Challenges of Plastics Recycling
With how many types of plastics there are today, recycling each type of plastic in the most efficient way possible has become increasingly more difficult. In his book Recyling, Finn Arne Jorgensen at one point discusses this complexity. He notes how "“The challenge with plastics recycling is that technically, there is no such thing as plastic. There are instead many different plastics, each with different material qualities. [...] Each type of plastic requires different processing for recycling." This is why with recyling its not only important to just recycle, its important to focus on recycling correctly.
Spreading Environmental Awareness
One strategy for increasing recyling within a group of people is increasing the amount of
environmental awareness in that group. T.Y. Cheung and her research team found in a study they
did on how a student's knowledge, attitude, and intended behaviours affected their recycling
behaviours. Cheung, et al. found that “research has shown that the new generations have to
prepare themselves by acquiring the environmental awareness and knowledge that would allow
them to make appropriate decisions." This means it is important for people to understand the
environmental awareness around recyling in order to understand its significance.