Possible Dramatic Changes for TV Recycling

[coffeebean]

I copied and pasted this article from TV News.com........

Dramatic changes could be coming soon to recycling efforts in The Villages
June 7, 2019

The decision by China and other countries to stop accepting recyclables from America could soon be felt at the end of every driveway in The Villages.

Villages District Manager Richard Baier continues to set the stage for a meeting on this topic set for 9 a.m. June 20 at Laurel Manor Recreation Center. The meeting will be open to all Villagers who wish to attend. Baier has been providing updates to all of the community development district boards in The Villages.

“We need to examine the long-range sustainability of our solid waste management plan,” Baier said.

He called the June 20 meeting, “The first step toward a long-range plan.”

The decision by China and other countries to reject recyclables from the United States has shaken up a system in which most Americans were feeling they were doing something worthy when they put their recycled products at the curb for collection.

However, many municipalities are considering ending their recycling programs and sending those products to landfills.

Baier said there is still a market for cardboard, but products that are less and less desirous are glass, plastic and aluminum.

The June 20 meeting will include a presentation of about 45 minutes by Jacobs, the waste hauler who in 2017 purchased CH2M Hill, the previous hauler. The Jacobs presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

[New Englander]

I always thought aluminum was highly recyclable.

[ColdNoMore]

I always thought aluminum was highly recyclable.

Only if there is a buyer who can recycle...for a cost less than creating new. :shrug:

Which is a shame, because the ancillary benefits of reducing landfill wastes...is an admirable goal.


Aluminum Recycling 101 (Poke Here) (http://recycling-guide.org.uk/science-aluminium.html)

[JoMar]

wonder why they can't find domestic recycle companies.....we had a couple in PA but what they took was very limited

[dewilson58]

China has been cutting back since 2016. China announced an almost complete import band in January of 2018.


The USA is going to have to manage its own items.


A business opportunity.


From Yale:

The recycling crisis triggered by China’s ban could have an upside, experts say, if it leads to better solutions for managing the world’s waste, such as expanding processing capacities in North America and Europe, and spurring manufacturers to make their products more easily recyclable.

[Challenger]

Recycling has been an enormous and expensive waste of effort for years now. Only because of the recent rejection of our waste by third world countries have we begun to come to our senses. The problem is not "Fake News. " In Hong Kong you pay for plastic bags at the grocery store. Most people bring reusable bags. Because of the rather worthless recycling collection efforts across the country we have lost sight of the real costs of our waste. Time to take a different path.

[Two Bills]

All stores in UK charge for plastic bags.
It has gone back to what it was, before free plastic bags.
Shoppers take their own bags to grocery stores, and they pack them themselves.
Some are introducing 'bring your own reusable containers' for snack foods, salads, coffees etc. for take outs.
We recycle nearly all our waste.
Where it goes now is open to conjecture, paper/cardboard is not a problem, but still to much is landfill bound, since China stopped taking ours a few years ago as well.
However, the USA. is light years behind most of Western Europe in your efforts to rehome/recycle waste.
The USA is second to China in the most polluting nations list.
I am not knocking the USA. I love the place, just stating a fact.

[sbarron01]

In Washington, DC (lived there before TheVillages), you're charged 5-cents for a plastic bag. Funny how that would make such a difference, but if I or anyone I observed at checkout, forgets the recycled bags, we say "$.05!! forget it, I'll carry it!" Just charging a small amt, no matter if you can afford it or not, makes you conscious of the fact that you should not be wasteful. Took awhile but finally Maryland starting charging for plastic bags; not sure if VA finally went that route. But if you do take-out or buy from a liquor store in DC, the plastic bag is free. My husband & I threw everything we thought could be recycled into that specific trash can in DC (which the recycle trash guys picked up every week whether it was or not), and it was a learning experience to now only put paper/cardboard/cans/plastic bottles into the recycle bag. Seems that the recycling people did too good a job and have to help us un-learn that things we think can be recycled, can be thrown out in w/the regular trash.

[Bay Kid]

Same thing happening in Virginia. It is such a pain that I only recycle cardboard and paper.

[2newyorkers]

In Suffolk County in NY you are also charged for using store plastic bags. Also more and more restaurants do not give straws or are using paper straws.

[Challenger]

Recycling efforts (regular pick up) are costing many millions of useless expense. Need to stop now and find another approach. Maybe less waste which should be very easy to implement.

[Midnight Cowgirl]

One of the major crimes here in TV are the plastic bags which we are required to put our trash in twice a week. Multiply that by the number of houses we have. These bags are not disintegrating and contaminate efforts to break down in the landfills.

I don't recall any time in my life, no matter where I've lived, where my trash was put out on the street in bags and not in a trash can.

While over the years there have been many complaints regarding going to trash and recycle type trash cans, it really is the only way to get away from using plastic bags. That hurdle won't happen any time soon because the change over would be too costly for the developer to provide the receptacles and trucks to do the job and I think they are just too cheap to do it.

[JoMar]

One of the major crimes here in TV are the plastic bags which we are required to put our trash in twice a week. Multiply that by the number of houses we have. These bags are not disintegrating and contaminate efforts to break down in the landfills.

I don't recall any time in my life, no matter where I've lived, where my trash was put out on the street in bags and not in a trash can.

While over the years there have been many complaints regarding going to trash and recycle type trash cans, it really is the only way to get away from using plastic bags. That hurdle won't happen any time soon because the change over would be too costly for the developer to provide the receptacles and trucks to do the job and I think they are just too cheap to do it.

You are not required to put your trash out twice a week, you have the option to put it out up to twice a week. We put it out once a week, there are only two of us so we can do that. In addition, we keep a trash can in the garage with a heavy duty bag in the event we over accumulate (party). Everything goes out on the recycle day. Thanks again for the shot at the Developer, it would be disappointing if someone didn't do that when we don't understand the business.

[coffeebean]

I don't recall any time in my life, no matter where I've lived, where my trash was put out on the street in bags and not in a trash can.



Prior to living in The Villages, we always used trash cans to put out the refuse. However, inside those trash cans were plastic bags that contained the trash. I can not imagine throwing egg shells, as an example, into the trash can alone. I have always lined my kitchen garbage can with a plastic bag. I just can not imagine not having a liner.

[champion6]

Prior to living in The Villages, we always used trash cans to put out the refuse. However, inside those trash cans were plastic bags that contained the trash. I can not imagine throwing egg shells, as an example, into the trash can alone. I have always lined my kitchen garbage can with a plastic bag. I just can not imagine not having a liner.
:agree:

[Velvet]

I love garburators. We don’t have them up north in the city because the old sewer system can’t handle it.

[TheWarriors]

Wait, you mean there’s an environmental cost to Amazon deliveries coming to every home every day in all those extra boxes? Who would of thunk, ;)

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

In the north: We have supermarket plastic bag in the bathroom trash can, and my office trash can. A tall kitchen bag in the kitchen trash bin. When any of them are full we tie up the bags and toss them in the big garbage can outside. Once a week we roll it to the curb. We also have recycling bins, and our municipality lets us have more than one, if we are the type to recycle lots of recyclables every week.

I don't know how it is that the Villages isn't full of vermin, with all those plastic bags leaking who knows what all over the curbside twice a week all along the road in the entire neighborhood. I personally find it disgusting and more unattractive than if someone wanted to stick a tacky pink flamingo on their front lawn.

Maybe that's what some of y'all think is "beautiful." Meh. I'd rather have the flamingo, and a singular trashcan with a bunch of bags inside it, with the lid closed on the curb once a week.

[EdFNJ]

I don't recall any time in my life, no matter where I've lived, where my trash was put out on the street in bags and not in a trash can. Guess you never lived in NYC or NJ. :) Were we lived we put our required plastic bags INTO containers that were automatically picked up by a 1-man truck with a "robot arm" that dumped and put the can back in the same spot. The city supplied every resident with a special can. Saved them millions in labor. The labor no longer on sanitation trucks were assigned other jobs incuding recycling pickup. Recycling was put out and picked up manually once a month. The sanitation dept would spot check garbage cans for stuff that should be recycled.

[asianthree]

At our home up north all the schools had recycling dumpsters. In the last month all have been removed.

At the hospitals we work at, we recycled all of our cardboard, wraps, plastics. With up to 5 bags per case of clean products we filled the compacting bins weekly. Last week bins were removed. So now hospitals are throwing 300 plus bags a day in the land fill.

