NO SUCH THING Is recycling a complete scam? (PART 1)
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Apr 22, 2026 
Davis Allen, environmental historian and senior investigative researcher studying plastics and industry tactics. Naima Raza, reporter and podcast host offering sharp commentary. They trace recycling’s history, unpack industry PR that shifted blame to consumers, examine why many plastics resist reuse, and question whether recycling is mostly a feel-good deterrent rather than a real solution.
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Recycled Plastic Loses Its Value Quickly
- Recycling often can't close the loop because recycled plastic degrades in quality and only suits low-value uses like trash bins.
- Davis Allen explains recycled plastic becomes 'low quality' and is mostly used for crates, bins, and other non-food applications rather than original-spec products.
DuPont Pushed Disposability After A Tragedy
- In the 1950s DuPont promoted keeping plastic dry-cleaner bags, then reversed course after infant deaths and told people to throw them away.
- Davis Allen recounts DuPont's PR shift blaming mothers and pushing disposability after safety backlash.
Industry Knew Recycling Was Not Economically Viable
- The plastics industry initially found large-scale recycling economically infeasible and only later promoted it as a solution.
- Davis Allen cites early 1970s industry documents showing recycling wasn't viable for most plastics, prompting later PR efforts.