John,

Is that plastic container recyclable?

It's hard enough to figure out which items go in which bin as it is. But now, plastic companies want the Federal Trade Commission to allow them to slap a chasing arrows recycling symbol even on products that are virtually guaranteed to end up in landfills.1

We aren't going to let them get away with it. PIRG is pushing back against the plastic industry, as part of our bigger push for reductions in plastic waste and pollution. You can help by sending a message to the FTC today.

This is just the latest offense by plastic companies. For more than 30 years, plastic companies have known that there was no sustainable way of disposing of their products, while recycling many plastic products was difficult or expensive or both.2

But that's not the message they sent to consumers. As one Exxon employee said in 1994, "we are committed to the activities [of plastics recycling], but not committed to the results."3

PIRG is dedicated to stopping the flow of plastic waste that harms our health, our communities and our environment. Recycling labels can help. They need to be clear, accurate and meaningful.

The FTC has the power to stop the plastic industry from getting away with misleading consumers. Add your name today.

John, we're tackling plastic pollution at every level, from production to disposal, to stop plastic waste.

That means holding producers accountable for the waste they produce, banning the worst kinds of single-use plastics across the country, and calling on major retailers to stop using plastic packaging and selling wasteful plastic products.

But right now, the FTC has a critical role to play in making sure that you know whether a plastic product is truly recyclable or headed straight to the landfill.

Here's what the agency can do: The FTC can prohibit the use of the word "recyclable," the chasing arrows recycling symbol, or other statements that imply a product is recyclable unless the item is actually going to be recycled.

Send a message to the FTC today.

Thank you,

Faye Park
President

1. Lisa Song, "When Is "Recyclable" Not Really Recyclable? When the Plastics Industry Gets to Define What the Word Means," ProPublica, August 15, 2024.
2. Dharna Noor, "'They lied': plastics producers deceived public about recycling, report reveals," The Guardian, February 15, 2024.
3. Dharna Noor, "'They lied': plastics producers deceived public about recycling, report reveals," The Guardian, February 15, 2024.

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