[Midnight Cowgirl]

You are not required to put your trash out twice a week, you have the option to put it out up to twice a week. We put it out once a week, there are only two of us so we can do that. In addition, we keep a trash can in the garage with a heavy duty bag in the event we over accumulate (party). Everything goes out on the recycle day. Thanks again for the shot at the Developer, it would be disappointing if someone didn't do that when we don't understand the business.


What's to understand??!? If Waste Management can do it, why can't Morse???
And truthfully, it really isn't necessary to have trash pickup twice a week. One pickup a week would work and be less costly.

What you are calling a shot at the developer happens to be a truism, not a shot. I've also noticed at every opportunity, YOU take a shot at me!

Yes -- the Morse family is obviously too cheap to invest in trash cans, recycle cans and the trucks which can handle the pickup.
I'm not speaking about the residents who are against this; that isn't the reason it isn't done.

So tell me -- how come Waste Management manages to do it in an efficient and environmentally conscious way all over Florida . . . and Morse doesn't???

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

There's an old invention called a garbage disposal.
It's been around for at least 65 years.
You really ought to try using one.

We have a compost heap up north. Won't be doing that in The Villages, not merely unsightly but the properties are too close together for that kind of thing.

[Midnight Cowgirl]

Guess you never lived in NYC or NJ. :) Were we lived we put our required plastic bags INTO containers that were automatically picked up by a 1-man truck with a "robot arm" that dumped and put the can back in the same spot. The city supplied every resident with a special can. Saved them millions in labor. The labor no longer on sanitation trucks were assigned other jobs incuding recycling pickup. Recycling was put out and picked up manually once a month. The sanitation dept would spot check garbage cans for stuff that should be recycled.


Yes, as a matter of fact, I did live in Manhattan for a number of years and in Jersey, as well.

The type of truck and trash/recycle cans you are describing are similar (if not the same) as what Waste Management has.
There are also cities that have machinery that automatically separates trash from certain types of recyclable items, too

[Midnight Cowgirl]

We have a compost heap up north. Won't be doing that in The Villages, not merely unsightly but the properties are too close together for that kind of thing.


I've had a compost bin (but not a heap) right next to my A/C unit outside. It is no more unsightly than the compressor itself.

And BTW, for those who are not familiar with compost, it does NOT smell.

[Mikeod]

What's to understand??!? If Waste Management can do it, why can't Morse???
And truthfully, it really isn't necessary to have trash pickup twice a week. One pickup a week would work and be less costly.

What you are calling a shot at the developer happens to be a truism, not a shot. I've also noticed at every opportunity, YOU take a shot at me!

Yes -- the Morse family is obviously too cheap to invest in trash cans, recycle cans and the trucks which can handle the pickup.
I'm not speaking about the residents who are against this; that isn't the reason it isn't done.

So tell me -- how come Waste Management manages to do it in an efficient and environmentally conscious way all over Florida . . . and Morse doesn't???
I think the reason your comment is considered a shot at the developer is that they don’t own the sanitation company. Why would it be their responsibility to provide the waste containers for that company? Where I lived previously, we had containers for trash and recycling paid for and supplied by the company that was contracted for the service, not by the city. Should not be any different here. If we are to get containers, the contractor, not the developer (or the district) should pay for and provide them.

[twoplanekid]

What's to understand??!? If Waste Management can do it, why can't Morse???
And truthfully, it really isn't necessary to have trash pickup twice a week. One pickup a week would work and be less costly.

What you are calling a shot at the developer happens to be a truism, not a shot. I've also noticed at every opportunity, YOU take a shot at me!

Yes -- the Morse family is obviously too cheap to invest in trash cans, recycle cans and the trucks which can handle the pickup.
I'm not speaking about the residents who are against this; that isn't the reason it isn't done.

So tell me -- how come Waste Management manages to do it in an efficient and environmentally conscious way all over Florida . . . and Morse doesn't???

Waste management services for all of the Villages north of 44 is handled by NSCUDD. -> Sanitation Information (https://www.districtgov.org/community/sanitation.aspx)
and -> NSCUDD (https://www.districtgov.org/community/NSCUDD.aspx)

Please read to stay informed.

[tophcfa]

What's to understand??!? If Waste Management can do it, why can't Morse???
And truthfully, it really isn't necessary to have trash pickup twice a week. One pickup a week would work and be less costly.

What you are calling a shot at the developer happens to be a truism, not a shot. I've also noticed at every opportunity, YOU take a shot at me!

Yes -- the Morse family is obviously too cheap to invest in trash cans, recycle cans and the trucks which can handle the pickup.
I'm not speaking about the residents who are against this; that isn't the reason it isn't done.

So tell me -- how come Waste Management manages to do it in an efficient and environmentally conscious way all over Florida . . . and Morse doesn't???

???? - The Morse family are real estate developers (and very good ones at that) who have created a really great retirement community for us to enjoy. They are not in the trash pick-up and recycling business. Why do so many people think that 100% of everything that is not to their absolute liking in the Villages should be remedied out of the pockets of the developers?? That's not how things work in the real world!

[Midnight Cowgirl]

I think the reason your comment is considered a shot at the developer is that they don’t own the sanitation company. Why would it be their responsibility to provide the waste containers for that company? Where I lived previously, we had containers for trash and recycling paid for and supplied by the company that was contracted for the service, not by the city. Should not be any different here. If we are to get containers, the contractor, not the developer (or the district) should pay for and provide them.

I agree completely with what you have said.
I have been under the impression it is the developer who had the responsibility for the trash pickup and not that it was farmed out to another company.
If that be the case, I stand corrected.

However, the fact remains that the developer still would be the one to set the guidelines of what and how they want the pickup to be done and the current method is still archaic and unresponsible.

[Midnight Cowgirl]

???? - The Morse family are real estate developers (and very good ones at that) who have created a really great retirement community for us to enjoy. They are not in the trash pick-up and recycling business. Why do so many people think that 100% of everything that is not to their absolute liking in the Villages should be remedied out of the pockets of the developers?? That's not how things work in the real world!


Yes, the Morse family are developers but if you read one of my other comments, I was under the impression that the trash/ business was theirs.

It was not an unfair assumption to make since they are also in the banking business, insurance business, and even more businesses of which we are probably not aware.

[Velvet]

Seems a logical assumption, I thought it was the Developer too who was responsible, not familiar yet with the system of organization in TV.

[biker1]

It is actually the CDDs. They are the ones who are billing you monthly for trash.

Seems a logical assumption, I thought it was the Developer too who was responsible, not familiar yet with the system of organization in TV.

Never mind about my comment regarding how they collect the garbage in Cuba. Not quite what we want in TV. And they use plastic bags now too sometimes. This is how:

[manaboutown]

Into which trash bag should diabetics and heroin addicts put their used needles?

[Challenger]

The problem is that there is no real market for "recyclable" stuff. If a market existed, people would be knocking on you door and asking for your recyclable waste.

[twoplanekid]

It is actually the CDDs. They are the ones who are billing you monthly for trash.

NSCUDD, a utility dependent Village district is the entity that bills you for the trash if you live above 44.

Sanitation Information (https://www.districtgov.org/community/sanitation.aspx)

and

NSCUDD (https://www.districtgov.org/community/NSCUDD.aspx)

a budget meeting is taking place this morning at the District Office Board room starting at 9 A.M.

[Aces4]

What's to understand??!? If Waste Management can do it, why can't Morse???
And truthfully, it really isn't necessary to have trash pickup twice a week. One pickup a week would work and be less costly.

What you are calling a shot at the developer happens to be a truism, not a shot. I've also noticed at every opportunity, YOU take a shot at me!

Yes -- the Morse family is obviously too cheap to invest in trash cans, recycle cans and the trucks which can handle the pickup.
I'm not speaking about the residents who are against this; that isn't the reason it isn't done.

So tell me -- how come Waste Management manages to do it in an efficient and environmentally conscious way all over Florida . . . and Morse doesn't???

Maybe I’m missing something but why would the developer of a community be responsible for the purchase of garbage cans for everyone?

This service would be covered by our taxes and we would ALL be responsible for the cost. We’ve had have this type of service at our home and if your garbage can is taken more than once, the rule is you have to buy the next one.

