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What Happens After You Toss a Bottle in the Recycling Bin?

Laura Stewart of NAPCOR on Recycling Infrastructure, Innovation and Building a More Circular System

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Most of us toss a plastic bottle into the recycling bin without thinking twice. But where does it actually go? Does recycling really work? And what happens after the truck drives away? 

On this episode of Sustainably Speaking, Mia Quinn sits down with Laura Stewart, executive director of NAPCOR, to discuss the recycling system most people never see. 

From high-tech sorting systems powered by AI to the surprisingly important role of bottle caps and labels, Laura walks through how plastic bottles move through the recycling stream and why designing products to be more easily recycled matters more than ever. 

The conversation also tackles some of the biggest misconceptions about recycling, why access to curbside collection still varies across the country, and what it will take to build a more circular system that keeps a lot more valuable materials in use.

In this episode: 

  • What actually happens after recyclables leave your curbside bin  
  • Why some communities recycle far more effectively than others  
  • How AI is helping modernize recycling facilities  
  • How recycled materials are finding new life in packaging, clothing, automotive applications and more  
  • What U.S. recycling could look like in the next 10–15 years  

Laura shares what it’s really like inside a modern recycling facility, where advanced sorting systems can identify and separate materials in seconds to be recycled into everything from new bottles to carpeting and apparel. 

And Laura responds to claims that “recycling doesn’t work,” explaining why seeing the process firsthand tells a very different story. 

Plus: Wisconsin travel recommendations, favorite streaming shows, and outdoor adventures in a favorite state. 

Guest Bios

  • Laura Stewart, NAPCOR Executive Director

    For more than three decades, Laura Stewart has been a leading voice in the PET packaging and recycling industry. As Executive Director of the National Association for PET Container Resources (NAPCOR), she leverages data-driven insights and strategic communications to strengthen material stewardship and to advance circularity. Laura champions industry collaboration to build a more resilient recycling infrastructure and to position PET as the sustainable packaging material of choice.

    A highly sought-after thought leader, Laura has spoken at a variety of industry events and has moderated numerous panel discussions. She is frequently featured in leading trade and policy outlets, including Argus Media, Plastics News, and The Packaging Conference, where she has provided expert perspectives on the health of the PET sector. She has also discussed PET’s sustainability benefits on the Redefining Plastics podcast, highlighted insights from NAPCOR’s PET Recycling Reports in Packaging World and other publications, and contributed to national policy dialogue through her writing in POLITICO and elsewhere.

  • Mia Quinn, Senior Director, Public Affairs at American Chemistry Council

    Mia Quinn leads efforts to communicate the plastics industry’s major sustainability initiatives. She works to bring together experts to share insights in key areas of sustainability, including public policy, product design, recycling, and infrastructure. She is passionate about collaboration, clear communication, and engaging audiences to learn more about innovation and modern solutions for our communities and our country. Mia has a degree in political science from Washington University in St. Louis. She grew up in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado and is a lifelong Denver Broncos fan. She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and two sons.

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