S1 E2: Does recycling work?

S1 E2: Recycling. It’s something a lot of us do on a daily basis that helps protect our planet. Sorting out plastic, cans, and cardboard seems almost second nature at this point, right? But, in this episode, Christina learns that this isn’t necessarily the case for everyone, and she sets out to learn more about how we deal with our waste. 

Is there more to it? What are the big recycling dos and don’ts? And what’s composting all about? What happens when we throw food in the trash?

Sarah Dearman, Vice President of Circular Ventures at The Recycling Partnership, shares the lowdown on recycling today. She also introduces a key concept; circularity. Christina then sits down with TerraCycle, an innovative company that aims to recycle everything, to better understand the science of recycling, and what the future could look like. 

After all of this talk about recycling, Christina decides to see it in action. She visits local recycling hub Sure We Can, and gets a tour from Executive Director Ryan Castalia. A big question presents itself; what about plastic? Svanika Balasubramanian of rePurpose Global paints a stark picture of plastic pollution, and what we can do to help.

Finally, Christina takes a look at another circular process with Rebecca Louie: composting. She hears about the potential to compost in her apartment and community, and what a large-scale compost system might mean for our planet’s health.

Highlights:

• Defining circularity (3:11)
• TerraCycle’s “recycle everything” approach (9:29)
• The science of recycling (13:33)
• On the ground at Sure We Can recycling and sustainability center (16:33)
• Breaking down our world’s big plastic problem (24:49)
• The impact (and the joy!) of composting (31:52)
• A glimpse into Portland’s curbside composting system (36:08)

Terminology:

• Circular Economy
• Upcycle
• Wish-cycle
• Canner
• Extended Producer Responsibility
• Zero Waste
• Plastic Footprint
• Composting

Resources:

• Learn more about
  • The Recycling Partnership
  • TerraCycle
  • Sure We Can
  • rePurpose Global
  • The Compostess
• How to Compost
• Find out what your local government is doing
• 5 R’s of Sustainability
• 4 Innovative Plastic Pollution Solutions
• A Guide to Recycling Symbols
• How to Compost in a Small Space