[Aces4]

Into which trash bag should diabetics and heroin addicts put their used needles?

There are already disposal sites for sharps that people with hazardous waste use. Sadly, drug addicts don’t care where they dispose of those materials.

[Aces4]

Composting smells. If being turned and maintained properly, you will get the odors of decaying materials. The smell resembles silage if you include greens.

A good working compost pile should have a lot more carbon than nitrogen. Nitrogen matter (lawn clippings, leaves, food scraps and manures) provide the mix for making the enzymes. Easy rule to follow is 1/3 green and 2/3 brown material.

With the requirements needed, the heat and the vermin, I wouldn’t want my neighbor composting.

[JoMar]

Seems a logical assumption, I thought it was the Developer too who was responsible, not familiar yet with the system of organization in TV.

You might want to sign up for the Resident Academy. They can answer all those questions on organization and functions. In addition they provide reference material with contact names and phone numbers so you always have someone to ask whatever questions that come up. I also suggest going back every couple years as things get changed and updated. Here's the link.

VCDD Resident Academy (https://www.districtgov.org/ResidentAcademy.aspx)

[EdFNJ]

Maybe I’m missing something but why would the developer of a community be responsible for the purchase of garbage cans for everyone?

This service would be covered by our taxes and we would ALL be responsible for the cost. We’ve had have this type of service at our home and if your garbage can is taken more than once, the rule is you have to buy the next one. When they started that up north in our town the savings to the city far exceeded the cost of the special cans (and trucks). I believe they said they saved almost $750K a year. That was a town of about 75,000. It actually reduced our local taxes by a (very) small amount after year 2. And correct, if a can was stolen (lol) or lost (lol) or if we wanted an extra one it cost $60.

[ColdNoMore]

Speaking of which...


Canada To Ban Some Single-Use Plastics? (Poke Here) (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/10/canada-ban-single-use-plastics-bags-bottles-straws-2021)


Canada will ban single-use plastics as early as 2021, Justin Trudeau said on Monday.

The prime minister said the specific items to be banned will be determined based on a science-based review, but the government is considering items such as water bottles, plastic bags and straws.

Trudeau said his government is drawing inspiration from the European Union’s parliament, which voted overwhelmingly in March to impose a wide-ranging ban on single-use plastics to counter pollution from discarded items that end up in waterways and fields. Legislatures of the EU member states must vote on the measure before it takes effect.

“Many other countries are doing that and Canada will be one of them,” Trudeau said. “This is a big step but we know can do this for 2021.”

Less than 10% of plastic used in Canada gets recycled. The government said that 1 million birds and over 100,000 sea mammals worldwide are injured or die each year when they mistake plastic for food or become entangled.

The EU’s measure would affect a range of plastic products for which reasonable alternatives exist, from straws to earbuds, starting in 2021.

[biker1]

No, it is the CDDs that bills you. NSCUDD is the provider. Let's not play a game of semantics.

NSCUDD, a utility dependent Village district is the entity that bills you for the trash if you live above 44.

Sanitation Information (https://www.districtgov.org/community/sanitation.aspx)

and

NSCUDD (https://www.districtgov.org/community/NSCUDD.aspx)

a budget meeting is taking place this morning at the District Office Board room starting at 9 A.M.

[Aces4]

Speaking of which...


Canada To Ban Some Single-Use Plastics? (Poke Here) (http://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/jun/10/canada-ban-single-use-plastics-bags-bottles-straws-2021)

I’m afraid the only difference, even though I applaud the attempt, is the ocean will be filled with glass shards and glass debris. Too many lazy people out there. The only way to manage glass is a healthy deposit on it.

[DAVES]

I’m afraid the only difference, even though I applaud the attempt, is the ocean will be filled with glass shards and glass debris. Too many lazy people out there. The only way to manage glass is a healthy deposit on it.

I recall about 1959 all bottles were glass. The small ones had a deposit of .02 and the big ones (like the one liter sodas we often buy) were a nickle. Inflation etc that was serious money.

Here in the Villages, I think we have more than one trash collecting company. Ours is waste management. I recall, when we first moved in calling their company the lady I spoke to was very pleasant. I truly wonder and asked her why we BUY paper bags to throw out garden waste and plastic bags to throw out mostly paper and food waste. We both had a good laugh. Imagine if we as I always did in the past, got cardboard boxes that the grocery etc pay to get rid of and filled them with your garden waste-both can be composted. Heck some people are real fans of MELORGANITE. It is minnesota SEWAGE. SELLING their processed POOP all over the United States.

[JoMar]

Any info on the meeting this AM?

[DAVES]

Like most international issues it is usually governments and SPUN facts. I recall a documentary on this issue about a year ago.
It seems so many Americans buy Pizza to go and those cardboard boxes due to cooking oil contaminate piles of what is no longer easy to recycle. Burning fuel to ship relatively low value waste cardboard to China so they can recycle it and ship stuff back to us like many things strikes me as insanity.

In the real world the US is taking in nuclear waste from other countries and paying the cost to store it.
As to plastic-several companies are creating wood substitutes from plastic trash. If, you have carpeting and read the information, both the pile and the padding below is largely recycled stuff. Plastic and glass are mixed with road material and we not only get rid of the waste but the road lasts longer.
Aldis, a German owned firm offers no bags. You bring your own an or use boxes that they do not have to pay to dispose of. Savealot does the same thing.

[CFrance]

Recycling has been an enormous and expensive waste of effort for years now. Only because of the recent rejection of our waste by third world countries have we begun to come to our senses. The problem is not "Fake News. " In Hong Kong you pay for plastic bags at the grocery store. Most people bring reusable bags. Because of the rather worthless recycling collection efforts across the country we have lost sight of the real costs of our waste. Time to take a different path.
I so agree with this. We need to produce less waste packaging, not focus on trying to chase dwindling recycle markets. I recently saw oranges in a grocery store that were wrapped in clear plastic film. WHY?

[CFrance]

I think the reason your comment is considered a shot at the developer is that they don’t own the sanitation company. Why would it be their responsibility to provide the waste containers for that company? Where I lived previously, we had containers for trash and recycling paid for and supplied by the company that was contracted for the service, not by the city. Should not be any different here. If we are to get containers, the contractor, not the developer (or the district) should pay for and provide them.
But perhaps the developer could contract with a company that supplies trash cans and has the robot arm to pick them up.


When we rented one winter in the Low Country--Beaufort, SC--they had this type of trash pickup. What we learned from a neighbor was if it couldn't fit in the trash can and the lid be closed, they wouldn't take it. It's much more strict. On the plus side... in TV they will take just about anything, inside the bag or out. You could put your mother-in-law out there in a chair and they would take her.

[JoMar]

What does the container or new trucks have to do with the possible elimination of recycling because there is no place that will accept the contents?

[CFrance]

What does the container or new trucks have to do with the possible elimination of recycling because there is no place that will accept the contents?
I think the issue was having to put recycles in plastic bags as opposed to in cans, and it got sidetracked further into trash pickup.


The way things go on these threads...

[New Englander]

But perhaps the developer could contract with a company that supplies trash cans and has the robot arm to pick them up.


When we rented one winter in the Low Country--Beaufort, SC--they had this type of trash pickup. What we learned from a neighbor was if it couldn't fit in the trash can and the lid be closed, they wouldn't take it. It's much more strict. On the plus side... in TV they will take just about anything, inside the bag or out. You could put your mother-in-law out there in a chair and they would take her.

Do they take ex wives as well? :icon_wink:

[Midnight Cowgirl]

Composting smells. If being turned and maintained properly, you will get the odors of decaying materials. The smell resembles silage if you include greens.

A good working compost pile should have a lot more carbon than nitrogen. Nitrogen matter (lawn clippings, leaves, food scraps and manures) provide the mix for making the enzymes. Easy rule to follow is 1/3 green and 2/3 brown material.

With the requirements needed, the heat and the vermin, I wouldn’t want my neighbor composting.


Sorry, but when done properly, compost NEVER smells!
Heat, mostly from the sun, is exactly what is necessary to compost.
In all the many years I have composted, I have never had rats.

Most food scraps are a no-no as is manure. And where would you get manure anyway???
Plus, it would be pretty difficult for a critter to get into most compost bins designed for home use.

