This episode first aired on October 20th. Governments have spent decades telling the public of the importance of recycling and separating their waste. And a major ally in these efforts has been a little triangle made of curving arrows that is supposed to symbolize that a material can be recycled. But ultimately, recycling has failed to make a sizable impact on the plastic pollution across the world. POLITICO’s Eline Schaart explains why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices