Is recycling a complete scam? (PART 2)

About this episode

This episode investigates the effectiveness of recycling and its implications on the climate crisis.

Growing up, we were told to always recycle plastic to save the planet. But does recycling actually do anything? In this special two-part investigation, we explore the history of recycling, the rise of “disposable” plastics, and find out how effective recycling actually is.  In part one (with the help of Nayeema Raza, host of  Smart Girl Dumb Questions ), we hear from Davis Allen, PhD, Senior Investigative Researcher at the Center for Climate Integrity , who alleges that plastic recycling is a deceptive story engineered by fossil fuel and petrochemical companies to make us feel guilty for using the very plastics they profit from. Davis says recycling is a distraction from the real problem.  Listen to part one: Apple , Spotify , Others In part two, we visit a recycling center and speak to Kara Napolitano, Education Director at Circular Services to find out how recycling actually works, learn the amount of bottles that actually make it to the recycling facility, and reckon with our own individual impact to determine if recycling is a viable solution to our climate crisis or simply a feel-good placebo in an ever-expanding consumer culture.  For links…

People in this episode

Guests: Davis Allen, Kara Napolitano

Topics covered

• recycling
• plastic waste
• climate crisis
• consumer culture
• environmental impact

Keywords

• recycling
• plastic
• climate change
• environment
• sustainability

Sponsors

NordVPN

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Center for Climate Integrity, Circular Services, Smart Girl Dumb Questions

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