We toss it in the bin. Maybe it’s the blue one. Maybe it’s not. But once plastic leaves our hands, most of us stop thinking about it.
Out of sight, out of mind… right?
But plastic never really goes away—and understanding where it does go is the first step in realizing why reducing it matters so much.
The (Not-So-Straightforward) Journey of Plastic Waste
Let’s break it down.
Globally, we produce over 400 million tons of plastic every year. Most of that is designed to be used once—and discarded. But here’s the kicker:
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Only 9% of plastic ever made has actually been recycled.
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About 12% has been incinerated.
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The remaining 79%? It's still out there—in landfills, oceans, and ecosystems.
That toothbrush you tossed in 2010? Still here. That laundry jug from last month? Also still here. Plastic is designed to last forever… which is exactly the problem.
Landfills: The Plastic Graveyard
A big chunk of our plastic ends up in landfills. Buried, compressed, and layered with other waste, it doesn’t decompose—it just sits. Over time, it breaks down into microplastics, which can leach into soil and eventually into our water systems.
And here's the harsh reality: landfills aren't infinite. We're literally running out of space.
“Recycling” Isn’t the Hero We Think It Is
Yes, recycling can help—but it’s far from perfect.
Most plastics are actually not recyclable in practice. Different types of plastics require different processing methods, and contamination (think leftover food or mixed materials) means much of what we toss into the blue bin gets rejected.
Even when plastic is recycled, it can usually only be downcycled—meaning it becomes a lower-quality product, and eventually, it ends up in the trash anyway.
The Ocean: Plastic’s Final Frontier
An estimated 11 million metric tons of plastic enters our oceans every year. That’s a garbage truck’s worth—every single minute. Once there, plastic poses a massive threat to marine life. Turtles mistake bags for jellyfish. Fish ingest microplastics. Coral reefs get suffocated.
And it’s not just sea life. Those microplastics? They make their way into our food chain, too.
So… What Can We Do?
At Canary, we’re not about guilt. We’re about empowerment. The system is flawed—but we do have choices.
The most impactful step is to reduce plastic before it even enters the cycle. That’s why our products are plastic-free and refillable. From our toothpaste tablets in glass jars to our bamboo toothbrush and mouthwash, we create solutions that skip plastic entirely—because the best way to solve plastic pollution is to not create it in the first place.
Plastic Doesn’t Disappear
It piles up. It breaks down. It leaks into our soil, water, food, and future. But with small shifts and conscious choices, we can stop feeding the cycle.
So next time you ask, “But where does all of that plastic go?”
Know the answer. And help change it.
Explore our plastic-free essentials at Canary