We need to change how and what we purchase - especially plastic - to an absolute minimum, and use recycling only as a last resort.

Here’s how we can rethink recycling.

1. Don’t just Reduce - Refuse. 

The best first step is actually to avoid buying items that will become waste!

Going totally plastic-free can feel like a big behaviour change, but it’s easy. Just take it step by step. First, Reduce.

Reduce - Start by being conscious of the packaged goods you buy and start to reduce the amount you use. Buying veggies at the wet market or farmer’s market can be a good way to reduce plastic. More on mindful shopping here.

Some people are surprised to hear that disposable coffee cups, bubble tea cups, plastic bags/carriers and disposable cutlery are all non-recyclable. When it comes down to it, focusing on how to reduce plastic is the answer to stop it entering the environment. I love the slogan from the SEC (Singapore Environment Council) slogan, “Don’t waste. Reduce lah”.

Ok, now it’s time to step up and Refuse!

Refuse - Refusing anything and everything that comes packaged is the most impactful change we can make. In fact, it’s really the only way to reduce pollution from plastic (single-use or otherwise). Make a commitment to yourself that you will refuse anything plastic, or plastic-wrapped, or you’ll go without. 

3. Reuse

Of course it follows that reusing is also a much better option than recycling. Reuse anything you can before adding to your recycling bin. Give your plastic containers a second lease of life before you recycle them. Head to the bulk foods store (Scoop, The Source or Unpackt in Singapore) and refill them with produce or cleaning products. Glass jars are fantastic for storing all your dry goods in the cupboard, and they look lovely too.

4. Review

Know your plastic codes.

True or False - Those little arrows on your plastic container mean it’s recyclable?

It’s False! The number inside the arrows is actually a plastic code. This lets you know whether or not the item is easily recyclable.  Plastic code 6 is not accepted in curbside recycling in Singapore (although this can differ by location so check locally). Check out this great infographic with more info on plastic codes and recycling.

5. Rinse

Dirty containers (think stained, oily pasta boxes) won't be accepted, and in fact they're likely to contaminate other items in the bigger collections. This means that despite our best intentions, the whole thing could end up being sent to landfill. #majorfail

A quick (but thorough) wash beforehand will really improve the chances of your items being recycled.

6. Recycle

A circular economy is the ideal aim for production. This means a system that aims for a ‘closed-loop’ where materials are constantly reused rather than being discarded after a single use. While we need to be less reliant on recycling, there is certainly a role for it in a circular economy.

Innovations around recycling are popping up with organisations like Terracycle coming to the fore. Their mission is to collect hard-to-recycle materials (like ocean plastic) and turn them into new products. Find out whether there is a Terracycle program near you.

To ensure that we are moving towards a circular economy, and an important part of that is to rethink how we purchase.

7. Rethink

As consumers, we can have a huge impact by putting our money where our mouths are or voting with our dollars. If we stop buying plastic goods, companies will have to change their approach. Go for bamboo (a sustainably grown and biodegradable product) over plastic wherever you can, or check for compostable options. Check out these companies and their innovations around packaging.

Buying fresh produce without any packaging and eating less packaged food overall is no doubt the best way to go. And you can support small business while you’re at it! Check out your local market this weekend!

We can also opt for second-hand goods and upcycle what we already have to make new items. It’s worth (re)thinking about.

8. Relax!

Knowing that we can’t rely on recycling, makes us rethink our daily actions and purchases. By changing our mindset to reduce plastic pollution, we can rest assured we are doing the best thing for the planet.  Now you can relax knowing that your actions are making a big difference.

What else can we do to reduce plastic? Let us know in the comments below!

Recycling right… it might be time to rethink!