Broadly two factors reduce the likelihood that a plastic product will be recycled: either recycling is not economically viable or the material's structure prevents recycling. Few examples of non-recyclable plastics are shown in the attached image, followed by an explanation of their non-recyclability.
Paper Cups and Straw:
These cups and straws are covered with a thin coating of LDPE plastic (less than 10 microns) that prevents the paper from collapsing when exposed to water. Therefore, these cups and straws cannot be recycled with paper and contribute more to the plastics problem than they solve.
Toothpaste Tubes:
The vast majority of individuals use toothpaste tubes first thing in the morning. Toothpaste is an essential component of contemporary lifestyle. They are easy to use and aid in maintaining good tooth hygiene. The tube containing the paste, however, is notoriously complicated and cannot be recycled; it is garbage. First, there are many layers of distinct plastics, followed by contamination. This makes toothpaste tubes one of the most inescapable sources of plastic pollution on Earth. This link provides additional information on why toothpaste tube layers cannot be recycled. https://bit.ly/3TbRqOo
Styrofoam:
Majorly used in making cups, containers and protective paddings for shipping. it is lightweight, bulky, and difficult to clean due to its porous nature and common usage in food packaging, it's a costly material to recycle at an efficient scale. No doubt it occupied 30% of landfills space worldwide.
Toothbrush:
Our toothbrushes are another item that is indispensable to our daily lives. There are two main components: the bristles (often nylon) and the handle. That handle could be constructed from a variety of plastics to provide the required look. Thrown toothbrushes present a challenge for recyclers since the various polymers they contain make sorting them out difficult and costly and thus majority of them ends up in a landfill.
Plastic Bags:
When talking about the problem of plastic pollution, it's hard to avoid mentioning plastic bags. Despite the fact that all plastic bags (grocery bags, trash bags, etc.) are composed of the same polymer—mostly HDPE or LL/LD PE—these materials rarely make their way to recycling plants because they are difficult to collect and sort, and because turning them into granules doesn't yield much profit due to the low price of virgin granules.
Diapers and Sanitary Pads:
Although diapers and sanitary pads have improved the hygiene of millions of infants and women around the world, they are a major contaminant and can end up in landfills. The primary reason for this is that it is biohazardous. Household garbage is rarely separated for bio waste; therefore, when it is combined with regular waste, it is disposed of in landfills.
Alternatives to the above mentioned plastics:
Dependence on Paper cups can be reduced by using re-usable containers like Collapsible cups or Travel mugs. Paper straw can be eliminated by carrying a metal straw or not using any straw at all.
Toothpaste can be substituted with toothpowders in a glass jar, however Toothpaste Tablets by Shunyam are a superior alternative. These pills are 100% natural and packaged in glass jars; they are healthy for your oral health and the environment. You can purchase by clicking here.
Instead of using disposable Styrofoam containers for takeout and delivery, reusable metal containers can be utilized instead, if that is not possible bagasse based containers can be used for take-outs and delivery. Packing peanuts, a cellulose-based protective cushioning, can be used for packing fragile products.
There are numerous alternatives to plastic toothbrushes, including bamboo toothbrushes, neem handles, and wheat straw-based toothbrushes. Purchase a toothbrush made of bamboo by clicking here.
In India, single-use plastic bags were outlawed in July, and while paper bags are a viable alternative, a reusable cotton bag is superior and more durable.
Although diapers and sanitary pads are difficult to replace, there are sustainable alternatives available. It consists of washable and reusable cloth diapers for children and menstrual cups for women.