Myths Regarding Recycling Are Making People Distrustful Of The Industry

Results of the new poll made by Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) in Washington, D.C. revealed that when it comes to plastic, American adults no longer accept common statements regarding the recycling industry. Some people distrust the truth and prefer to believe in falsehoods.

The success of plastic recycling is largely dependent on the cooperation of people to ensure that it becomes profitable and the best use is made from plastic scrap. If the public is sceptical about the benefits of plastic recycling, the level of cooperation may not be that be high. Recycling will not be as successful as expected.

Robin Wiener, the president of ISRI has said that so much effort has been invested in order to put right the public misconceptions on the value of recycling. He believes that the data gathered through Harris Polls in Rochester New York show that they have been successful in fighting the myths on recycling. Respondents were asked several questions about recycling which they have to answer with either true or false.

The true statements include:

• Recycling minimizes greenhouse emissions (49% believed it is true; 51% thought it was false)
• The US recycling industry is technical and sophisticated (28% believed it is true but nearly a third do not know what materials can be recycled)
• Enough materials can be recycled in the US to meet production needs of local manufacturing (27% true; 73% false)
• Recycling dates back to the caveman days (19% true; 81% false)

The false statements include:

• Recyclable materials are mixed with residential trash (11% true; 89% false)
• Products made from recycled materials are less in quality than those made from new materials (8% true; 92% false)
• There are no economic benefits to recycling (7% true; 93% false)

One type of equipment that has been designed for heavy duty plastic recycling is the plastic shredder. Aside from plastic, the shredders can also be used for wood, paper, cardboard, e-waste and rubber of various shapes and sizes. Even large diameter PVC and HDPE and bundles of smaller pipes can be shredded so that they can be recycled into other products for domestic consumption.