[CFrance]

Do they take ex wives as well? :icon_wink:
I think you have to call first.:duck:

[ColdNoMore]

I so agree with this. We need to produce less waste packaging, not focus on trying to chase dwindling recycle markets. I recently saw oranges in a grocery store that were wrapped in clear plastic film. WHY?

Yep...:agree:

[Challenger]

I so agree with this. We need to produce less waste packaging, not focus on trying to chase dwindling recycle markets. I recently saw oranges in a grocery store that were wrapped in clear plastic film. WHY?

Bingo!!!

[skip0358]

City of Wildwood uses a company with the arms as other have talked about. 1 blue can for garbage and 1 green can for recycles. Picked up once a week. If you have yard waste it can either go in the green can and or the big brown bags. My Daughters pickup is once a week for both cans and any brown bags. Bigger items you must call ahead for pickup. Those cans are provided by the Trash company I do believe because when she moved in the cans were already at the hose with the instructions printed on top. Perhaps IF we had a different trash hauler in TV we'd have the cans with the pickup arms. I do agree the US has gotten lazy as far as their recycle efforts.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I've had a compost bin (but not a heap) right next to my A/C unit outside. It is no more unsightly than the compressor itself.

And BTW, for those who are not familiar with compost, it does NOT smell.

It -can- smell. Depends on how you do your composting. Out in the edges of the burbs near farmland, it's pretty common to grab a bucket of chicken poop from a neighbor's yard and add it to the heap to help break down the organic material. If the wind shifts and you're downwind of the shift, it can get pretty nauseating.

[Two Bills]

It -can- smell. Depends on how you do your composting. Out in the edges of the burbs near farmland, it's pretty common to grab a bucket of chicken poop from a neighbor's yard and add it to the heap to help break down the organic material. If the wind shifts and you're downwind of the shift, it can get pretty nauseating.

It's the manure that stinks, not the compost.
Manure, compost, chalk and cheese.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

It's the manure that stinks, not the compost.
Manure, compost, chalk and cheese.

If you put chicken poop into your compost heap and mix it around, then it is your compost that is stinking. And you shouldn't ever put cheese in a compost heap.

[JoMar]

City of Wildwood uses a company with the arms as other have talked about. 1 blue can for garbage and 1 green can for recycles. Picked up once a week. If you have yard waste it can either go in the green can and or the big brown bags. My Daughters pickup is once a week for both cans and any brown bags. Bigger items you must call ahead for pickup. Those cans are provided by the Trash company I do believe because when she moved in the cans were already at the hose with the instructions printed on top. Perhaps IF we had a different trash hauler in TV we'd have the cans with the pickup arms. I do agree the US has gotten lazy as far as their recycle efforts.

Don't understand what cans get you. We had them in PA and it was a pain....to the degree that neighbors would let them out all day until they got home from work or the weather improved. This system is so much easier. Also, two stage trash trucks are noisier since the need to run them them at every stop and still need to compact. Here they run the compactor when the rear bin is full and that can take an entire block to fill. The cost of a two stage truck is more expensive and of course we would pay for that. Don't understand the infatuation with cans.

[Marathon Man]

There are simply too many folks who have the time and energy to complain and critisize, but do not have the time and energy to learn about the community in which they chose to live.

[trichard]

Our trash rates increased because of recycling. Will our trash rates increase to end recycling?

[karostay]

Today's technology isn't making life any easier

[JoMar]

Our trash rates increased because of recycling. Will our trash rates increase to end recycling?

That will depend on the charges from the landfills to take all our stuff.

[simpkinp]

We are sending a second fleet of trucks around The Villsges every week. How environmentally friendly and cost effective is that? If it’s going to the landfill as I have heard, it is absurd.

[skip0358]

Quite frankly I don't like the can idea either. Just put it out there because an earlier poster asked about the cans. Don't have the room to store them in the garage and would look crappy sitting in the yard as they are quite large.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Quite frankly I don't like the can idea either. Just put it out there because an earlier poster asked about the cans. Don't have the room to store them in the garage and would look crappy sitting in the yard as they are quite large.

You don't have room to store one big garbage can in the garage. So where do you store all the different trash bags filled with trash? Kitchen, bathroom, other bathroom, the bag you use to clean the litterbox, lint from the dryer, etc. etc. etc.

[DeanFL]

You don't have room to store one big garbage can in the garage. So where do you store all the different trash bags filled with trash? Kitchen, bathroom, other bathroom, the bag you use to clean the litterbox, lint from the dryer, etc. etc. etc.

Before The Villages I lived in a large 55+ community in Leesburg for 10 years. That comm had (and still uses) a waste company that ONLY took TRASH & RECYCLING using HUGE plastic bins with hinged tops - they were about 30" square and 4' high - green for trash, blue for recycl. Needed to wheel them out the night before. The trucks were manned by ONLY the driver and the truck had a pneumatic pivoting arm on the side of the truck that would grasp the bin and noisily lift/rotate it into the truck. Each cycle would take about 30 seconds - much longer than our guys flipping bags in the truck... another truck came for recycl bins. AND of course, after the trash is taken the empty bins are left on the curb, sometimes tipping, and smelling -sometimes all day if the people were out. AND many folks kept them outside, not in the garage during the week.

Although OUR system here in TV is not perfect, it's better than that...

[coffeebean]

You don't have room to store one big garbage can in the garage. So where do you store all the different trash bags filled with trash? Kitchen, bathroom, other bathroom, the bag you use to clean the litterbox, lint from the dryer, etc. etc. etc.

All those individual trash cans you mentioned get emptied twice a week into a large trash bag which is contained in a kitchen size garbage can in the garage. No need for storing this trash in the house unless you consider each individual trash receptacle as being storage. Those trash receptacles are being used on a daily basis. They do not need emptying until trash day when they go out to the end of the driveway.

[coffeebean]

Before The Villages I lived in a large 55+ community in Leesburg for 10 years. That comm had (and still uses) a waste company that ONLY took TRASH & RECYCLING using HUGE plastic bins with hinged tops - they were about 30" square and 4' high - green for trash, blue for recycl. Needed to wheel them out the night before. The trucks were manned by ONLY the driver and the truck had a pneumatic pivoting arm on the side of the truck that would grasp the bin and noisily lift/rotate it into the truck. Each cycle would take about 30 seconds - much longer than our guys flipping bags in the truck... another truck came for recycl bins. AND of course, after the trash is taken the empty bins are left on the curb, sometimes tipping, and smelling -sometimes all day if the people were out. AND many folks kept them outside, not in the garage during the week.

Although OUR system here in TV is not perfect, it's better than that...

Most garages here in TV are a standard size and are not large enough to fit large trash bins in these garages (unless you only have one vehicle in the garage). I do not want to look at these garbage cans on the sides of homes nor in back yards. Many back yards face main streets here in TV. Our community would look "trashy" and I imagine that is not the look most home owners in our lovely neighborhoods would want.

[Joeint]

The never ending garbage topic. Back on topic if there's no demand for recycled item they get thrown in the regular trash.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CFrance]

Before The Villages I lived in a large 55+ community in Leesburg for 10 years. That comm had (and still uses) a waste company that ONLY took TRASH & RECYCLING using HUGE plastic bins with hinged tops - they were about 30" square and 4' high - green for trash, blue for recycl. Needed to wheel them out the night before. The trucks were manned by ONLY the driver and the truck had a pneumatic pivoting arm on the side of the truck that would grasp the bin and noisily lift/rotate it into the truck. Each cycle would take about 30 seconds - much longer than our guys flipping bags in the truck... another truck came for recycl bins. AND of course, after the trash is taken the empty bins are left on the curb, sometimes tipping, and smelling -sometimes all day if the people were out. AND many folks kept them outside, not in the garage during the week.

Although OUR system here in TV is not perfect, it's better than that...
In our designer, with two cars in the garage and a workshop in the golf cart garage, we would not have had space for a trash can. Somebody wouldn't have been able to get into his car.


With two trash pickups per week, we've never had to store trash in the garage.


To people advocating garbage going into disposals, I say what about meat bones, lettuce leaves, peelings and other things that aren't supposed to go down the disposal? Even coffee grounds and egg shells are not recommended to be put into disposals. You can't just throw those items into a bagless bin. And you can't compost bones.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

All those individual trash cans you mentioned get emptied twice a week into a large trash bag which is contained in a kitchen size garbage can in the garage. No need for storing this trash in the house unless you consider each individual trash receptacle as being storage. Those trash receptacles are being used on a daily basis. They do not need emptying until trash day when they go out to the end of the driveway.

