Most people believe that putting plastic in the right bin solves the problem.
The reality is less comfortable.
Only a small share of household plastic is ever recycled.
The rest goes to or is burnt for energy.
Sorting is expensive, and mixed is often not to separate.
Recycled material also has to compete with cheap new plastic.
When oil prices fall, recycling plants lose money and shut.
argue that the focus on recycling is itself a .
It shifts responsibility from producers onto consumers.
Cutting at source is harder but more effective.
Several countries now charge producers for the waste their goods create.
Early results suggest the charge changes design faster than any public campaign.