Hi,

Today is America Recycles Day, which celebrates the importance of recycling, and for good reason. Recycling paper and glass is a fantastic way to save resources and energy. However, plastic recycling is not what you think.

In the U.S., just 5% of plastic waste is recycled, with the rest ending up in landfills or the environment.¹ If this comes as a shock, it’s not your fault — it’s the fossil fuel industry’s. Since the 1980s, Big Oil has poured billions of dollars into campaigns to deceive the public into thinking that most plastics are recyclable, wrongly shifting the blame for plastic waste off the producer and onto the consumer.²

You deserve the truth, and EARTHDAY‍.ORG is committed to exposing the secrets Big Oil doesn’t want you to know about.

Last year, EARTHDAY‍.ORG released our Babies vs. Plastics report to warn the world about how plastics threaten the most vulnerable members of society.³ This report was read by staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute of Health (NIH), the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (NHHS), and others. 

Our second report, Pets vs. Plastics, was released earlier this year to raise awareness about the need for better protections for our furry friends.⁴ Shortly thereafter, the FDA ended its 17-year contract with the organization that had been charged with regulating pet food ingredients.⁵

Donate today to support our continuing critical work in driving government action to protect our families.

The struggle for a world safe from plastics is far from over. We will continue to fight against the lies of Big Oil and demand action through policy efforts, illuminating research, media coverage, and grassroots outreach — including our soon-to-be-released third major report on the plastic industry, People vs. Plastics.

Our work to stop plastic production and end the tyranny of the fossil fuel industry with Our Power, Our Planet will build a cleaner, safer, and happier future for all.

But we can’t do it without your support. Help us continue our mission to protect our families, communities, and planet.

Together, we can take back control of our future.

For all of us,

Kathleen Rogers
President

Footnotes:

1. EARTHDAY.ORG: https://www.earthday.org/recycling-is-a-crying-shame/

2. EARTHDAY.ORG: https://www.earthday.org/plastic-recycling-is-a-lie/

3. EARTHDAY.ORG: https://www.earthday.org/babies-vs-plastics-what-every-parent-should-know/

4. EARTHDAY.ORG: https://www.earthday.org/press-release/earthday-org-releases-new-report-pets-vs-plastics-highlighting-the-impact-of-plastics-on-our-beloved-pets/

5. EARTHDAY.ORG: https://www.earthday.org/press-release/earthday-org-calls-on-americas-pet-owners-to-tell-the-fda-to-prioritize-pet-health-over-industry-profitsnow/