I understand that. But when one bag is full, and it's not trash day the next day, you need a place to put that full bag so you can put a fresh bag in the bin.

I thought my question was pretty clear but perhaps not. Especially considering the litterbox issue, where I clean the solid and clumps every single day. They get cleaned into a plastic bag, and that bag gets put in the garbage can, which we keep outside in our back yard up north until trash day.

Kitchen waste goes in the kitchen trash bin - until that bag is full. Then we empty it out and put THAT in the garbage can out back, until trash day. Bathroom trash goes in the bathroom trash bin, until THAT bag is full. And then it goes in the garbage can out back, until trash day.

Where do people who claim they don't have room for a single trash can, put those bags of trash when their multiple trash bins in the rooms of their house are full, on days when it isn't trash day that or the following day?

[CFrance]

I have never, in 8 years, had to store trash in the garage to wait for trash day. We just don't generate that much trash. As I said in an earlier post, we truly had NO room for a garbage can in our puny designer garage. Now that we're in a CYV with only one car in the garage, we could have one, as long as we don't have a golf cart. But... we don't need a garbage can. The dog's déjections are bagged and go into a "poop jar" outside (which is where I would put cat litter if we had a cat) to be added to the garbage bag on trash days.

If they drop down to one trash pickup per week, we would have one bag, tall kitchen can size, in the garage till trash day. But I hope they don't, because garages are hot and I would hate to have garbage festering in there. As for recyclables, we put ours in the laundry room sink until pickup day. If they stop accepting recycling, either at the curb or at the designated facility, that bag will be added to the trash.

Up north we had cans blowing all over the road. It was unsightly. I like the way TV does it.

[Topspinmo]

I do my part and put the trash out on trash day, how ever they pick it up and what they do with it is their business. I pay for service and they do good job. The problem with trash cans is they blow over, people throw anything in them, and some Lazy _____ won’t bring the back off the street. If some Think they can do it better create company and put in bid

[Bogie Shooter]

There are simply too many folks who have the time and energy to complain and critisize, but do not have the time and energy to learn about the community in which they chose to live.

I was looking for a sane post on this thread, finally found it. Thanks.

[coffeebean]

.

Where do people who claim they don't have room for a single trash can, put those bags of trash when their multiple trash bins in the rooms of their house are full, on days when it isn't trash day that or the following day?

That was my point in a previous post.......we don't fill our individual trash cans that are in daily use in the house. On a VERY rare occasion, the kitchen garbage can needs to be emptied before trash pick up, I take the bag, close it up and place it in the garage or place it on the lanai until it goes to the curb on garbage pick up day. We are only two people in the house and we can't even try to fill our trash cans in the house. I could even go one week before needing to replace the bags in the house trash cans.

[Midnight Cowgirl]

In our designer, with two cars in the garage and a workshop in the golf cart garage, we would not have had space for a trash can. Somebody wouldn't have been able to get into his car.


With two trash pickups per week, we've never had to store trash in the garage.


To people advocating garbage going into disposals, I say what about meat bones, lettuce leaves, peelings and other things that aren't supposed to go down the disposal? Even coffee grounds and egg shells are not recommended to be put into disposals. You can't just throw those items into a bagless bin. And you can't compost bones.


All the things you mention CAN be put down the disposer with the exception of meat bones.
Yes -- coffee grounds and eggshells, too.

Probably the toughest things are carrot and potato peelings, but if you are careful -- i.e. put them in the disposal slowly and not stuff all of them in at one time -- you shouldn't have an issue.

I also put chicken bones down and have no problem with them.

One of the key issues is to buy a really good disposal. I have a 3/4 h.p. Waste King and have never had any trouble.

[eyc234]

Have to say the days of dodging trash cans scattered up and down the streets or alley was a pain and looked so appealing. Most never moved from the curb until the truck came along the next week. Most drew more critters than bags since they had not been cleaned since the founding of this country. Not in favor of any type of container. We can not understand how people have so much trash in first place. We put out a 4 gallon trash bag every other week. Recycling goes out weekly depending on wine and beer consumption. Have a composter and it hidden. Issue for sanitation companies is no where to put it. Another one of those ostrich moments for America, just ignore it and it does not exist. There are many things that could be done but no backbone to do it. We are all of an age where we can remember no plastic straws, Styrofoam containers etc. How did we live without them, o my!!!

[Chatbrat]

True, the builders line disposals are pure junk, I installed a multi stage insinkerator, but there a still some things that will clog up the trap, no fun clearing a clogged sink trap--done it several times, here and in NC

[Packer Fan]

Only if there is a buyer who can recycle...for a cost less than creating new. :shrug:

Which is a shame, because the ancillary benefits of reducing landfill wastes...is an admirable goal.


Aluminum Recycling 101 (Poke Here) (http://recycling-guide.org.uk/science-aluminium.html)

I may not be an expert, but I have a degree in Metallurgical Engineering, I have bought primary and secondary aluminum for 20 years, over 1 Billion pounds at last calculation, and I have been inside just about every aluminum smelter and recycler in the country. This is what I know - recycled aluminum scrap is WAY cheaper than primary, and aluminum is 100% recyclable, and most stays in the country. Products like Lawn Mower engines, which have 10-12 million a year produced in this country are 100% recycled aluminum for instance. Aluminum cans are made from as much recycled aluminum as they can get, in places like Alcoa, TN, Warrick, IN, and Oswego, NY - not China.

Aluminum scrap pays for most recycling programs. China has ZERO to do with that.
Most of the issue is with PLASTICs not metals.

Just my opinion - or you can believe what you read on the internet - it is always true :blahblahblah:

[ColdNoMore]

I may not be an expert, but I have a degree in Metallurgical Engineering, I have bought primary and secondary aluminum for 20 years, over 1 Billion pounds at last calculation, and I have been inside just about every aluminum smelter and recycler in the country. This is what I know - recycled aluminum scrap is WAY cheaper than primary, and aluminum is 100% recyclable, and most stays in the country. Products like Lawn Mower engines, which have 10-12 million a year produced in this country are 100% recycled aluminum for instance. Aluminum cans are made from as much recycled aluminum as they can get, in places like Alcoa, TN, Warrick, IN, and Oswego, NY - not China.

Aluminum scrap pays for most recycling programs. China has ZERO to do with that.
Most of the issue is with PLASTICs not metals.

Just my opinion - or you can believe what you read on the internet - it is always true :blahblahblah:



I tend to trust known, usually reliable sources, whether it's the internet or not...over unknown anecdotal opinions.

Aluminum Recycling (Poke Here) (http://dailycaller.com/2019/03/18/aluminum-cans-recycling-china/)

Used aluminum cans are piling up in scrap yards as the market for aluminum recyclables shrinks in size and profitability, The Wall Street Journal reports.

The price for used aluminum cans tanked 30 percent since the summer of 2018. Aluminum rollers are cutting recycled aluminum from cans out of their business models to prioritize more profitable areas of business.

Old aluminum cans are limited in what aluminum products they can be used in.

Car and airplane manufacturers tend to stay away from using aluminum made from recycled cans. Aluminum producers are turning away from the used can market despite facing social pressure to embrace recycling, WSJ reports.

:ho:

[Jdmiata]

Bingo!!!

The best of all these posts .

[simpkinp]

Today the trash folks refused to pickup my trash because they could see a tiny bit through the bag. It wasn’t dark enough for them. I have been using white Sam's kitchen bags for 12 years and all of a sudden they wouldn’t take them. I went on Amazon and had to order black bags or they won’t take them. The whole world is trying to reduce plastic and now I am buying more after just buying 200 white Sam's 13gallon kitchen trash bags. Insanity reigns.

[Midnight Cowgirl]

Today the trash folks refused to pickup my trash because they could see a tiny bit through the bag. It wasn’t dark enough for them. I have been using white Sam's kitchen bags for 12 years and all of a sudden they wouldn’t take them. I went on Amazon and had to order black bags or they won’t take them. The whole world is trying to reduce plastic and now I am buying more after just buying 200 white Sam's 13gallon kitchen trash bags. Insanity reigns.


