According to a recent report from Greenpeace, U.S. households generate 51 millions of plastic waste each year, but the amount of that actually getting recycled is 2.4 million tons. That's not necessarily because people aren’t doing their part to recycle, but because the vast majority of plastics literally cannot be recycled.

There are thousands of varieties of plastic, each with its own chemical makeup that means many types are too expensive to sort and recycle, or simply cannot be reused at all. And yet, recycling is still pushed as the best way for consumers to take advantage of plastic’s conveniences while still being environmentally conscious.

We speak with environmental sociologist Rebecca Altman, who says historically, recycling has created the appearance of a solution to the waste problem. But the greater issue is the chemical toxicity at the root of plastic production itself.

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