[Vision2020] Glass Redux (was RE: As we look forward tosingle-stream recycling)

[abettge at gmail.com]

Glass does indeed get crushed locally and placed in the land-fill.  One could just put glass into the normal trash.

However.

The inclusion of glass in the trash has other effects.  It increases the weight and volume of trash that is transferred to trucks for shipment to the landfill in Oregon, where our municipal waste is sent.  This increases shipping costs (and eventually charges to customers) and also uses up space in the Oregon landfill at a rate faster than would otherwise be the case.

If chucked into the single stream recycle bins, glass ruins the value of all the recyclables in the bin (think of broken glass in with cardboard; the cardboard can’t be reworked into new cardboard as a result).  Thus the otherwise useable, but now contaminated recyclables end up in the landfill, increasing cost, decreasing the lifespan of the landfill.  Plus, there is no repayment from selling the recycled materials available to reduce costs here.  And there is increased use of resources that would otherwise not be used (more trees harvested and energy used to make new cardboard).  

So it makes sense to separate glass, put it in the bins at the two recycle stations (the old Gilbert Ford and the Recycle Center) and neither put it in the trash nor in with normal recyclables.

I hope these somewhat wandering paragraphs help?

Art Bettge


From: Ron Force
Sent: Sunday, August 23, 2015 6:14 PM
To: Saundra Lund
Cc: Moscow Vision 2020;tdavis at ci.moscow.id.us;council at ci.moscow.id.us;blambert at ci.moscow.id.us
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Glass Redux (was RE: As we look forward tosingle-stream recycling)


If what I've heard is true--the glass just goes to the landfill-- why not just put it in the trash? Can anyone with inside knowledge comment?


Ron Force
Moscow Idaho USA

On Sat, Aug 22, 2015 at 12:44 PM, Saundra Lund <v2020 at ssl1.fastmail.fm> wrote:
Great article with lots to think about – thanks for sharing it, Ron.  This was new to me:
“PROTIP: Don’t crush your cartons before you recycle them, otherwise they’ll get sorted in with normal paper!”
 
I’ve been trying to be positive about the move to single steam recycling, which has some great aspect and appeal, but I remain troubled with the elimination of glass from curbside pickup for several reasons.
 
Now, I’ve heard from several people this week who have wondered, “What the heck are they thinking?!” with respect to the glass bin in the parking lot at the old Gilbert Auto.
 
For those who’ve not yet visited it, it seems to me no one gave any thought whatsoever as to how people are supposed to actually use it other than one glass container at a time . . . and that’s assuming one can reach the opening way up high, which will be challenging if not downright impossible for more than a few in our community.  Some people I heard from gave up in frustration after the first visit and won’t be going back, which isn’t good.  After checking it out for myself, I can’t say as I blame them, though.
 
I sure hope people don’t wind up having to pay for larger garbage cans to take glass to the dump that used to be picked up at no additional cost for residents  ☹
 
 
Saundra Lund
Moscow, ID
 
The moral test of government is how it treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the aged; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped.
~ Hubert Horatio Humphrey
 
  
 
From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com] On Behalf Of Ron Force
Sent: Friday, August 21, 2015 3:28 PM
To: Moscow Vision 2020 <vision2020 at moscow.com>
Subject: [Vision2020] As we look forward to single-stream recycling
 
http://www.wired.com/2015/08/listen-america-need-learn-recycle/?mbid=nl_82115

 
Ron Force
Moscow Idaho USA

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