Your fiasco -- and that's what it is -- is incredible!
They wouldn't take your trash bag??? Unbelievable.

In what general area do you live where this happened?
I wonder if they would take my bags.
I use WalMart bags because I refuse to buy any!

[Marathon Man]

Today the trash folks refused to pickup my trash because they could see a tiny bit through the bag. It wasn’t dark enough for them. I have been using white Sam's kitchen bags for 12 years and all of a sudden they wouldn’t take them. I went on Amazon and had to order black bags or they won’t take them. The whole world is trying to reduce plastic and now I am buying more after just buying 200 white Sam's 13gallon kitchen trash bags. Insanity reigns.

Maybe they saw something inside the bag that they are not allowed to take. I have never had a bag left behind. And the ones that we are using now are pretty thin and can be seen a tiny bit through.

[ColdNoMore]

When we moved here 7 years ago, the neighbors said that regular trash was supposed to be in dark bags and recycled trash in clear bags (so as to verify it was actual recyclable items I presume).

I've since been using white garbage bags for regular trash and clear for recyclables...and have never either types of bags refused. :shrug:

[CWGUY]

When we moved here 7 years ago, the neighbors said that regular trash was supposed to be in dark bags and recycled trash in clear bags (so as to verify it was actual recyclable items I presume).

I've since been using white garbage bags for regular trash and clear for recyclables...and have never either types of bags refused. :shrug:

:ho: From the District Web Site on Sanitation Collection Info:

"Garbage should not be in cans, but
instead put in white or black plastic
bags at the end of your driveway. Bags
should be placed at the end of your
driveway, at the edge of the street. Bags
must be placed for collection before
6:00 a.m. on your collection day or
the night before (no sooner than 9:00
p.m.). All garbage should be placed
in sealed, standard 20-30 gallon trash
bags, each bag weighing no more than
40 pounds. Refrain from leaving trash
out on undesignated collection days.
Wrap broken glass or other sharp
objects in newspaper and try to place
them where they cannot cause injury."

And

"Single Stream refers to a system that takes two recycling “streams” – mixed paper
and acceptable containers – and puts them together. No sorting needed! ALL your
recyclable items MUST be in a clear plastic bag. This increases the ease and
convenience of recycling so more people participate and more resources are saved."

[Velvet]

Why I mention what happens up north is that we don’t repeat the same mistakes in TV. If it isn’t obvious, what I’m trying to say that the mastered planned community of TV with all it’s faults, is really doing very well and I am very proud of it!

[simpkinp]

Maybe they saw something inside the bag that they are not allowed to take. I have never had a bag left behind. And the ones that we are using now are pretty thin and can be seen a tiny bit through.

There was just my usual stuff, nothing else. Nothing forbidden in a white Sam's club 13 gallon kitchen trash bag. I see them all over the place. I am giving them to my younger son in Viera, I now have Hefty black bags. Came today. Thank you Amazon. Delivery in less than 24 hours. It’s a crazy world out there. I live in Mallory Square.

[New Englander]

There was just my usual stuff, nothing else. Nothing forbidden in a white Sam's club 13 gallon kitchen trash bag. I see them all over the place. I am giving them to my younger son in Viera, I now have Hefty black bags. Came today. Thank you Amazon. Delivery in less than 24 hours. It’s a crazy world out there. I live in Mallory Square.

I know it sounds wasteful, but you could double up the white bags so they can't see inside.
I've never had any bags not picked up and I use white bags.

[rmd2]

I've had a compost bin (but not a heap) right next to my A/C unit outside. It is no more unsightly than the compressor itself.

And BTW, for those who are not familiar with compost, it does NOT smell.

Vermin love composts. Wouldn't want to live next to you.

[Ladygolfer93]

Personally I would label myself "average" as far as being aware of recycling and control of waste, but lately I've been thinking/questioning more and more if there might not be a better way of doing things. One example, I absolutely love the weed, insect, fertilizers, and fungus products that come in the bottles you attach to the hose. So easy, so fast, don't even need to put on "work" clothes, and so incredibly inexpensive compared to hiring gardener/lawn people to do it, but, lately I have wondered if anyone has thought of a way to just refill the bottles rather than purchase the entire hose fitted container each time. I know the same applications can be bought in large gallon or more heavy plastic containers, but then you get into the messy mixing like the old garden sprayers. I think there is plenty of opportunity for some ingenuity. Could things like laundry detergent, fabric softener, etc. come in the "old fashioned" paper cartons like some milk and juice still does ? Or, are these as much of a problem as the thick plastic such things now come in ? What about mouth wash and such, could it come in cartons like juice ?

[CFrance]

This is quoted from The Guardian, US Edition, which is doing a series on recycling in America...

"Plastic degrades in quality when it is recycled, and while it’s tough to know how many times a piece of plastic will get recycled before becoming unusable, experts estimate it may only be once or twice. After that, it is landfilled, incinerated, or ends up in the environment.

"There’s only one real solution, these experts say: make and consume less plastic."

I reference this article: How you're recycling plastic wrong, from coffee cups to toothpaste | Environment | The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jun/17/recycling-plastic-wrong-guide)

There was once a poster a year or two ago who, defending her daily consumption of bottled water, said it was okay for her to do that because she recycled every bottle. Those bottles will all end up in the landfill eventually.

We must come up with solutions.

[Ladygolfer93]

This is the first place I have ever lived that allowed garbage put out in sacks. It was new to me ! I have lived in several places that provided the special cans that save so much manual labor, and I have lived in locations that require each resident purchase one or more of the "official" can from the city (and they are very expensive). So the developer here would most likely not purchase the cans at all, it might be a required additional cost here.

[Ladygolfer93]

Hummm… I too have used the tall white 13 gal. bags for at least 16 years now. Some weeks have so little I even use a double WM or Publix bag, tie it well at the opening, etc. and put that out. I do use heavy weight large black bags if I have an exceptional amount once in awhile but not often !

[eyc234]

You obviously know nothing about composting. Do some reading, gain some knowledge and then make intelligent comments. Following your comment means that vermin should be rampant around the villages because there are lots of dead, brown and green plant materials which is the only thing that goes into a compost pile.

[MorTech]

The plastics are just Ethylene.
They decompose (oxidize) to CO2 and Water...Which is plant food.
This is basic grade school Chemistry/Earth Science.

[ladyarwen3]

One of the bigger problems I have is trying to reduce the amount of plastic I purchase. More and more items are now only available in plastic. It's nearly impossible to buy milk in a carton unless I pay 3 times more for organic. Powdered laundry detergent is a rare find; and I no longer buy the powdered drink mixes in plastic (Crystal Light and the like). If I can find the 4C brand in the cardboard box I will use that instead. I use a refillable device for my Keurig, but even coffee is hard to find in something other than plastic! I never EVER buy bottles of water.
I think we need to focus not on recycling but reducing the amount of plastic that we purchase. I am thrilled to hear that Dunkin Donuts is starting to do away with their Styrofoam coffee cups! We need to put pressure on all of these companies to look for alternatives to plastic in their packaging!

[Midnight Cowgirl]

Vermin love composts. Wouldn't want to live next to you.


Yes, rats probably do love composts but they have to be able to get into my bin which they absolutely cannot do unless they have the muscles of Atlas.
Actually, it would be impossible for them to open it.

And since you probably have palm trees around your house (or your next door neighbor's house) you probably DO have rats because that's where they live.

I have no palms and NO rats but I'd bet you do!
And maybe -- just maybe -- you DO live next door to me and just don't know it! :a040:

[coffeebean]

The plastics are just Ethylene.
They decompose (oxidize) to CO2 and Water...Which is plant food.
This is basic grade school Chemistry/Earth Science.

The plastic grocery bags? Plastic bottles? Plastic containers? Which plastics?

[twoplanekid]

Remember, this important meeting starts at 9 a.m. tomorrow at Laurel Manor Recreation Center. I will be there and hope to see many of you at this presentation to be followed by a question-and-answer session.
__________________

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

The plastics are just Ethylene.
They decompose (oxidize) to CO2 and Water...Which is plant food.
This is basic grade school Chemistry/Earth Science.

You probably should have taken advanced chemistry/earth science, because you missed the part where you learn that it can take between 10 and 1000 years for a plastic grocery bag to decompose (depending on the complete composition of the bag) and 750 years for a plastic bottle to decompose.

