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Confused about recycling? It’s not your fault - Shannon Odell

276,621 Views

2,617 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

If you’ve ever looked at the bottom of a disposable bottle or cup, you’ve probably noticed a recycling symbol. Seeing this, many people assume the item should be put in a recycling bin. Yet many plastics are incapable of being recycled at most centers. In fact, only 9% is recycled each year. So why are so few plastics recycled? And what do these symbols actually mean? Shannon Odell investigates.

Despite knowledge of the infeasibility of recycling plastics, the industry waged a multimillion dollar campaigning for state laws to require plastics to bare the confusing resin codes.

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Meet The Creators

  • Script Writer Shannon Odell
  • Director Yuval Haker, Alon Sivan
  • Narrator Addison Anderson
  • Animator Alon Sivan, Yuval Haker, Dana Roth, Pavelas Laptevas, John McColgan
  • Music Dana Roth
  • Sound Designer Dana Roth
  • Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
  • Producer Sazia Afrin
  • Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
  • Editorial Producer Shannon Odell
  • Expert Consultant Rebecca Altman