Quote:
Originally Posted by redwitch
I recycle. Thanks for the info on styrofoam and Publix. Will start taking it there.
I just wish I was truly convinced that things here really do get recycled. I know in California, we have to sort by material and the truck has bins for each material. Here, to me, the recycling truck looks like a regular garbage truck which implies that our clear plastic bags (which bugs me to no end) are compacted in the truck -- how can everything that is mushed together be sorted? Even so, I give them my recycling and hope that it works.
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The reality is that even when the recycles were sorted before pickup they had to be resorted again by the recycling company's. This is because that it just was not done well enough by well intentioned people. Also it has been shown in every instance were areas went to "single stream recycling" that the % of participation vastly increased.
Further, in every instance were self sorting was required the lower % of participation meant such a small recycle stream that it was a net revenue loser. This forced municipalities to underwrite the programs and that was a hard sell .... especially in tougher economic times. It was a lose, lose, lose ... less participation, less recycling and losing money.
The increased participation of single stream has lead directly to helping make recycling a revenue generating operation. So much so, that these same municipalities that once had to spend tax $$$ to even have the program now were able to bid the "opportunity" out and actually see a recycling program become a revenue source.
I do agree with you on the clear plastic bag requirement .... I help myself feel better about it by buying those bags made out of recycled plastic (in fact ALL of my "garbage" bags are made from recycled plastic) .... oddly enough, these bags are available at Walmart, which is not exactly a bastion of "green"