Why is it still so hard to recycle plastic

Описание: Recycling is one of the most complex industries in the US. It’s highly localized and not all that profitable. So what’s actually going on? I followed the entire lifecycle of a plastic bottle to find out.

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Ever wonder who pays me what in these videos? I’ll tell you!
No one paid us anything to make this. We (Morning Brew) funded this entirely and retain full editorial control. Republic did give us that cool little lego truck, though.

Intro music by Caleb Moore https://open.spotify.com/artist/5MvhD...

Further reading
Glass Half Full https://glasshalffull.co/

Professor Lily’s book, Resisting Garbage https://utpress.utexas.edu/9781477323...

Citizen Coke https://bookshop.org/p/books/citizen-...
Coca-Cola lowers ambition with new 2035 packaging sustainability targets https://www.wastedive.com/news/coca-c...
Wayback machine link for Coke’s World Without Waste https://web.archive.org/web/201801191...

More on New Orleans recycling
City Council decision to drop universal recycling program followed opposition from waste haulers https://veritenews.org/2026/03/13/cit...
You had questions about recycling in New Orleans. Here’s what we know. https://veritenews.org/2026/04/06/rec...
As deadline approaches, mayor seeks to revive no-cost federal grant for universal recycling — but does not want money for carts https://veritenews.org/2026/03/31/new...


Chapters
00:00-01:35 intro
01:36-03:20 zero waste pt 1
03:21-04:50 riding in the truck
04:51-08:25 how recycling gets sorted
08:26-11:43 polymer center
11:44-15:51 coke bottling plant
15:52-18:29 trash professor
18:30-19:18 zero waste pt 2
19:19-20:13 nawlins zero waste
20:14-26:42 glass half full
26:43-26:56 end of zero waste
26:57-29:25 trash professor pt 2
29:26-30:49 TLDR
30:50-31:58 sci fi movie

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