A History of Confusion and Obfuscation in Plastics Recycling

An NPR investigation reveals how the plastic recycling symbol misled the public — and why it traces back to oil companies.

CIRT Team
plasticsrecyclingoil industryNPR
A History of Confusion and Obfuscation in Plastics Recycling

A History of Confusion and Obfuscation in Plastics Recycling

In this episode of NPR's Planet Money, an investigative journalist follows the history of plastics recycling in America — why there is a chasing arrows symbol on almost every plastic item today, where the idea of recycling plastics came from, and how it all ties back to oil companies.

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