Am I Doing It Wrong? cover image

Am I Doing It Wrong?

Making Sense of Recycling with Nena Shaw

Jul 11, 2024
Nena Shaw, Director of Resource Conservation and Sustainability at the EPA, shares her expertise on recycling and waste management. She tackles common misconceptions about recyclability, highlighting the importance of local guidelines. The conversation dives into the challenges of plastics and the impact of 'wish cycling' on recycling efforts. Shaw also discusses the benefits of composting food waste and offers tips for sustainable shopping. Listeners are encouraged to rethink their recycling habits and engage in proactive waste management.
40:24

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The complexity of U.S. recycling is exacerbated by diverse local rules and varying capabilities of materials recovery facilities, leading to consumer confusion.
  • Reducing food waste through improved management practices can significantly decrease a household's environmental footprint while also providing economic benefits.

Deep dives

Understanding Recycling's History

Recycling has been practiced for centuries, but modern recycling as we know it began taking shape in the 1960s and 70s when the environmental impacts of waste became clear. This era highlighted the importance of conserving resources and protecting the environment, ultimately leading to government initiatives aimed at improving recycling rates. The discussion reveals how awareness and policy have ebbed and flowed over the decades, impacting recycling practices differently in various communities. Importantly, the evolution of recycling reflects a larger cultural shift towards environmental consciousness and sustainability.

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