Recycling - Environmental Effects

[Guest guest]

Hey folks,

 

Thanks Butch for pointing out that recycling by itself is not enough.

While Zero Waste may not be a short or even long term possibility,

setting it as a goal seems like the best way to get as close to it as

possible. And the question remains, if one isn't for zero waste, then

how much waste is one for?

 

Many of the points brought up are simply criticisms of the ways in

which recycling is often implemented, rather than valid critiques of

the concept of recycling itself.

 

The realities of recycling come out of the attitudes of those

involved, and most recycling programs are handled by contracted,

for-profit companies that own landfills and thus have a financial

interest in communities continuing to generate large quantities of

garbage--it's a core part of their business. Recycling is offered

because cities or legislation demands it, but minimizing waste is not

part of their mission.

 

I have some info about Berkeley as an example... Berkeley adopted a

Zero Waste resolution relatively recently... they say it means " If it

can't be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished,

resold, recycled, or composted, then it should be restricted,

redesigned, or removed from production. "

 

(This doesn't bode well for 86% of plastic, apparently:-)

 

Their recycling program is " a multimillion dollar enterprise

providing over 40 green-collar jobs and saving nearly 20,000 tons of

resource-rich material from the landfill. "

 

They possess their own recycling and solid waste facility, so they

get control and accountability regarding what happens with their

materials... as opposed to cities that contract their programs out to

corporate waste haulers.

 

That means they can do things like sort their glass by color and turn

them into bottles again, avoiding the " down-cycling " of turning mixed

glass into asphalt or fiberglass insulation.

 

Of course composting is an important piece... out of Berkeley's

undiverted landfill waste, a full 43% of it is made up of

compostables. Capturing all of that would bring them very close to a

75% diversion rate.

 

Anyway, I doubt individuals fail to recycle because the programs

aren't implemented as well as they could be... the real reasons are

usually lame excuses like " This is just easier " or, to quote from

Serial Mom, " I don't have room in my kitchen! "

 

But, things are changing... the technology and politics of recycling

continues to improve, lead by communities like Berkeley... culture

changes, too, and it gets easier and easier for folks to handle

taking more responsibility for their waste.

 

Of course, companies continue to churn out products that boggle the

mind, like disposable toilet brushes, disposable DVDs, etc. What are

they thinking? When culture shifts to the point that offering such

products is detrimental to a company rather than profitable, I'll be

most pleased.

 

-Josh

 

 

>Hey y'all,

>

>The issue doesn't seem to be any more critical than any other political

>or social issue that folks agree or disagree on. But some issue can

>well be the straw that broke the camel's back. In a previous marriage

>such issues built up over a period of many years and I finally decided

>that it wasn't worth continuing to live in an unhappy relationship.

>

>As for recycling, there might be more social value than practical value

>anyway since many products that are segregated for recycle can't be

>recycled economically .. and in some cases it requires more energy than

>would use of the original material.

>

>Science and technology are looking at better ways to deal with land

>fills now .. they are not always a bad thing.

>

>http://www.nih.gov/od/ors/ds/recycle/facts.htm

>

>http://www.ez-resources.com/search2.asp?c=Recycling & sc=Recycling

>

>

> From the Argonne National Laboratory:

>

>The following question was asked:

>

>Aside from the social results of a mandatory recycling program for the

>United States, what would it do for the environment and what specific

>things should be included in this plan?

>

>And a scientist gave the following reply:

>

>This is a very difficult topic both in terms of the scientific questions

>it raises and the political economy aspects. True recycling is difficult

>for many forms of garbage. Steel and aluminum cans are stars of

>recycling. Some products can be transformed into new products that are

>not recyclable at this time. Specifically, the use of some plastics

>(recycled) in clothes manufacture. This plastic will end up burned or

>in the dump eventually.

>

>Last year it was difficult to give newspaper away but this year there is

>a shortage of newsprint. However, the bleaching/de inking process

>require the use of harsh chemicals. There are biotechnological

>solutions to this problem being worked out now. Glass is often reused

>as road asphalt filler but mixed glass can not be used for manufacture

>of many products because the melting temperatures and strength can not

>be controlled. In other words recycling probably will never be a near

>zero sum game. For every benefit there is a trade off.

>

>And I will add .. that about 86% of the plastic in use today falls into

>the category of thermosetting plastics with cross linked polymers and

>cannot be melted easily .. bottom line .. recycling them involves

>releasing hazardous compounds.

>

>

>

>

>The information contained in these e-mails is not a substitute

>for diagnosis and treatment by a qualified, licensed professional.

>

>

>Step By Step Instructions For Making Herbal Labna Cheese! So easy, SO yummy!

>http://www.aromaticsage.com/cz.htm

>

>

>To adjust your group settings (i.e. go no mail) see the following

>link: /join

>

[Guest guest]

Hey y'all,

 

The issue doesn't seem to be any more critical than any other political

or social issue that folks agree or disagree on. But some issue can

well be the straw that broke the camel's back. In a previous marriage

such issues built up over a period of many years and I finally decided

that it wasn't worth continuing to live in an unhappy relationship.

 

As for recycling, there might be more social value than practical value

anyway since many products that are segregated for recycle can't be

recycled economically .. and in some cases it requires more energy than

would use of the original material.

 

Science and technology are looking at better ways to deal with land

fills now .. they are not always a bad thing.

 

http://www.nih.gov/od/ors/ds/recycle/facts.htm

 

http://www.ez-resources.com/search2.asp?c=Recycling & sc=Recycling

 

 

From the Argonne National Laboratory:

 

The following question was asked:

 

Aside from the social results of a mandatory recycling program for the

United States, what would it do for the environment and what specific

things should be included in this plan?

 

And a scientist gave the following reply:

 

This is a very difficult topic both in terms of the scientific questions

it raises and the political economy aspects. True recycling is difficult

for many forms of garbage. Steel and aluminum cans are stars of

recycling. Some products can be transformed into new products that are

not recyclable at this time. Specifically, the use of some plastics

(recycled) in clothes manufacture. This plastic will end up burned or

in the dump eventually.

 

Last year it was difficult to give newspaper away but this year there is

a shortage of newsprint. However, the bleaching/de inking process

require the use of harsh chemicals. There are biotechnological

solutions to this problem being worked out now. Glass is often reused

as road asphalt filler but mixed glass can not be used for manufacture

of many products because the melting temperatures and strength can not

be controlled. In other words recycling probably will never be a near

zero sum game. For every benefit there is a trade off.

 

And I will add .. that about 86% of the plastic in use today falls into

the category of thermosetting plastics with cross linked polymers and

cannot be melted easily .. bottom line .. recycling them involves

releasing hazardous compounds.