[Vision2020] Recycling

Wed Sep 5 14:50:09 PDT 2018

People who are disabled or in the hospital need to use straws.

On Wed, Sep 5, 2018, 4:44 PM Andy Boyd <andyb at latahsanitation.com> wrote:

> 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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