Environment How many times can you recycle plastic?

[Shole]

I heard that plastic can be recycled only a few times before you can't recycle it anymore, is that true?

 

[Jay™]

Good question and one I really never thought of so I did some digging, here is what I found. (google)

The same piece of plastic can only be recycled about 2-3 times before its quality decreases to the point where it can no longer be used.

Additionally, each time plastic is recycled, additional virgin material is added to help “upgrade” its quality so that the recycled product has a fighting chance in the market against new, durable and fresh goods. So when you read the label “recycled material,” think twice about what the word “recycled” actually means in that context.

 

[ZandraJoi]

That's what is so sad about having plastic. I can see us needing it for some things but we do not need disposables.

 

[Shortie]

This is something I never knew, that plastic does have a life expectancy so to speak. I recycle all the time any plastics that my local council will take and I know that they recycle it and reuse them as well so it makes you wonder what they do once the life expectancy is reached. Do they just end up throwing it when they can no longer do anything to give it a longer lease on life? It is a shame as so many companies how change their packaging to plastic which is disposable but is it really any better in the end?

 

[ZandraJoi]

This is something I never knew, that plastic does have a life expectancy so to speak. I recycle all the time any plastics that my local council will take and I know that they recycle it and reuse them as well so it makes you wonder what they do once the life expectancy is reached. Do they just end up throwing it when they can no longer do anything to give it a longer lease on life? It is a shame as so many companies how change their packaging to plastic which is disposable but is it really any better in the end?

It's also sad where some Recycling Facilities shipped recyclables to China to be burned. I had contacted ours to be sure ours is recycled & fortunately it is.
One can tell plastic has a short shelf life by just seeing the degradation that can come with it. Especially those used in a microwave or left out in the sun; then they become microplastics which is worse.
I would guess they would either landfill or burn it when it reaches the end stage. Alternatives are much better. Glass, metal, aluminum, can be recycled indefinitely.