Part 4/9:
A critical issue lies in the nature of black plastic recycling. Black plastics are notoriously difficult to recycle because they do not reflect infrared light, meaning they are often overlooked on conveyor belts in recycling facilities. Consequently, material from discarded electronics—often containing harmful flame retardants—is sometimes reprocessed into new products without proper regulation or testing. While flame retardants are necessary in electronics to prevent fires, their presence in cooking utensils is unwarranted and can be harmful.