Debunking the Plastic Recycling Myth with Susan Keefe

About this episode

Susan Keefe discusses the truth behind plastic recycling and corporate accountability in the fight against single-use plastics.

What if I told you that the plastic cup you just tossed into a Starbucks recycling bin will never actually be recycled? Our guest is Susan Keefe . Susan founded a consulting business called Eco Forward, which is certified as a California Green Business and she also works as, the Southern California Director for Beyond Plastics. She’s, an environmental advocate fighting to reduce single-use plastics via education and the creation/enforcement of strong plastic policies. She also works to expose false recycling claims and demand honesty from corporations and local municipalities. Last year, Susan personally investigated Starbucks' so-called "recyclable" plastic cups alongside her colleague, retired chemical engineer, Jan Dell. They brought the story to CBS television to prove that, despite the custom-labeled recycling bins found in many Starbucks stores, the plastic cups and lids aren’t being recycled at all. The reason? It’s not economically or technically feasible, and there’s no market for them. The plastic waste ends up in landfill, or worst incinerated. Is It’s piling up, and consumers are being misled. But thanks to relentless advocacy and media investigations…

People in this episode

Host: Juan Eduardo Steigerwald

Guest: Susan Keefe

Topics covered

• plastic recycling
• environmental advocacy
• corporate accountability
• single-use plastics
• consumer awareness

Keywords

• plastic cups
• recycling myth
• environment
• Starbucks
• sustainability
• plastic policies
• consumer deception

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Eco Forward, Beyond Plastics, Starbucks

Places: California, Southern California

More episodes of Health, Happiness, Planet

• Stop Fixing, Start Aligning. Rethinking Health with Gary Teroller · May 20, 2026 · 56 min
• Plant-Based Strength for Firefighters & the Planet with Rip Esselstyn · March 6, 2026 · 1h 10m
• Clean Food Dirty Girl & Plant-Based Living with Molly Patrick · December 2, 2025 · 1h 17m
• The Kind Luxury Approach to Modern Living with Emmanuelle Bonham · October 23, 2025 · 1h 10m
• What Doctors Miss in Training. Dr. Michael Klaper’s Mission to Move Medicine Forward · August 22, 2025 · 58 min
• Kindness is the New Luxury with Michelin-Star Vegan Chef Alexis Gauthier · June 6, 2025 · 60 min