Why is recycling time consuming

One study found that a ceramic cup would need to be used at least 39 times to be a better option than paper disposable cups, and 1, times when compared with a styrofoam one. A plastic reusable cup would need to be washed at least 17 times to be more sustainable than paper disposable ones, and times when compared with styrofoam.

Then comes the issue of whether and how these disposable cups can be recycled. Most outlets now use paper rather than styrofoam cups. While the plastic lid can be recycled, in most instances the cup cannot as there is a film of a plastic waterproof material inside it. The key to all of this is knowledge and balance — that is, after all, what sustainability is all about. Portsmouth Climate Festival — Portsmouth, Portsmouth. Edition: Available editions United Kingdom.

Become an author Sign up as a reader Sign in. Trevor Thornton , Deakin University. I was wondering this very question the other day while reading a Facebook post about recycling plastic. Someone had asked if it was possible to recycle plastic bags, bubble wrap, and other types of film.

The short answer is yes. New York and many other states require large retail stores to make plastic film recycling bins available for this purpose. For the reasons I outline below, recycling is facing a crisis. The U. In fact, the vast majority of the roughly 8. The problem is that not enough of us know these alarming facts.

This seemingly reassuring message is delivered via public information campaigns funded in large part by plastics industry groups. Their goal is to create a false sense of security that recycling efforts are environmentally effective while justifying our continued consumption habits.

Reusing, reducing and preventing waste — for example, by choosing products that are less packaged, refusing disposable coffee cups or buying secondhand — are all better options. Environmental organisations and influencers have targeted keen recyclers with this message, in the hope that they will take further steps to live more sustainably. But there are only limited changes a person can make to their shopping habits, in a marketplace where packaging is embedded within infrastructures of provision.

So responsible waste management is really a responsibility shared between governments, producers, local authorities, waste companies and citizens. In particular, the companies that create the materials that become household waste have huge power to reduce it.

On the whole, it probably is worth the effort to sort your waste, despite some problematic practices, because recycling does drive down the amount of waste going to landfill and demand for recycling services will help drive improvements and oversight. Katy Wheeler is a lecturer in sociology at the University of Essex. This article first appeared on The Conversation. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies.

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