More Than Half of Americans Don’t Believe in Recycling Myths, Survey Says

According to a survey by the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) and Harris Poll, more than half of Americans do not believe that common statements and myths about the recycling industry are true.

For the survey, each participant was provided with eight statements, four true and four false. Seventy-three percent of the participants believed at least one of the true statements, while only 22 percent believed at least one myth to be true.

“For years the recycling industry has fought back against common public misperceptions about the value of recycling. The data from this poll shows that we have been successful in combatting those myths,” said President of Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Robin Wiener in a press release. “However, it also shows that much more work needs to be done to educate the public on the many economic and environmental benefits recycling provides, as well as how recycling has evolved as an industry. As the Voice of the Recycling Industry, ISRI will continue to serve as the leader in promoting the value of recycling.”