Recycling Update: How’s It Going?

The 'Stuff You Should Know' podcast episode titled 'Recycling Update: How’s It Going?' revisits the topic of recycling, a subject the hosts Chuck and Josh had previously covered in the early years of the show. The episode begins with the hosts acknowledging that recycling has undergone significant changes since their last discussion. They delve into the history of recycling, tracing its roots back to the industrial revolution and highlighting its resurgence during the 1970s with the first Earth Day. The episode emphasizes the importance of the 'reduce, reuse, recycle' hierarchy, underscoring that recycling should be the last resort after reducing and reusing.

The hosts discuss the advent of single-stream recycling, which has increased participation rates due to its convenience but has also led to increased contamination of recyclable materials. They address the recent seismic shifts in the global recycling market precipitated by China's decision to stop importing certain types of recyclable materials. This policy, known as the 'National Sword,' has left many Western countries, including the United States, scrambling to deal with their own recyclable waste, leading to increased landfilling of materials that were previously recycled.

Throughout the episode, Chuck and Josh detail the recycling process for different materials, such as paper, glass, and plastic. They explain the sorting process at Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and how recyclables are sold on the commodities market to be reprocessed into new products. The hosts also touch upon the economic and environmental benefits of recycling, despite the challenges and criticisms it faces. They conclude the main narrative by stressing the need for better consumer education on what can and cannot be recycled and the importance of manufacturers designing products with recyclability in mind.