In this episode of Sustainably Speaking, host Mia Quinn sits down with Laura Stewart, Executive Director of NAPCOR, to unpack what really happens after you toss a plastic bottle into the recycling bin. Laura shares her ideas for modernizing our plastics recycling system and how the industry now supports nearly 17,000 jobs across the U.S. The two explore how cutting-edge AI and near-infrared technology are modernizing Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and how we can expand curbside recycling access to underserved communities. Plus, Laura busts the frustrating myth that recycling "isn't real,” and shares her vision for achieving a 60% recovery rate in the next decade.