[Vision2020] Recycling

Wed Sep 5 14:40:18 PDT 2018

interesting article on plastics

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/gray-matters/article/plastic-pollution-movement-future-products-13188586.php?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter%20Weekly%20Roundup:%20Waste%20Dive%2009-01-2018&utm_term=Waste%20Dive%20Weekender

Andy Boyd
Research & Development
Latah Sanitation/Moscow Recycling/Clearwater Composting
208 596 0584
andyb at latahsanitation.com
moscowrecycling.com

On Tue, Sep 4, 2018 at 9:28 PM Ted Moffett <starbliss at gmail.com> wrote:

> 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*
>>
>
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