America’s 'recycled' plastic waste is clogging landfills, survey finds

Many facilities lack the ability to process 'mixed plastics', a category of waste that has virtually no market as new products

Many plastic items that Americans put in their recycling bins aren't being recycled at all, according to a major new survey of hundreds of recycling facilities across the US.

The research, conducted by Greenpeace and released on Tuesday, found that out of 367 recycling recovery facilities surveyed none could process coffee pods, fewer than 15% accepted plastic clamshells - such as those used to package fruit, salad or baked goods - and only a tiny percentage took plates, cups, bags and trays.