Recycling is actually sorted with the support of machines, technology, and equipment, each uniquely designed to capture specific types of material out of the recycling stream. All of this takes place at a Material Recovery Facility or MRF.

Does recycling actually get sorted?

Recycling in the U.S. is broken. ... In 1960, Americans generated 2.68 pounds of garbage per day; by 2017, it had grown to an average of 4.51 pounds. And while many Americans dutifully put items into their recycling bins, much of it does not actually end up being recycled.

How is plastic recycling sorted?

Sorting is done manually or with machines using technology that recognises different sorts of plastic. Sorting machines are used to identify and separate large amounts of plastic. Advanced sorting machines come with infrared, x-ray or other cutting-edge sensors that can recognise a polymer's unique signature.