For many years, the United States was considered a model for recycling by many countries. Despite being the third-largest producer of waste in the world, the U.S. invested significant energy into recycling and built extensive recycling infrastructure. However, over time, increasing dependence on convenience has led people to misuse the system. Items that should not be placed in recycling bins are often thrown into them, while recyclable materials are frequently discarded in regular trash.

Even workers who collect and process recycling have become discouraged. They constantly encounter contaminated recyclables: dirty items, food waste, and materials that cannot actually be recycled. Because of the public’s lack of understanding, many workers have nearly given up on educating citizens about proper recycling practices. This helps explain why, whether at airports or stadiums, recycling is often poorly managed. In many places, there are no recycling bins at all, and even when they exist, they are commonly filled with items that do not belong there.

At the same time, many Americans engage in what is known as “wishcycling.” With only a limited understanding of recycling rules, people throw items into recycling bins thinking, “This might be recyclable,” or assume that “Even if I don’t recycle properly, someone else probably will.” This mindset allows individuals to avoid responsibility.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the United States generated approximately 292 million tons of waste in 2018. This represents more than three times the amount produced in 1960, when the country generated about 88 million tons. What is even more concerning, however, is that the U.S. recycling rate has been stuck between roughly 32% and 35% since the early 2010s. In 2018, only about 32% of total waste, around 94 million tons, was collected for recycling. Of that amount, only a portion was ultimately processed successfully through recycling systems.

In other words, while waste production continues to grow, the recycling rate remains largely stagnant, meaning that increasing amounts of waste continue to accumulate and contribute to environmental pollution. Compared with South Korea, my home country, which has a recycling rate of over 60 percent according to The Chosun Daily, the United States clearly lags behind.

Although the United States Environmental Protection Agency has set a goal of achieving a 50% national recycling rate by 2030, many experts and future projections predict that even maintaining the current rate may be difficult. For instance, Beyond Plastics reported that the plastics recycling rate declined by approximately 5 to 6 percent in 2021, suggesting that the trend may actually be moving downward.

Some people argue that recycling fails simply because recycling bins are not always available. However, this is largely an excuse. One of the deeper causes of poor recycling performance is public indifference. Many people, including some of my own classmates, justify their behavior by thinking, “What difference would my actions really make?”

Rather than merely setting goals, the United States must begin translating those goals into concrete action. Community-based education programs, informational posters near recycling bins, and public pamphlets could help raise awareness and improve people’s understanding of proper recycling practices. Even small improvements in public awareness could gradually increase the national recycling rate.

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