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What A Day

The Plastic Recycling Long Con

Sep 28, 2024
Oliver Franklin-Wallis, a journalist focused on environmental issues, and Rob Bonta, the California Attorney General leading a lawsuit against Exxon Mobil, dive into the complexities of plastic recycling. They discuss how Exxon has misled the public regarding the sustainability of single-use plastics. The conversation explores why recycling is often ineffective, the industry's deceptive marketing tactics, and the heavier burden of plastic waste on society. Will this lawsuit change the narrative on corporate responsibility in plastic pollution?
29:18

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • California's lawsuit against ExxonMobil reveals that only 5% of plastic waste is recycled, exposing the long-standing deception about recycling's sustainability.
  • The plastic industry's manipulation of recycling messaging and misleading symbols exemplifies a larger strategy to prioritize profit over environmental health and integrity.

Deep dives

The Myth of Plastic Recycling

Plastic recycling has transitioned from a hopeful initiative to a widely regarded deception. California's lawsuit against ExxonMobil highlights the assertion that only 5% of U.S. plastic waste is recycled, with the remaining 95% ending up in landfills, oceans, and landscapes. The lawsuit points to ExxonMobil's campaign over decades to mislead the public about the sustainability of plastic recycling, claiming that it is not genuinely feasible. This revelation leads to a frustrating realization for many consumers who believed their recycling efforts were making a difference.

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