[alt text: first, there's text over a happy Albinauric from Elden Ring saying "me when I thought recycling would save the world. second, there's text over a sad/depressed Albinauric from Elden Ring saying "me after I found out that plastic corporations invented plastic recycling to put the responsibility onto the consumer even though they knew plastic recycling was both chemically and financially not feasible, and now I have plastic in my brain, lungs, and testicles".]
Regardless of whoever came up with the idea, recycling does help and you should do it:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20230317-how-recycling-can-help-the-climate-and-other-facts
It may not save the planet on its own, but it is part of the solution.