Plastic baled for recycling. Courtesy National Public Radio

Plastic production, pollution and recycling — a new Frontline/NPR documentary Plastic Wars,  that premiered March 31 on PBS stations and online — reveals the sordid truth about why we are failing to produce less and recycle more.

NPR says: “For decades, Americans have been sorting their trash believing that most plastic could be recycled. But the truth is, the vast majority of all plastic produced can’t be or won’t be recycled. In 40 years, less than 10% of plastic has ever been recycled. ”

Bird stomach full of plastic. Courtesy of Ian Hutton

The oil and gas producers that are the source of plastics encouraged recycling as a way to keep regulators at bay from severe plastics bans. Instead, it created a field day for more production.

You can listen to/read the National Public Radio story on All Things Considered

Here’s 3 takeaways from the NPR story

Watch the trailer and PBS Plastic Wars documentary

Plastic straws. Courtesy of Horia Varlan CCA 2.0

Green News Update looked at how plastic waste is destroying oceans and the marine web of life in a two-part series

Green News Update Part I The Perils of Plastic in our Oceans

GNU Part 2 What government, retailers and companies are doing to fix the worldwide problem

Turtle receiving emergency treatment for straw inhaled in his nose