Polypropylene #5 Plastics Classified as "Widely Recyclable" Despite Less Than 30% of Americans Having Access to Recycling Systems That Accept it
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In response to the classification of polypropylene #5 plastics being classified as “widely recyclable” despite less than 30% of Americans having access to recycling systems that accept it, Greenpeace USA Oceans Campaign Director John Hocevar said:
“Being able to put something in a recycling bin is not the same as recycling. Many cities allow people to put things in bins that are not locally recyclable. Pretending that polypropylene #5 plastics like yogurt cups are widely recyclable only drives down the effectiveness of recycling materials like aluminum and paper. Less than 30% of Americans have access to recycling systems that accept it, and the vast majority of polypropylene packaging will end up in landfills and incinerators regardless of whether people put them in recycling bins – or claims from The Recycling Partnership and How2Recycle.
This kind of greenwashing has real consequences for people in the global south. Misleading the public about the recyclability of throwaway plastic packaging means that more of our waste will be exported to poor countries. It also deflects attention from real solutions to the plastic pollution crisis. We have to phase out single-use plastic, and invest in reuse, refill, and package-free approaches.”
In the 2020 Circular Claims Fall Flat report, Greenpeace USA detailed the US Federal Trade Commission’s requirements for recyclable labels in the US and how polypropylene does not come close to meeting the requirements.
