[Vision2020] Recycling

[Andy Boyd]

Oh,
one thing i would like to say about plastic straws vs. paper straws, how
about no straws!!
*making* paper products is worse for the environment then *making* plastic
products.  neither will end up getting recycled...
If you have to use a straw, purchase metal reusable straws.

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


On Wed, Sep 5, 2018 at 2:40 PM Andy Boyd <andyb at latahsanitation.com> wrote:

> 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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