[Vision2020] Recycling

Tue Sep 4 21:28:10 PDT 2018

Thanks for the information, Andy.

I wondered about the "compostable plastic" being as wonderful a sustainable
option as it might sound!
I guess it is not as wonderful as it sounds!

With environmental, sustainable and "green" marketing strategies, even from
progressive environmental
organizations, it can be difficult to sort out the "greenwash" from the
realistic "bottom line" impacts.

A lot of people want to do the right thing for sustainability...
But if it means a major sacrifice in their lifestyle or materialistic
consumptions habits, well, you know how
that goes!  I'm a major offender in this regard.  And I am likely worse
ethically than manty people,
given how acutely aware I am of what is at stake for our Earth and future
generations.  Ignorance
can indeed be bliss!  At least a dumbed down version...

I'm reminded of author Henry Miller commenting that he was far worse a
human being than
many people, given (I am largely paraphrasing) his awareness of the madness
of human society,
yet he was unable or unwilling to stop it!

Oh well!  I guess picking up the aluminum beer cans that litter the rural
roads of Latah County
by the hundreds likely thousands is still a nano-sustainable effort, if
recycling the cans.  Especially
if hauling the cans on a bicycle; maybe a bit lower energy/fossil fuel
resource extractive impact...

I have been amazed by how many aluminum beer cans are  hidden embedded in
the weeks and grass etc.
along rural roads in Latah County, long abandoned!  The problem is, they
are often so full of dirt and
debris they are not easily suitable for recycling.

Vision2020 Post: Ted Moffett
***** Original material contained herein is Copyright 2000 through life
plus 70 years, Ted Moffett.
Do not copy, forward, excerpt, or reproduce outside the
Vision2020.Moscow.com <http://vision2020.moscow.com/> forum without the
express written permission of the author.*****
----------------------------------------
On Tue, Sep 4, 2018 at 3:18 PM Andy Boyd <andyb at latahsanitation.com> wrote:

