Growing up, we were told to always recycle plastic to save the planet. But does recycling actually do anything? In this special two-part investigation, we explore the history of recycling, the rise of “disposable” plastics, and find out how effective recycling actually is. 

In part one (with the help of Nayeema Raza, host of  Smart Girl Dumb Questions), we hear from Davis Allen, PhD, Senior Investigative Researcher at the Center for Climate Integrity, who alleges that plastic recycling is a deceptive story engineered by fossil fuel and petrochemical companies to make us feel guilty for using the very plastics they profit from. Davis says recycling is a distraction from the real problem. 

In part two, we visit a recycling center and speak to Kara Napolitano, Education Director at Circular Services to find out how recycling actually works, learn the amount of bottles that actually make it to the recycling facility, and reckon with our own individual impact to determine if recycling is a viable solution to our climate crisis or simply a feel-good placebo in an ever-expanding consumer culture. 

Listen to part two: Apple, Spotify, Others

For links to research and more, check out our newsletter. 

Fill out our NST listener survey here.

Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail at ‪(860) 325-0286

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Growing up, we were told to always recycle plastic to save the planet. But does recycling actually do anything? In this special two-part investigation, we explore the history of recycling, the rise of &ldquo;disposable&rdquo; plastics, and find out how effective recycling actually is.&nbsp;
In part one (with the help of Nayeema Raza, host of&nbsp; <a href="linktr.ee/smartgirldumbquestions">Smart Girl Dumb Questions</a>), we hear from Davis Allen, PhD, Senior Investigative Researcher at the <a href="https://climateintegrity.org/">Center for Climate Integrity</a>, who alleges that plastic recycling is a deceptive story engineered by fossil fuel and petrochemical companies to make us feel guilty for using the very plastics they profit from. Davis says recycling is a distraction from the real problem.&nbsp;
<a href="https://pod.link/1780210954/episode/YjAwNTNhYjUtZWQzZi00MGUyLWExMGUtYjQzMzAxNjE5MzIw">In part two</a>, we visit a recycling center and speak to Kara Napolitano, Education Director at <a href="https://circularservices.com/locations/brooklyn-ny/">Circular Services</a> to find out how recycling actually works, learn the amount of bottles that actually make it to the recycling facility, and reckon with our own individual impact to determine if recycling is a viable solution to our climate crisis or simply a feel-good placebo in an ever-expanding consumer culture.&nbsp;
Listen to part two: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/is-recycling-a-complete-scam-part-2/id1780210954?i=1000763034671">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/4OrhOaZg8qsIYLPTDpHTft?si=ea50070335104806">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://pod.link/1780210954/episode/YjAwNTNhYjUtZWQzZi00MGUyLWExMGUtYjQzMzAxNjE5MzIw">Others</a>
For links to research and more, check out our <a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/mannynoahdevan/p/plastic-recycling-big-oil-scam?r=j003&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;showWelcomeOnShare=true">newsletter</a>.&nbsp;
Fill out our <a href="https://forms.gle/gPXJfEBc5n584kog7">NST listener survey here.</a>
Have a question you want us to answer? Email us at <a href="mailto:mannynoahdevan@gmail.com">mannynoahdevan@gmail.com</a> or leave a voicemail at ‪(860) 325-0286
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Join Manny, Noah, and Devan — three best friends and journalists — as they settle dumb arguments by actually doing the research. 

Each week, they start with a debate or discussion. Why don’t men ask follow up questions? Should schools ban phones? Is dating an AI chatbot cheating? Then, they go out into the world, talk to experts, conduct experiments, and find the answer.

NO SUCH THING is an explainer podcast about pop culture, the internet, and whatever weird thing your group chat can’t agree on. If you’ve ever had a take so strong you had to fact-check it, this show is for you.

New episodes on Wednesdays.

For more information, please subscribe to our newsletter at www.nosuchthing.show.

And if you have any questions you’d like us to get to the bottom of, email us at mannynoahdevan@gmail.com or leave a voicemail: ‪(860) 325-0286.

Join Manny, Noah, and Devan &mdash; three best friends and journalists &mdash; as they settle dumb arguments by actually doing the research.&nbsp;
Each week, they start with a debate or discussion. Why don&rsquo;t men ask follow up questions? Should schools ban phones? Is dating an AI chatbot cheating? Then, they go out into the world, talk to experts, conduct experiments, and find the answer.
NO SUCH THING is an explainer podcast about pop culture, the internet, and whatever weird thing your group chat can&rsquo;t agree on. If you&rsquo;ve ever had a take so strong you had to fact-check it, this show is for you.
New episodes on Wednesdays.
For more information, please subscribe to our newsletter at <a href="http://www.nosuchthing.show">www.nosuchthing.show</a>.
And if you have any questions you&rsquo;d like us to get to the bottom of, email us at <a href="mailto:mannynoahdevan@gmail.com">mannynoahdevan@gmail.com</a> or leave a voicemail: ‪(860) 325-0286.

NO SUCH THING

Join Manny, Noah, and Devan &mdash; three best friends and journalists &mdash; as they settle dumb arguments by actually doing the research.&nbsp;
Each week, they start with a debate or discussion. Why don&rsquo;t men ask follow up questions? Should schools ban phones? Is dating an AI chatbot cheating? Then, they go out into the world, talk to experts, conduct experiments, and find the answer.
NO SUCH THING is an explainer podcast about pop culture, the internet, and whatever weird thing your group chat can&rsquo;t agree on. If you&rsquo;ve ever had a take so strong you had to fact-check it, this show is for you.
New episodes on Wednesdays.
For more information, please subscribe to our newsletter at <a href="http://www.nosuchthing.show">www.nosuchthing.show</a>.
And if you have any questions you&rsquo;d like us to get to the bottom of, email us at <a href="mailto:mannynoahdevan@gmail.com">mannynoahdevan@gmail.com</a> or leave a voicemail: ‪(860) 325-0286.

Is recycling a complete scam? (PART 1)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ca157854-8e40-4300-a77b-b43300ce5df1/transcript