Are you/we really recycling?

[Tom Bomb]

Regarding clutlery: I forked out for a few of these sets, twelve odd years ago

Still going strong, EDC, and they absolutely trounce all those dinky plastic imposters, utility-wise.

A man could starve to death, wrestling with those finagling fiddle-sticks they try and flog off as forks.
And those so-called knives they offer up barely cut the mustard, literally.

 

[catcauphonic]

The last couple of towns I've lived in didn't have municipal trash pickup or mandatory anything - you can pay a private hauler, or take your bins over to the transfer station yourself. I make the transfer station run on Saturday mornings. There's a separate recycling building (the former town was sort-your-own, where I live now is single-stream) from the trash building and both towns elected to create these structures because the recycling was a way to recoup money rather than dumping in landfills. The sort-your-own facility actually posted the $-per-pound of each type of material and urged us to drink beer from cans rather than bottles because the town got more money for metal than glass.

It stretches credulity to think that some company is paying the town for its recyclable material only to turn around and dump it in landfills. I don't doubt that there are many places where, the way the system is structured, the kind of scam @two fingers described is happening. And clearly there's the issue of matching the material with manufacturers who can use it, which will never be exact (and I understand is particularly difficult right now). But maybe the better way to think of it, in the big picture, is as an efficiency problem - what percentage of material we try to recycle actually gets recycled, and then what can we do to improve those percentages? It will probably never be 100%.

I also agree with the issue that you can't put all the onus on the retail customer, you have to have more responsible behavior on the production side, especially as regards packaging. It really struck me when I bought a volleyball net last summer; it came in a box with the components all wrapped in plastic and padded with styrofoam. If I had a choice, I wouldn't ever touch styrofoam, and I certainly wouldn't go to a store and say, "I need to buy me some styrofoam today." The stuff is noxious. But I literally have no idea where I would buy a volleyball net that WASN'T packed in styrofoam, and even if there were more than one option of net in the store, there's no way I would have known that THIS model was packed in styrofoam but THAT one was packed in, say, something biodegradable. I'm not allowed to make a free choice as a consumer because I don't have the options and I don't have the information I would need, if I wanted to make a styrofoam-free purchase.

I completely agree with the concept of reducing packaging, but unfortunately, much of retail marketing and store placement depends on packaging. Which often requires being excessive in order to attract eyeballs to the shelves. I'm sure a lot of manufacturers (and retailers) would not be open to changes in packaging if it results in less sales.

I'd like to see less unnecessary products on shelves in general. Do we really need an avalanche of St. Patty's Day decorations in stores every single year? How about New Year's Eve garbage? Valentine's Day tchockies? All that crap goes straight to the landfill the day after it's used. I feel like eliminating just ONE of those would go a long way with combating waste, but I'm sure plenty of people would take offense at cutting out decorations for their favorite holiday. Don't worry - I wouldn't dare touch Christmas. Revolt would ensue.

Oh well. If the ecosystem eventually collapses, at least we got to have St. Patty's Day decorations.

it's consumerism as lifestyle. Americans in particular are extremely wasteful. As long as they can't see the end result, and it doesn't affect them or their children directly, plenty just plain ol don't care enough to change their lifestyle.

 

[slobake]

I've heard about China no longer wanting our recycled junk. The contracted collection company here in San Francisco sent us a notice asking us to clean bottles and cans. I know we don't have any landfill space left here. I know one guy who works at a location separating recycled products for the collection company. I know all our garbage, recycling and compost goes to one location and is trucked away from there. After that I don't know what happens to it.

 

[T_Bone_TL]

Due to low demand and high cost of transport (weight) glass is often not recycled, or is "crushed for fill" as a "cleaner landfill" rather than being in with the "garbage and stuff landfill" - depending on local situation.

I suspect (but don't know) that locally a lot of our burnable plastic "recyclables" are being sent to the garbage-burner plant 2 hours drive away rather than actually recycled, as demand for feedstock has apparently dropped, and they are less picky about the state/sorting of it.

I hear that finding a viable market for recycled paper has been a problem for local programs as well. I compost a good bit of that myself.

 

[MJ5150]

Seattle takes recycling seriously...........
Shoreline weighs plan to fine poor recyclers

-Mike

 

[friskinator]

it's consumerism as lifestyle. Americans in particular are extremely wasteful. As long as they can't see the end result, and it doesn't affect them or their children directly, plenty just plain ol don't care enough to change their lifestyle.

True. And it feels like no matter what's suggested to help, the response is "that won't really work," "that won't really make a difference" or "I don't wanna do that." Or, "everything is fine - why bother?"

I don't know what the best solution is, but if some behaviors aren't changed, the decision will be made for us.

 

[two fingers]

it's consumerism as lifestyle. Americans in particular are extremely wasteful. As long as they can't see the end result, and it doesn't affect them or their children directly, plenty just plain ol don't care enough to change their lifestyle.

True. And it feels like no matter what's suggested to help, the response is "that won't really work," "that won't really make a difference" or "I don't wanna do that." Or, "everything is fine - why bother?"

I don't know what the best solution is, but if some behaviors aren't changed, the decision will be made for us.

I don't think these are uniquely American traits. Sure, Europe does the opposite. Their pendulum has swung so far they are doing insane things in the name of preserving the environment that are killing their collective economies (much like our own California). That's not meant as a political statement. Just an observation from afar. I think their collective hearts are in the right place. But, at some point, the brain has to enter the conversation.


Plenty of countries are stuck in ruts. China, for example, is supposed to be one of the main polluters on the planet.

So, could Americans do more? Sure. Are we uniquely horrible polluters when compared to all nations? Nah.

We do love to put ourselves down though. There is somehow a narrative going around the country that the world would he better off without us. Nothing could be further from the truth.