OK all, I will try to answer some of these questions.
>
>  "The council voted to eliminate some plastics; all plastic bags; aluminum
> foil; foil trays, pots and pans; shredded paper; and aseptic packaging
> commonly used for juice and broth ...Davis said shredded paper and pots and
> pans will still be accepted at the recycling center but not in the
> single-stream program.
>
> From the City Council agenda, plastics code 3-7 will no longer be
> accepted. Personally, I think that asking users to eliminate certain
> plastics from single-stream will lead to more contamination."
>
> Plastic grocery sacs can still go to Safeway, need to see if WinCo takes
> them but I know our local Walmart and Rosauers don't.
>
> The only plastics that will be accepted at the curb and Moscow Recycling
> will be plastic bottles and jugs with screw top lids.  This is primarily #1
> and #2 plastics with screw type lids.  We will continue to take clean #2
> buckets (like kitty litter) and large planter containers for reuse.
> However, many of these get thrown away if not collected by patrons for
> reuse.  Most of the 3-7 plastics have a limited, or no market.  Many
> programs started accepting the larger variety of plastics to ensure they
> would receive as many of the marketable plastics as possible (1s and 2s).
>
> We will also continue to take clean foil and trays at Moscow Recycling.
>
> Regarding Aseptic packaging, this includes the soy, almond milk type
> containers.  These have layers of foil and plastic in them.  This is why
> they do not require refrigeration at the store.  Milk cartons, OJ cartons,
> etc. that require refrigeration at the store will continue to be accepted
> as they do not have these extra layers of materials.  Aseptic packaging is
> recyclable but most Sort Facilities don't sort them into a separate  stream
> so they end up at paper mills that can't recycle them.
>
>
>
>
>
> Saundra Lund v2020 at ssl1.fastmail.fm via
> <https://support.google.com/mail/answer/1311182?hl=en&authuser=1>
> moscow.com
> Sep 1, 2018, 9:45 AM (3 days ago)
> to rhayes, Moscow
>
> "Maybe it’s the well-recognized phenom of aspirational recycling?  If so,
> even though it causes significant problems, it’s a good thing because it’s
> an indicator that those people actually care about the environment & more
> education seems to work."
>
>
> *Our aspirational or wishful recyclers also add to the cost of the program
> as the City is charged a per ton fee for the contaminated portion of the
> single stream program.  Now whether this is because an individual wants
> very badly to recycle an item or they don't want to pay for extra trash is
> up for speculation!!*
>
>
>
> *"Also, as the article Ron shared pointed out, I’m glad China is
> apparently finally more concerned about pollution even if it does make
> finding markets for recyclables more challenging – maybe that challenge
> will push progression in packaging R&D."*
>
>
> *This is the real solution to the plastic dilemma and other waste products
> as well.  Companies need to make there packaging recyclable instead of
> marketable.  For example, England places their toothpaste on the shelf
> without a box.  In the US a box makes the shelf look better and allows for
> more marketing.  Does toothpaste really need a box!! Lots of packaging can
> be done away with all together.*
>
>
>
>
> *"This seems to be a good opportunity to ask:  our single stream curbside
> recycling program is apparently going to cut back in some pretty dramatic
> ways (we’re still hurting over the glass in this household), at least,
> that’s what was discussed at the meeting."*
>
>
> *Sorry about the glass but we still take it at MR.*
>
>
>
> *As Ted points out, glass weighs a lot so many companies have made this
> switch to reduce costs.*
>
> *As Ted points out, REDUCE is the most important "R". I have tried to
> eliminate most plastics in my purchasing. This is very difficult for some
> products, especially those in clam shell containers.*
>
>
> *"Force mentioned could be or might be contained in compostable plastic,
> which is perhaps better than a disposablecontainer?*
>
> *Read here:  http://www.worldcentric.org/biocompostables/bioplastics
> <http://www.worldcentric.org/biocompostables/bioplastics>*
>
>
>
> *Compostable Plastics Quick Facts - Generally Freezer safe- Depending on
> resin can handle hot food till 200F.- Fully compostable in commercial
> composting operations- Feel and look like plastics for the most part"*
>
> *Regarding compostable containers.  These are only "better" if they end up
> getting composted in a commercial composting operation.  Also, not all
> compostable plastics compost well.  There is a high degree of variation.
> Further, a compostable container requires more energy, water and oil to
> produce than a traditional plastic container, not to mention it takes crop
> land out of production for human food production.  Finally, compostable
> plastic alternatives are a contaminate if they end up in the plastic
> recycling stream.*
>
> *And be sure to stay away from any single use item!!*
>
> *I think I hit most of the talking points. Let me know if you have any
> further inquiries.*
>
> *Thanks*
>
> *Andy Boyd*
>
> *Research & Development*
>
> *Latah Sanitation/Moscow Recycling/Clearwater Composting208 596 0584*
>
> *andyb at latahsanitation.com <andyb at latahsanitation.com>*
>
> *moscowrecycling.com <http://moscowrecycling.com>*
>
>
>
> *On Thu, Aug 30, 2018 at 4:41 PM rhayes at frontier.com <rhayes at frontier.com>
> <rhayes at frontier.com <rhayes at frontier.com>> wrote:I tend to take my
> recycling to the bins at the center rather than drag the green curbside out
> to the street with my meager offerings. I am careful to separate the
> various materials into the proper categories and deposit them accordingly.
> When I look into the bins at the recycling center, I am appalled at the
> garbage I see in them/  A few weeks ago I saw an inflatable swimming pool
> taking up a good portion of the mixed plastic bin. On Wednesday this week I
> took my recyclables and saw tin in the aluminum bin, aluminum in the
> plastic bin, and a whole lot of just plain trash in a lot of the bins.  No
> wonder the market for recyclables is going downhill. Too much containments
> in the stream. Are people uneducated about what and what quality is
> recyclable, or just too lazy to care? Roger*
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/attachments/20180904/6c4b8461/attachment-0001.html>