Bags made of plastic are NOT biodegradable. That is why there are recycling programs. It's why some landfills are full. It's why China isn't accepting more recycling plastics. It's why the pollution at the bottom of the oceans is causing marine life to suffer.

[big guy]

China has been cutting back since 2016. China announced an almost complete import band in January of 2018.


The USA is going to have to manage its own items.


A business opportunity.


From Yale:

The recycling crisis triggered by China’s ban could have an upside, experts say, if it leads to better solutions for managing the world’s waste, such as expanding processing capacities in North America and Europe, and spurring manufacturers to make their products more easily recyclable.

Or using less!

[Two Bills]

Or using less!

Supermarkets could lead the way by simply stop issuing plastic bags.
If they want to give bags, paper only.
Aldis have done it from the start. No bags, bring your own.
Simple.

[CFrance]

The plastics are just Ethylene.
They decompose (oxidize) to CO2 and Water...Which is plant food.
This is basic grade school Chemistry/Earth Science.

The plastic grocery bags? Plastic bottles? Plastic containers? Which plastics?
Ridiculously over-simplified statement on plastics. And yes, which plastics? Don't forget children's toys, lawn furniture, and the like.

[twoplanekid]

Remember, this important meeting starts at 9 a.m. today at Laurel Manor Recreation Center. I will be there and hope to see many of you at this presentation to be followed by a question-and-answer session. If you have questions and concerns, attend the meeting to hear from experts.
__________________

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I love that many states have deposits on glass and plastic beverage bottles and aluminum beverage cans. Knowing we have to pay for the privilege, but can be refunded if we keep them out of the landfill, makes a huge impact.

We have to bring the bottles back, but if you drink mostly water and rinse any soda/beer containers before tossing them in your garage bag there's no risk of attracting bugs while you build up enough to haul them to the supermarket.

It also guarantees that you'll have at least one grocery bag being re-used, since you have to put those bottles and cans somewhere, to get them from your garage to your store. And then you have that money to spend in the store, and put whatever you buy in the bag you just emptied out.

It's a mentality perhaps many people aren't capable of embracing, but up in states that have deposits it's just part of life, and no inconvenience at all.

I find it astounding that if you buy a case of water at Staples in the Villages, you'll notice that you pay only the case price, with no deposit. Yet every one of those bottles has a deposit indication on the label. That means I can buy the case in Florida, drink the water, and bring the empties in the car when I travel back north, and get $1.20 back for the deposits.

[CFrance]

I love that many states have deposits on glass and plastic beverage bottles and aluminum beverage cans. Knowing we have to pay for the privilege, but can be refunded if we keep them out of the landfill, makes a huge impact.

We have to bring the bottles back, but if you drink mostly water and rinse any soda/beer containers before tossing them in your garage bag there's no risk of attracting bugs while you build up enough to haul them to the supermarket.

It also guarantees that you'll have at least one grocery bag being re-used, since you have to put those bottles and cans somewhere, to get them from your garage to your store. And then you have that money to spend in the store, and put whatever you buy in the bag you just emptied out.

It's a mentality perhaps many people aren't capable of embracing, but up in states that have deposits it's just part of life, and no inconvenience at all.

I find it astounding that if you buy a case of water at Staples in the Villages, you'll notice that you pay only the case price, with no deposit. Yet every one of those bottles has a deposit indication on the label. That means I can buy the case in Florida, drink the water, and bring the empties in the car when I travel back north, and get $1.20 back for the deposits.
It's not the mentality of the people in the states without bottle return, it's the grocery store lobby. The grocery stores don't want to have to deal with the returns, and they now have strong lobbies to keep it out of those states.

[Velvet]

I would like to see a change in the composition of plastic. There must be a way we can produce biodegradable and less harmful plastic in the first place. I believe the technology already exists it is just still too expensive to use in practice.

[Midnight Cowgirl]

The newest problem is straws.

I've seen new ones made out of aluminum, I believe, but why isn't anyone coming back with and manufacturing paper straws???

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

The newest problem is straws.

I've seen new ones made out of aluminum, I believe, but why isn't anyone coming back with and manufacturing paper straws???

You can buy paper straws. They're great - for around 15 minutes. And then they unravel and you're stuck with soggy paper and a cup you still have to sip directly from anyway.

You can also buy bamboo straws, which last much longer, and are re-useable and washable.

You can also buy acrylic adult sippy cups with no staws needed at all, but you have to (OMG THE HORROR) carry it around with you because it's too expensive to throw away when it's empty.

The only time I use a straw now, is when I'm drinking a frozen drink that is too thick to sip, and not thick enough to spoon.

As to Velvet re: biodegradeable plastic: not possible. Plastic, by definition, is a petroleum-derived product and just doesn't biodegrade.

What you CAN do, however, is support the banana, hemp, and bamboo industries. Did you know that the stalk of a banana plant is fibrous and can be made into clothing, and bags? Bamboo and hemp are also fibers that can be made into clothing and bags.

They are re-useable, and they're not cheap. This is likely why they're not popular for bags. Because we live in a disposable society. It'd be nice if we were less disposable but the advent of the TV dinner pretty much destroyed any chance we have of returning to NOT having paper plates, NOT having disposable diapers, NOT having plastic utensils and plastic bags that end up in the landfills by the billions every day.

[Velvet]

You can buy paper straws. They're great - for around 15 minutes.

As to Velvet re: biodegradeable plastic: not possible. Plastic, by definition, is a petroleum-derived product and just doesn't biodegrade.


Yes, you are right I should have written “biodegradable plastic substitute”. I believe that changing the chemical composition is probably easier than trying to change, on a large scale, established human behavior.

I like the idea of bamboo very much, I use it for my cutting board, etc.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Yes, you are right I should have written “biodegradable plastic substitute”. I believe that changing the chemical composition is probably easier than trying to change, on a large scale, established human behavior.

I like the idea of bamboo very much, I use it for my cutting board, etc.

I love my bamboo cutting board. It's so much lighter weight than hardwood. It's a big one, I use it mostly to roll out dough for pastries and cookies, or slice apples for pie (I bake. A lot.)

There's a local grocer up north, they provide plastic grocery bags but they are made from recycled plastic. Most supermarkets use non-recycled plastic. So this grocer's bags are made FROM recycled bags, which are in turn recyclable. And the inks they use to identify the store on the bags are made from natural pigments, which are safer to print with and less toxic to manufacture.

There is -also- a movement to create new bags out of old bags up here. It's a group of crafters who take used plastic grocery bags that aren't ripped up, clean them, and weave them into other things. Pocketbooks and lunch totes and wallets. They have color schemes and even specific designs that make them decorative. They're very tightly woven, so it looks more like raffia than plastic grocery bags. Very clever.

[Midnight Cowgirl]

I should have been more clear about the straws. Yes, you can buy paper straws.
However, the big plastic straw culprits are restaurants, fast food places, and stores which prepare and have take-out food.
None of these places have gone to or offer an alternative to plastic

[twoplanekid]

A video of the presentation that includes the questions and answers will soon be on the District web site. In the meantime, I have attached the slides from the meeting.

[trichard]

When are our trash rates increasing?

[Chi-Town]

A video of the presentation that includes the questions and answers will soon be on the District web site. In the meantime, I have attached the slides from the meeting.Thanks for the attachment. Definitely setting up for some changes and a rate increase.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

I should have been more clear about the straws. Yes, you can buy paper straws.
However, the big plastic straw culprits are restaurants, fast food places, and stores which prepare and have take-out food.
None of these places have gone to or offer an alternative to plastic

The alternative is to a) bring your own straw or b) don't use a straw. Drink right from the glass. Do you drink champagne with a straw? Beer? A shot of whiskey? No? Then why is it necessary to use a straw with any other liquid refreshment?

[Taltarzac725]

A video of the presentation that includes the questions and answers will soon be on the District web site. In the meantime, I have attached the slides from the meeting.

Thanks for doing that.

[Midnight Cowgirl]

The alternative is to a) bring your own straw or b) don't use a straw. Drink right from the glass. Do you drink champagne with a straw? Beer? A shot of whiskey? No? Then why is it necessary to use a straw with any other liquid refreshment?


Bring my own straw? I think not!

A lot of using a straw is just habit. I NEVER recall being served iced tea in a restaurant and NOT getting a straw. The same actually goes for just about anything that's served cold.