This isn't posted in anger.... just the way I see it.

 

[buldog5151bass]

it's consumerism as lifestyle. Americans in particular are extremely wasteful. As long as they can't see the end result, and it doesn't affect them or their children directly, plenty just plain ol don't care enough to change their lifestyle.

The world is full of consumers. Frankly, America does more to keep things clean than many others. Let's not start tossing labels.

 

[friskinator]

I don't think these are uniquely American traits. Sure, Europe does the opposite. Their pendulum has swung so far they are doing insane things in the name of preserving the environment that are killing their collective economies (much like our own California). That's not meant as a political statement. Just an observation from afar. I think their collective hearts are in the right place. But, at some point, the brain has to enter the conversation.


Plenty of countries are stuck in ruts. China, for example, is supposed to be one of the main polluters on the planet.

So, could Americans do more? Sure. Are we uniquely horrible polluters when compared to all nations? Nah.

We do love to put ourselves down though. There is somehow a narrative going around the country that the world would he better off without us. Nothing could be further from the truth.

This isn't posted in anger.... just the way I see it.

I agree. I don't think America is worse. But in general, we as a planet need to collectively do something to ease the pollution, waste, and unnecessary consuming.

I hate to be pessimistic about it, but for a lot of reasons, I don't really see much changing. I just hope I'm dead before the effects are felt.

 

[Tom Bomb]

Put a tire-swing in the yard, swingers.

 

[catcauphonic]

Put a tire-swing in the yard, swingers.

In our yard we put up a circular wood seat swing using a rope that came from a local elementary school gymnasium. Lots of little kids were forced to climb it during PE class over the years, and we made a fun swing out of it that kids now enjoy using

 

[catcauphonic]

I don't think these are uniquely American traits. Sure, Europe does the opposite. Their pendulum has swung so far they are doing insane things in the name of preserving the environment that are killing their collective economies (much like our own California). That's not meant as a political statement. Just an observation from afar. I think their collective hearts are in the right place. But, at some point, the brain has to enter the conversation.


Plenty of countries are stuck in ruts. China, for example, is supposed to be one of the main polluters on the planet.

So, could Americans do more? Sure. Are we uniquely horrible polluters when compared to all nations? Nah.

We do love to put ourselves down though. There is somehow a narrative going around the country that the world would he better off without us. Nothing could be further from the truth.

This isn't posted in anger.... just the way I see it.

We kinda give 3rd World countries a pass because they're now making the same mistakes that the more developed nations already have. Why should they listen to us when we did all the same things for decades? Plus they barely have the resources to polish an apple, let alone set up eco friendly disposal methods.

So, of the developed nations, we're kinda last. If our municipalities didn't force us individuals to seperate their refuse and recycling, i think most Americans would pi$$ & moan that it's too much trouble so likely not do it because it inconveniences us and it's dirty.

I remember I wasn't happy in my 450sf' apt finding out that we needed to keep a third bin out for compost ... I pi$$ed & moaned for a few months at least!

 

[catcauphonic]

I agree. I don't think America is worse. But in general, we as a planet need to collectively do something to ease the pollution, waste, and unnecessary consuming.

I hate to be pessimistic about it, but for a lot of reasons, I don't really see much changing. I just hope I'm dead before the effects are felt.

Shopping is like drinking alcohol or taking drugs for fun in that it gratifies certain receptors in the brain. In a capitalist society it's one of the perks that people abuse as much as the aforementioned. Retail therapy is addictive.

 

[socialleper]

It may have to do with how the sanitation company is managing their landfills. I thought they wanted biodegradable materials in certain landfills so they could harvest the methane for natural gas. Plastics doing decompose, so they would just take up space and ruin the business model.
Also, a dirty (ha ha) secret about Waste Management (the company that handles my garbage) is getting the CA redemption value for my unrecycled plastic bottles and aluminium. I would think they would want to separate that stuff so they could get their free nickles.
Maybe I'm wrong and they are dumping it all in the ocean for all I know. Separating my garbage is second nature to me, so I don't even think about it anymore.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I agree. I don't think America is worse. But in general, we as a planet need to collectively do something to ease the pollution, waste, and unnecessary consuming.

I hate to be pessimistic about it, but for a lot of reasons, I don't really see much changing. I just hope I'm dead before the effects are felt.

The earth was around before we were, and has gone through cycles of many things, including planet-wise climate change. We won't be missed.

 

[two fingers]

The earth was around before we were, and has gone through cycles of many things, including planet-wise climate change. We won't be missed.

We couldn't kill this planet if we tried. Yes, I think we should he good stewards of our planet. I try to recycle. I try to create as little water as possible. But, the abject fear many are experiencing right now is just a bit nuts.

My 9 year old came home from school teared up a while back because her fresh-out-of-college teacher had told her the planet is dying and we won't be able to live on it in twelve years. Idiot.

Yes, the teacher and I "had words".

 

[mrpackerguy]

We religiously recycle. I'm happy to do it. Have a large container for recyclables and large container for garbage. I drive by the recycling center everyday on the way to work.

 

[bassdude51]

Recycling does about as much good as bailing the Titanic with a thimble. I hate to say that but it's true. In fact, I recycle but all in all, most recycling is just cans, cardboard and glass. They are actually really picky about what we put into the recycle bins.

It's really sad. The Earth is doomed.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Buy drinks in cans rather than glass bottles. Aluminium is the most recycleable material, up to 97% of ‘new’ cans come from recycling old aluminium.

Better than recycling - reduce/avoid stuff that produces lots of waste in manufacture and packaging.

 

[ChrisNJ]

2 cities in Florida end recycling
Recyclables become trash in two South Florida cities