• mozz@mbin.grits.dev
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    116
    arrow-down
    4
    ·
    17 days ago

    Metal and paper recycling is super useful.

    But yes, plastic recycling is a massive lie that probably does quite a bit more harm/waste than it would be just to throw it in the landfill

    • WolfLink@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      40
      ·
      16 days ago

      Metal and glass are recycleable. And if they do get into the environment, they are really just purified rocks and will gradually become sand in the weather. (Not that it’s great to have soda cans and broken glass in the sea, but to some extent it’s not as bad as microplastics).

      Paper is recycleable.

      Paper, wood, and other plant products (e.g. cotton) are biodegradable and come from plants that can be farmed.

      In terms of sustainability it’s something like:

      1. Plant products
      2. Metal and glass
      3. Plastics

      But also even more important than that, it’s far better to reuse something many times than to use single use products, regardless of the material they are made of.