Did you know that California is the top exporter of contaminated plastic in the nation? Contamination occurs when anything from food waste to the wrong kind of plastic is bundled with truly recyclable plastic. This contaminated recycling is then often sent oversees to poor countries who lack infrastructure to manage it.
To read more about the issue, and what California is doing about it, read this article from Waste 360: California Clamps Down on Plastic Exports
How can you help reduce plastic waste? Don’t buy it in the first place! Choose reusable containers, purchase drinks in aluminum and glass (both are infinitely recyclable materials) and purchase products with eco-friendly paper packaging whenever possible.
Click here to learn more about what kind of plastic is accepted in your curbside recycling bin.