How to fight epic fail in plastics recycling

This month's report on California's abysmal plastics recycling rates made it clear that the state and individual residents need to do more to reduce the amount of waste going into landfills, streams, rivers and the ocean.

- BY JAMES RAINEY

In the report, the state's waste agency said items like yogurt containers, shampoo bottles and restaurant takeout trays are being recycled at rates only in the low single digits. Colored shampoo and detergent bottles, made from polyethylene, or #1 plastic, are getting recycled at a rate of just 5%. Even plastic water bottles that are presumably more recyclable are being turned into new products at just 16%.

My colleague Susanne Rust reported those findings this month and she and another expert explained to me despite Californians' dutiful use of blue recycling bins why so little plastic actually gets turned into new products.