[alwann]

I used to put our recycle-appropriate trash in a bin on which I had spray-painted the words "For Recycling," along with my address. This saved me from using plastic bags. That stopped when the trash guys tossed the bin in their truck along with its contents.

One reason recycling is promoted is because the trash contractor sells those materials to processors.

As for volume, we toss out more recyclables than garbage. In fact, it would be better with a once weekly garbage pick-up and twice weekly recycle pick up -- at least for me it would.

[KathieI]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

Dod you ever think about the fact that some people are making millions of dollars from the recycling business and we are doing a god deal of the work for them? If they are so concerned about the environment and making money from it why don't they go through the trash and separate it themselves. Then, they have the nerve to charge us for the bags.

I may be a bit cynical, but sometimes I think that it's all a big scam.

I don't believe that a recycling plant is a high-profit business to be in. There is a lot of work that has to get done on their part before the materials can be ground down and sold to manufacturers to be used in new packaging. Let's take large plastic bottles for instance:
a) they need to be sorted by the type of material. There are 6 types of plastic materials that bottles are made of and a 7th which is tossed because it is a combination of different plastics and cannot be recycled.
b) generally they only recycle large containers over 8 oz. and over. so anything smaller also gets tossed
c) then they have to separate them again by color, I would guess, opaque colors vs natural colors
d) if any bottles contain labels or caps they must be removed, especially if the label contains any metallic substance in its substrate
e) then there is probably a very detailed SOP guidelines they must process in order to assure that the recycled material does not contain any contaminants, bacteria, or other harmful substances.
e) then they put these into large grinding bins and break them down into pellets which are stored waiting for a buyer of packaging materials who can use them.

This is only for plastic bottles. Now think about all the other types of materials, metal cans, alum cans, corrugate boxes, cereal or folding boxes, glass (which is probably the easiest material to recycle). Did I miss one??

Have you been to a recycling plant? I have, quite a few. If you can't automate some of the processes above, which is very hard to do, it is very labor intensive.

Making millions on recycling? I don't think so. On top of that, the final user of these materials who is using recycled material to produce new components, probably pays a slight upcharge for the recycled material compared to virgin material.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by BarryRX

Why in the world would you be concerned about the fact that recycling is a profitable business. Do you picture employees having to sort through your personal garbage by hand? Food waste, diapers, used q-tips, dirty tissues, etc? If you don't think that keeping stuff that can be recycled out of our landfills is important, then nothing I say here can change your mind. Sometimes I am so disappointed when I hear about people that cannot take 2 minutes out of their week to help make the world a better place for ourselves, our children and our grandchildren.

I have no problem with recycling being a profitable business. I am all for people making all the profit that they can from any business that they invest in and work hard at. I have a problem being an unpaid employee of that business.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by KathieI

I don't believe that a recycling plant is a high-profit business to be in. There is a lot of work that has to get done on their part before the materials can be ground down and sold to manufacturers to be used in new packaging. Let's take large plastic bottles for instance:
a) they need to be sorted by the type of material. There are 6 types of plastic materials that bottles are made of and a 7th which is tossed because it is a combination of different plastics and cannot be recycled.
b) generally they only recycle large containers over 8 oz. and over. so anything smaller also gets tossed
c) then they have to separate them again by color, I would guess, opaque colors vs natural colors
d) if any bottles contain labels or caps they must be removed, especially if the label contains any metallic substance in its substrate
e) then there is probably a very detailed SOP guidelines they must process in order to assure that the recycled material does not contain any contaminants, bacteria, or other harmful substances.
e) then they put these into large grinding bins and break them down into pellets which are stored waiting for a buyer of packaging materials who can use them.

This is only for plastic bottles. Now think about all the other types of materials, metal cans, alum cans, corrugate boxes, cereal or folding boxes, glass (which is probably the easiest material to recycle). Did I miss one??

Have you been to a recycling plant? I have, quite a few. If you can't automate some of the processes above, which is very hard to do, it is very labor intensive.

Making millions on recycling? I don't think so. On top of that, the final user of these materials who is using recycled material to produce new components, probably pays a slight upcharge for the recycled material compared to virgin material.

Inside the world of for-profit recycling - The Week

Recycling E-Waste Becoming Big, Profitable Business | Industry Leaders Magazine

From Waste to Wealth

There are many more stories if you're interested in looking them up.

As someone said, the people that pick up our trash simply sell the recyclables to another company. They make money for doing nothing really. We do all the work for them.

And let me reiterate, I have no problem with these business. In fact, I think that they are good for the economy and produce jobs. But like I said, I have no interest in being an unpaid employee.

[Shimpy]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

Then, they have the nerve to charge us for the bags.

One of my pet peeves. They pick up the stuff and sell it and we have to buy the bags for them. If they want me to recycle 100% then supply the bags. It's like going to a restaurant and having to supply the food.

[Suzi]

As for volume, we toss out more recyclables than garbage. In fact, it would be better with a once weekly garbage pick-up and twice weekly recycle pick up -- at least for me it would.[/QUOTE]

Same holds true at our house too. Small amounts of garbage and large amounts of recyclables. Would prefer 2 days of recycle and 1 day of garbage pickup.

[perrjojo]

Originally Posted by Shimpy

One of my pet peeves. They pick up the stuff and sell it and we have to buy the bags for them. If they want me to recycle 100% then supply the bags. It's like going to a restaurant and having to supply the food.

Oh for Heveans Sake. A recycle bag cost 45cents or less. For 45 cents I can be a good steward of our planet. Find another excuse than price.

[OBXNana]

Originally Posted by perrjojo

Oh for Heveans Sake. A recycle bag cost 45cents or less. For 45 cents I can be a good steward of our planet. Find another excuse than price.

We purchased 200 clear bags from Amazon for less than $40.00 (about $10.00 per year) and delivered for free to our door. Have one waste basket with a clear bag and another with a black bag. It really is very easy.

[bkcunningham1]

Where do they take the material you put out for recycling?

[mtdjed]

Originally Posted by Shimpy

One of my pet peeves. They pick up the stuff and sell it and we have to buy the bags for them. If they want me to recycle 100% then supply the bags. It's like going to a restaurant and having to supply the food.

It is your garbage and trash. You don't want to bag it? I guess we should just throw all that garbage and trash on the road and expect someone to come along and shovel it up. How can anybody complain about buying two types of bags? We should all do our share.

[Walter123]

In the old days, as kids, we would collect bottles and newspapers and we would get the money. Too bad that went away along with the paper route.
To me, that was worthwhile recycling.

[LndLocked]

The petty small mindedness of some people never fails to amaze and depress me.

[Carla B]

The only work required is to buy the bags and do a little sorting. We still have dozens of clear bags left from a one-time purchase at Sam's Club in 2008. I hate to imagine the cubic yards the amount of recycles we put out over the years would occupy at the landfill had it been lumped together with the garbage.

[Carla B]

Originally Posted by bkcunningham1

Where do they take the material you put out for recycling?

I think it goes to Orlando and is sorted by hand.

[Cedwards38]

Recycling is a matter of conscience. If you favor the idea of not creating landfill waste, then you do it.
I do. I recycle every week, because I believe it's the right thing to do. I've never had a problem finding and purchasing the correct bags. I've never resented providing the bags. It's like pumping your own gas to provide profits for oil companies, or paying for parking while you go to the theatre, or paying for internet service to shop at Amazon, or providing the water and electricity to contractors at your home, or buying checks to do business with my bank. It's just the cost of doing business. And I choose to contribute to the recycling business because it's good for the environment and is considerate of future generations.
You make your own choice!