Confused about recycling? It’s not your fault

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Shannon Odell |

TED-Ed

• October 2023

If you've ever looked at the bottom of a disposable bottle or cup, you've probably noticed a recycling symbol. Seeing this, many people assume the item should be put in a recycling bin. Yet many plastics are incapable of being recycled at most centers. In fact, only 9% is recycled each year. So why are so few plastics recycled? And what do these symbols actually mean? Shannon Odell investigates. [Directed Yuval Haker, Alon Sivan, narrated by Addison Anderson, music by Dana Roth].