Given that it's incredibly easy to corrupt the batch by contamination, the washing is nearer an abrasive stage followed by very hot washing. Not only do they ne

Given that it's incredibly easy to corrupt the batch by contamination, the washing is nearer an abrasive stage followed by very hot washing. Not only do they need to remove food remnants, but ink, labels, glue and any remains of the one time seals as found on milk cartons. Local facilities probably wouldn't pay as margins are so thin - it depends on sending to parts of the world that are cheap. The parts of the world that have few environmental laws or enforcement and where cutting corners is too easy. Totally agree on the real solution. Recycling came about in part thanks to companies working hard to promote it as a means of externalising another cost in place of reuse.