With our world’s growing waste problem, ways to minimize and recycle are becoming increasingly important. We are always told by our parents and friends to remember to recycle, but what does that really entail? Can recycling do more harm than good? Mitchell Pham, a senior environmental science student at the University of Texas at Austin, explains the phenomena behind recycling. Mitchell Pham is a fourth-year environmental science student turned business enthusiast at The University of Texas at Austin. In the geosciences, his current work aims to better understand the shoreline impact of Hurricane Harvey along the Texas coast. In regards to business, he is involved in startups, passionate about public speaking and presentations, and is an aspiring management consultant. Outside of academia, Mitchell is a huge music nerd and is a member of a steel drum ensemble, a tubist in a brass band, and was previously a beatboxer in an A Capella group. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx