Black Plastic Is Everywhere And It Doesn’t Get Recycled, Here’s Why

We know plastic is bad, but one color in particular is heading to our landfills undetected.

Read More:

Toxic Chemicals From E-Waste Are Working Their Way Into Our Food Packaging
““There are environmental and health impacts arising from the production and use of plastics in general, but black plastics pose greater risks and hazards,” Andrew Turner, a researcher at the University of Plymouth said in a statement.”

Sorting Black Plastic According to Type Enables Previously Recycling
“Conventional sorting systems operate specifically within the near-infrared range, which in general allows them to categorize plastics. But what works especially well for most plastics fails for black ones: the soot that gives them their dark color absorbs most of the signal, so the optical system cannot see these substances”

Banning plastic straws sounds annoying, but here’s why it’s a fight cities must win
“Starbucks announced that it will eliminate plastic straws globally by 2020. McDonald's said last month that it plans to test plastic straw alternatives at select US locations this year. In the UK, the fast-food giant has already decided to adopt biodegradable paper straws by 2019. And Bon Appétit Management, a food-service company with 1,000 US locations, announced last May that it's phasing out plastic straws as well.Meanwhile, several American cities have enacted their own bans or have proposals in the works. In 2012, Miami Beach banned hotels from serving straws because they were ending up on the sand and in the ocean, threatening marine life. Fort Myers, Florida and Seattle took the same steps in January 2018.”
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[MichelZelff]

Watching this on a black PC.. with a black monitor.. and a black keyboard.. black mouse.. with a plastic black phone in my pocket O__O

[Master_Therion]

Soon, the Event Horizon Telescope will release the first picture of a Black Hole, but our recycling facility cameras can't even see black plastic...

[RickiBurrow]

As a polymer quality technician working with mostly post consumer waste I can only say that anything that isn't polypropylene or polyethylene that is black in colour is an absolute pain in the arse, flame retardent is tested for in the engineering grades but it still slips through in miniscule amounts, there isn't a lot of interest in the market for it and most customers don't want it. However I will say that the infrared optical sorting solution is also quite unreliable in its current state, you can programme it to blow out any other colours than black but it's very wasteful and costly. Plastic recycling is still in its infancy and I think due to the nature of the issues plastic in our environment causes, we need global initiatives and government subsidies to allow systems to improve across the board. People view recycled plastic as waste but don't take into account most of the recycled polymers contain various contaminants which causes a lot of issues on the line. It's a messy business and takes a lot of work to really make good recycled grade material.

[JasonGastrich]

Instead of using plastic silverware when I eat out, I bring metal utensils. Instead of using plastic bags, I use paper bags for trash and groceries. I use bamboo toothbrushes instead of plastic ones and glass containers instead of plastic ones for liquids. Instead of using plastic water bottles, I reuse a Brita filter bottle and instead of using paper and plastic coffee cups, I reuse a coffee mug. I also use a refillable torch lighter.

[barbaralindhjem]

BIO-degradable plastic can be made from hemp. Ford of model T-Ford made a whole car chassis out of hemp. Hemp can be strong and durable but still biodegrade.

[commentjudger]

I've been a hard core recycler now for years, washing containers, separating plastic from the recyclable materials and such. But now to add to this, When ever I see plastic on the streets, footpaths, gutters etcetera I pick it up and bin it. I find plastic rubbish literally every few meters, it's mind blowing. You think you live in a clean city till you really start looking, plastic shows up everywhere.

My hate for how much damage plastic does to the planet makes the simple act of having to grab it and bin it both rewarding and effortless. I don't pick up all rubbish all the time, but I pick up all plastic all the time.

[jessicakakern]

Tips for reducing plastic use:
DONT GO TO FAST FOOD
I work there and our straws come in plastic baggies that are kinda small so it uses more plastic, as well as bags and bags of individual wrapped forks, knifes, spoons. Ketchup packets come in plastic bags as well and toys, cups, plates. The only thing in paper bags is French fries

[sdmitch]

I would have never guessed black plastic couldn't be recycled. I'm really glad you made this informative video.

[drivesthecar]

And the really screwy part??
Post-consumer recycled plastic is virtually worthless!!
Plus, it needs to be dyed black because that's the only consistent color they can get out of it. The black colorant pellets are so strong they use a lot less to color a larger batch, thus making it a lot cheaper.
I've worked in 3 separate plastic molding facilities.

[rvat]

Our city banned the use of plastic bags for grocery packaging. Instead, we use paper bags.

[theniii]

she is a way more natural speaker than the other girl

[SD-tjdh]

I really like the idea of just melting down all the plastics for use as a bitumen replacement in asphalt.

[roysdon]

I don't really understand why alot of electric products are made black plastic and it absorbs heat which makes ur batteries on stuff go down quicker. Guess its corporate greed.

[toddfogleman]

I do not use plastic bags for shopping. Many cashiers still don't know what my own non plastic bags are for. Crazy. I brought my own glass reusable container to buy some food from a deli and they refused to use it. So I just when to a different market and just bought what needed to make it myself. I like my aluminum straws but choose to use no straws. I like glass for most everything and aluminum because it can be recycled endlessly with little waste or harm to the environment.

[Sposav]

Reusable straws, reusable cutlery, reusable produce bag, & plant based garbage bags. All can be purchased from amazon 🙂😄

[bigkification]

I've got a GREAT idea.... how about letting the consumers sort out the plastics themselves and then recycle in appropriate bins? Most have a resin identification code printed or stamped somewhere, this initiative would cut down costs and ensure more gets recycled - including black plastics.

[arokiachristhuraja]

i from India and we don't use plastic bags while shopping instead of that we carry bags from home to the shop

[jeremiasrobinson]

I literally was eating food packaged in black plastic while watching this video. I bought it earlier in the evening. I am going to write the company now that produced that product and tell them I am not buying it again. Thank you for the info.

[sanjuansteve]

A company called Eco Shell (as just one example) makes all natural and biodegradable plastic products made from avocados including things like straws, plastic bags, food containers, drinking cups, utensils, etc. We have the capability to switch today, just not the will to pay the higher cost of all natural.

[WalkerBikes]

I hope her black glasses aren't made of plastic....