Whether it’s in the products we buy every day or the packaging they come in, plastics are an integral part of our lives. The problem is that due to their composition, plastics don’t easily degrade. This means that they can live on in landfills and our oceans for centuries after their service life. Island Recycling Inc. in Kapolei, HI, is the island’s leading recycling center that has been focused on helping clean up the environment since 1983. According to their team, there are some simple reasons why you should be recycling your plastic.

Why You Should Be Recycling Plastic

• Cuts Down on Waste: While recycling plastic is important everywhere, it is especially crucial in Hawaii. That’s because waste and debris are major sources of the pollution in our oceans. Discarded plastic waste and swept up litter from beaches get caught up in the ocean’s currents and becomes part of problematic gyres. These gyres are huge masses of garbage that threaten marine life and pollute our waterways.
• Stops Chemical Leaching: Many plastics are composed of toxic chemicals, including Bisphenol A (BPA). Once these compounds leach into water, they make it dangerous to consume and come into contact with for both marine life and humans. The only way to remedy the situation responsibly is to recycle this waste.
• Recycled Plastic Gets New Life: Recycled plastic can be easily converted into new items we buy every day. Many manufacturers use recycled plastics for their packaging and containers. This material is also commonly reused to produce items such as consumer goods, synthetic lumber, and oil.

The good news is that it isn’t difficult to do your part to protect the environment. For all your discarded plastic waste—as well as your scrap metal and paper products—head to Island Recycling Inc. to dispose of your waste responsibly. To learn more, call (808) 682-9200 or visit them online for more information.