Walk down any grocery aisle and you’ll see it everywhere: shiny plastic wrappers, clamshell containers, bottles, bags, and boxes, almost every product wrapped in some kind of plastic. Turn one of these items over, and you’ll likely spot the familiar triangle made of arrows. That symbol feels like a promise, reassuring us that when we toss the item into the blue bin, it will be reborn into something new.
But here’s the hard truth: that triangle doesn’t guarantee recyclability. In fact, globally less than 9% of plastic has ever been recycled. The vast majority has been landfilled, incinerated, or shipped overseas, where it often becomes someone else’s pollution problem.
Plastic recycling has been marketed as a solution, but in reality, it’s a system designed with confusion, inefficiency, and low success rates. Let’s dive deeper into why so little plastic actually gets recycled, the hidden challenges in the system, and how you can take meaningful action to reduce waste and support true circular solutions.
Why Plastic Recycling Isn’t Working
At first glance, plastic seems like a miracle material: it’s cheap, lightweight, and incredibly versatile. But that affordability comes at a cost. Plastic is cheap to make from virgin fossil fuels but costly and can sometimes be inefficient to recycle.
Here’s why:
Different plastics aren’t equal. There are seven main resin types (#1 through #7). Some, like PET (#1, used in soda bottles) and HDPE (#2, used in milk jugs), are widely recyclable. Others, like polystyrene foam (#6) and mixed plastics (#7), have little to no market value. Facilities often can’t process them profitably, so they end up in landfills.
Contamination is rampant. Even recyclable plastics must be clean, dry, and properly sorted. A food-soiled yogurt tub can contaminate an entire batch.
Infrastructure can’t keep up. Recycling systems were never built for the flood of single-use plastics we now consume. Many municipal facilities lack the equipment to process complex packaging like multilayer chip bags, black plastic takeout containers, or squeeze tubes.
The economics don’t add up. Virgin plastic made from oil is almost always cheaper than recycled plastic. Without strong policies or demand, companies have little incentive to buy recycled content, leaving collected materials with nowhere to go.
The result? A massive disconnect between what we think happens to our recycling and what actually happens.
The Problem With Confusing Packaging
To make matters worse, many items are designed to mislead consumers. Black plastics, multi-layered packaging (like chip bags), and mixed-material containers (like coffee cups with plastic linings) may display recycling symbols but are not processed by most facilities.
This confusion leads to what’s called wishcycling - the hopeful but harmful act of tossing something into the bin “just in case.” Unfortunately, wishcycling can contaminate entire loads, causing otherwise recyclable materials to be rejected and landfilled.
Where Most Plastic Really Goes
Let’s look at the big picture. Since mass plastic production began in the 1950s, the world has created over 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic. According to a landmark study published in Science Advances:
About 79% has ended up in landfills or the natural environment
About 12% has been incinerated (often releasing toxic emissions)
Only 9% has been recycled
Even when plastics are recycled, they rarely get turned into the same product again. A plastic bottle might get downcycled into carpet fiber, clothing, or composite lumber, but eventually, those products also become waste. This means plastic recycling is not truly circular at this time.
What You Can Do Instead
While the system is flawed, there are powerful actions you can take as a consumer and community member to reduce plastic waste and support real solutions.
Learn Your Local Guidelines
Every municipality has different rules. For example, in Edmonton, the WasteWise app is a great tool to confirm what belongs in the blue bag or garbage. A coffee cup might be recyclable in one city and trash in another. Always check locally.
Avoid Plastic Where You Can
This is the most effective step. Bring your own containers, buy in bulk, choose unwrapped produce, and support stores that offer refill and reuse options. Every piece of plastic avoided is one less that has to be managed.
Choose Better Plastics When Necessary
If plastic is unavoidable, aim for #1 (PET) or #2 (HDPE) plastics, which have the highest recycling rates. But remember: even these need to be clean, dry, and sorted properly.
Stop Wishcycling
When in doubt, leave it out. A single non-recyclable item can contaminate an entire batch. Instead, seek out specialty recyclers that handle tricky items.
Here are some examples:
TerraCycle – A global leader in hard-to-recycle solutions, TerraCycle offers free and paid programs that collect everything from chip bags and coffee pods to beauty product packaging and cigarette butts. They break down materials and turn them into new products, ensuring items stay out of landfills.
ReWaste (Alberta) – Based in Edmonton and Calgary, ReWaste provides a cannabis packaging recycling program. They collect rigid plastics, mylar bags, and other materials from dispensaries and consumers, giving this challenging waste stream a second life.
Local Drop-Off Depots & Retail Programs Many grocery and hardware stores now have bins for plastic film, shopping bags, and even battery or lightbulb recycling. While not always run by the municipality, these programs keep items out of the landfill and ensure proper handling.
By connecting with these programs, you can take responsibility for the plastics that municipalities cannot process—without risking contamination of the broader recycling stream.
These specialty recyclers close gaps in the municipal system and keep valuable materials circulating.
Support Waste Reduction Policies
Individual action matters, but system change is crucial. Support bans on single-use plastics, push for and advocate for investment in reuse infrastructure.
Why Recycling Symbols Don’t Equal Truth
The recycling symbol we’ve all come to trust is one of the most misleading designs in modern history. Originally created in the 1970s to encourage better waste management, it has since been co-opted by the plastics industry as a marketing tool.
Placing a triangle on packaging gives the illusion of recyclability, even when the item has no realistic chance of being recycled in most facilities. This has fueled decades of overconsumption and misplaced consumer confidence.
Building a Better Future: Beyond Recycling
At Earth Warrior, we believe in going beyond recycling. The most impactful solutions come from reducing waste at the source, reusing materials, and designing systems that keep resources in circulation for as long as possible.
That means:
Choosing reusable over disposable
Repairing and upcycling instead of tossing
Supporting businesses that build circular economy models
Educating others so we can shift culture together
Recycling should be the last resort, not the first line of defense.
Don’t Let the Symbol Fool You
Plastic recycling has been sold as a cure-all solution, but the numbers tell a different story. Most plastics never get recycled, and the system is riddled with inefficiencies and false promises.
But that doesn’t mean we’re powerless. By staying informed, avoiding plastic where possible, using specialty recyclers, and supporting policies for systemic change, we can all play a role in building a waste-free future.
At Earth Warrior, we’re committed to creating zero-waste solutions by diverting textiles from landfills and recirculating them into new, useful products. Because true sustainability starts with honesty, creativity, and collective action.
Let’s reuse more. Let’s consume less. And let’s demand a world where sustainability isn’t a guessing game.
Want to learn more about living sustainably?
Check out these Earth Warrior blogs next:
Our Guide to Shopping at a Refillery: A Sustainable Shopping Experience
Discover how refilleries are transforming the way we shop. This guide walks you through what to expect, how to prepare, and why supporting refilleries reduces packaging waste while building a more circular economy.
Embracing Zero Waste Living: 20 Simple Swaps for Beginners
Small changes can make a big difference. From reusable cutlery kits to fabric produce bags, this article highlights practical swaps that help you reduce single-use waste without feeling overwhelmed.
Embracing Plastic-Free Pantries: A Guide to Storing Produce Sustainably
Learn how to store fruits and vegetables without relying on plastic wrap or bags. This guide shares effective and eco-friendly storage solutions that extend freshness and cut down on food waste.
And don’t forget to join our email list for tips, inspiration, and stories on sustainable living, plus updates on Earth Warrior’s latest products made in our zero-waste studio.