Plastics

Why is recycling so complicated?

I worked with a small team at NPR to create a visual guide to some of the most common plastics found in the grocery store. Through immersive photos and a trip to the local recycling facility, we break down how the shape, design, and resins used in some plastic packaging complicate the recycling system.

To help tell the story, I shot each plastic “personality” image in the studio in a style that communicated the abundant, messy and diverse world of plastics. I then visited a MRF, or materials recycling facility, to film the machinery and systems at the plant which have to deal with these plastics.

Scroll below for a preview or experience the full interactive here.