Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Guess What: Your Plastics Aren't Really Getting Recycled
By
Clarisa Diaz
Published Sep 18, 2019
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Clarisa Diaz / Gothamist
By
Clarisa Diaz
Published Sep 18, 2019
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The Global Climate Strike is Friday, the United Nations’ Climate Summit is Monday, and Climate Week NYC is also next week. Which is why we thought it’d be a good time to look at one of the biggest environmental scourges we face: Plastics—and how they actually aren’t very recyclable.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Here are some other links you may be interested in:
- On composting and reducing waste: "Composting food and yard waste in NYC" and "Ten Ways Residents Can Reduce Waste In NYC Apartment Buildings"
- On "How the Plastic Industry is Fighting to Keep Polluting the World"
- And groups that are trying to find solutions to change: Beyond Plastics; Upstream Solutions; Gaia; and Earthworks
Also our colleague Brian Lehrer has embarked on a "plastic challenge" this week to reduce his use of single-use plastic. Join him—he's bringing the memes!
Listen to Clarisa Diaz discuss plastics recycling with Richard Hake on WNYC's Morning Edition:
This story is part of the Covering Climate Now initiative by the Columbia Journalism Review.
Clarisa Diaz is a designer and reporter for Gothamist / WNYC. You can follow her on Twitter @Clarii_D.
Tagged
plastics
environment
covering climate now
Climate Action
Clarisa Diaz
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Queens man found dead, police say, and injured woman is his mother, neighbors say
Police are investigating a related incident in which a 62-year-old woman was found injured beneath the Van Wyck Expressway.
By
Charles Lane
Published Oct 14, 2026 at 7:39 p.m. ET
Man shot by ICE in NYC's Marble Hill said federal officers never identified themselves
The wounded man said he didn't learn ICE agents were involved until he woke up in the hospital.
By
Arya Sundaram
and
Samantha Max
News
Man shot by ICE in NYC's Marble Hill said federal officers never identified themselves
The wounded man said he didn't learn ICE agents were involved until he woke up in the hospital.
By
Arya Sundaram
and
Samantha Max
Brooklyn school dean says MTA officers assaulted him over a $3 bus fare he says he paid
By
Carol Chen
National Grid customers in NYC will see higher gas bills this winter
By
Rosemary Misdary
Bruce Blakeman joins Gov. Hochul in support for expanding NY rape law
By
Jon Campbell
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .