Recycling | Fatal Conveniences™

The average American citizen produces over 1600 pounds of waste every year, more than any other country in the world. And we only recycle about 35% of this waste, which is less than any other country in the world. We all agree that recycling is the right thing to do, but we’re not actually doing it. And when we do, we’re not doing it effectively. It’s time to be honest about the delusion of recycling. WELCOME TO Fatal Conveniences™. Every time you crumple up that plastic bottle or aluminum can and toss it in that big blue bin, you’ve done your part, right? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Most of the recycling we toss in those bins ends up in landfills. That’s right, your recycling ends up in the same place as your trash. Oh, but it gets worse. In this episode, I explain what actually happens to all the plastic you think you’re recycling. And I dispel some other myths and delusions we’ve been made to believe over the years. But most importantly, I give you some actionable advice to reduce your waste entirely. If we can cut down on the use of these “recyclables”, we can help end the problem for good. Remember, once you know better, you can do better. And that’s what we all have to do when it comes to recycling– do better. BREAKDOWN [00:02:44] The history of recycling [00:04:36] Blue bins of delusion [00:07:16] Recycling plastic and paper [00:10:15] Facts on plastic [00:11:40] Conscious Consumerism & other ways to reduce waste LINKS US produces far more waste and recycles far less of it than other developed countries |  Plastics | The Guardian How much plastic actually gets recycled? | Live Science The impact of improper solid waste management to plastic pollution in Indonesian coast and  marine environment - ScienceDirect   America Finally Admits Recycling Doesn’t Work - Foundation for Economic Education Is Recycling Worth It? - Scientific American Footprint Bite Toothpaste- 20% off your order with code DARIN Download Episode Transcript Here I really hope you enjoyed this episode of The Darin Olien Show! If you want to support or follow the podcast, here's how: Subscribe, rate or listen on Apple, Spotify, Stitcher Follow my Instagram to keep updated on the podcast, weekly deep dives and other projects that I'm supporting (and the occasional Chaga appreciation post) Sign up for my weekly Fatal Conveniences™ Email to get topic breakdowns & solutions delivered straight to your inbox. For feedback or suggestions, email my team at info@darinolien.com Find the list of brands & products that get the big tick of approval from me here. Comment below to join the discussion!