Why aren’t we recycling more plastic?

In many countries, you can find the universally recognized recycling symbol – three chasing arrows – on plastic products. But not every plastic item with this symbol can be easily recycled. In fact, although plastic recycling technology has been around for decades, most of our plastic waste today still ends up in landfills.

While millions of tonnes of our plastic waste pile up in landfills and in the natural environment, many people are wondering why recycling rates are so low.

We’ve gathered some of the most common questions to explain the recycling process – and its limitations – and help you navigate this complex topic.