Plastic, unlike glass and aluminium, can’t be infinitely recycled. Most plastic recyclables are downcycled, so a water bottle may turn into fabric which then can’t be recycled and turned into something new once it goes out of style. Instead, if it ends up in a landfill, it will break apart over time creating microplastics which enter the environment, harm marine life and have been found in water and food for human consumption. Unlike glass and aluminium, plastic is usually a one-and-done process with very long lasting consequences.