Also, one would have to admit it's pretty difficult to drink from a take-out paper glass with a lid, without a straw :1rotfl:.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Bring my own straw? I think not!

A lot of using a straw is just habit. I NEVER recall being served iced tea in a restaurant and NOT getting a straw. The same actually goes for just about anything that's served cold.

Also, one would have to admit it's pretty difficult to drink from a take-out paper glass with a lid, without a straw :1rotfl:.

Er - I've never had any problem taking the lid off, or asking to have it put in a coffee cup with a sippy-lid. Or - if it's a take-out, bringing my own washable container and transferring the paper to the washable, and tossing the paper in the recycling bin.

It's just habit, as you say. And I agree, using a straw, NOT recycling, not even thinking about it - are all habits. They're bad habits. Are you opposed to acquiring some new, good habits? I'm already working on mine. It took me around a year to stop using straws (except for slushie-type items where you can't really tip the liquid into your mouth, since it's not actually liquid, it's slush).

It sounds like all the things you say makes it difficult, is just excuses. It's not difficult at all to not use a straw. It's not difficult at all to take the lid off a cup. It's not difficult at all to sip from the rim of a glass, or cup. You've just done it some other way all your life, and having to do it differently is stressful.

Until you actually get used to doing it differently. And then - it's no longer stressful, because it's just how you're used to doing things.

[Midnight Cowgirl]

Er - I've never had any problem taking the lid off, or asking to have it put in a coffee cup with a sippy-lid. Or - if it's a take-out, bringing my own washable container and transferring the paper to the washable, and tossing the paper in the recycling bin.

It's just habit, as you say. And I agree, using a straw, NOT recycling, not even thinking about it - are all habits. They're bad habits. Are you opposed to acquiring some new, good habits? I'm already working on mine. It took me around a year to stop using straws (except for slushie-type items where you can't really tip the liquid into your mouth, since it's not actually liquid, it's slush).

It sounds like all the things you say makes it difficult, is just excuses. It's not difficult at all to not use a straw. It's not difficult at all to take the lid off a cup. It's not difficult at all to sip from the rim of a glass, or cup. You've just done it some other way all your life, and having to do it differently is stressful.

Until you actually get used to doing it differently. And then - it's no longer stressful, because it's just how you're used to doing things.


Errrr . . . . I've never had a problem taking the lid off either, except when I'm driving that isn't a great idea.
It's not even a good idea to use my own thermal container because when I'm driving if I tilt my head up to drink, I can't see the road and would tend to swerve (did that once-- tooo dangerous!).
Coffee cups are too small for sodas or iced tea or iced coffee.

It isn't stressful to drink out of any type of glass and you saying that is laughable.
The situations I've cited are not excuses just real facts when you absolutely cannot drink from a glass.

There isn't always a solution for every single situation, you know.
Pass the straw, please! :girlneener:

[Marathon Man]

How many people use a straw at home? Not sure when it became 'necessary' to use a straw in a restaurant, but that needs to change.

[Carla B]

The only thing we use straws for is for a vanilla malted milk for two once a year or so.

Straws are not the only problem. What about all the "clam shell" clear plastic containers that vegetables, fruits, baked goods come in. Just because the recycle sign may be stamped on them doesn't mean they recycle here. If you read the guidelines for No. Sumter Utility District, it looks like only narrow neck plastic containers recycle.

[CFrance]

The only thing we use straws for is for a vanilla malted milk for two once a year or so.

Straws are not the only problem. What about all the "clam shell" clear plastic containers that vegetables, fruits, baked goods come in. Just because the recycle sign may be stamped on them doesn't mean they recycle here. If you read the guidelines for No. Sumter Utility District, it looks like only narrow neck plastic containers recycle.
I read an article about recycling plastic a bit ago. Clam shells contain two strengths of plastic--stronger for the container and weaker for the hinge. The two cannot be combined in recycling and there is no way to separate the weak hinge from the stronger container. Also, the patten for the recycle symbol, which first came out in the '70s, expired a long time ago, and anyone can put that symbol on anything they like with impunity. Some of the items that have that symbol on them are actually not recyclable.


I can't remember if I put the article up before. It's from The Guardian: How you're recycling plastic wrong, from coffee cups to toothpaste | Environment | The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jun/17/recycling-plastic-wrong-guide)

[tophcfa]

When are our trash rates increasing?

My thought exactly. The whole presentation thing was just a set up to justify an upcoming rate increase.

[Marathon Man]

My thought exactly. The whole presentation thing was just a set up to justify an upcoming rate increase.

Would you rather they raise the rates woith justification?? Some of us appreciate being informed.

[JoMar]

My thought exactly. The whole presentation thing was just a set up to justify an upcoming rate increase.

So you don't think there is an issue right?

[tophcfa]

So you don't think there is an issue right?

Rate increases are not an issue?

[JoMar]

Another point, lot of discussion on straws which make up only .025% of 8 Million metric tons of plastic that show up in the ocean. Shouldn't we be focused on the 99.8% in our discussions? Straws are easy because it requires minimal behavior changes on our part, the rest might require us to do more which many are not willing to do.

[MorTech]

Huh...Plastic straws are made from Ethylene...Ethylene's hydrate is Ethanol.

Coincidence?

I'm going to start drinking muh beer with a straw :)

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Another point, lot of discussion on straws which make up only .025% of 8 Million metric tons of plastic that show up in the ocean. Shouldn't we be focused on the 99.8% in our discussions? Straws are easy because it requires minimal behavior changes on our part, the rest might require us to do more which many are not willing to do.

Then - disposable diapers, plastic bags, and take-out containers. Are you willing to give all three up? I'm not specifying what kind of plastic bags. ALL plastic bags. Including garbage bags, trash can liners, kitty litter bags, grocery bags, ziplock bags for the fridge and freezer, sandwich bags, etc. etc. etc.

If we start with straws, we're doing SOMETHING other than just saying "let's do something, but not straws." You have to start somewhere. Straws are the least-used item that has the least impact on civilization.

To Midnight Cowgirl, stop trying to take a drink while you're driving. You shouldn't be doing that anyway, with or without a straw. Problem solved.

[tophcfa]

I just checked out the presentation on solid waste disposal for the Villages and have to say it is an extremely flawed and misleading study. The data used simply does not reflect reality. The study shows that the Villages has a lower annual trash removal cost per household than the national average and much lower than several major urban areas. I certainly hope so given the following facts that were omitted from the study. 1) A very large percentage of Villages home owners are not using their homes (and producing zero trash) for a very large part of the year, despite paying for trash removal year round, 2) The average household size in the country is over 3 people per home (and more in many urban areas) while most homes in the Villages have two (and many only one) resident(s), 3) In most cases, seniors (The Villages population) produce less trash than the typical younger person (seniors eat out more and eat less in general).

What a household pays per year for trash pick up is not the relevant statistic, what matters is what each household pays per year in relation to the amount of trash that is taken away! It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that the average annual trash pick up cost for a Villager should be way below the national average, because the average Villager produces much less trash! The only two things a logical person can take away from the study is 1) The data does not show one way or another if Villagers are getting a good rate for trash pick up, based on the the volume of trash they produce, and 2) Full time residents are clearly getting their trash rates subisdized by the part time residents who pay for trash pick up year round (yes, the same snow birds the full time residents love to complain about).

[Midnight Cowgirl]

Another point, lot of discussion on straws which make up only .025% of 8 Million metric tons of plastic that show up in the ocean. Shouldn't we be focused on the 99.8% in our discussions? Straws are easy because it requires minimal behavior changes on our part, the rest might require us to do more which many are not willing to do.


You are correct!

Unfortunately, there are a number of things we should focus on but don't. Man (meaning we humans) is inherently lazy. It truly is easy to change some of our bad habits, particularly when it comes to recycling. Since China is no longer accepting our plastics, I am certain we will see new laws appearing on the plastic and recycling scene.

Another thing -- laws have to change so that people are forced to do the right thing. It's really sad that it would have to come to that for us to change our lazy, bad habits.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

You are correct!

Unfortunately, there are a number of things we should focus on but don't. Man (meaning we humans) is inherently lazy. It truly is easy to change some of our bad habits, particularly when it comes to recycling. Since China is no longer accepting our plastics, I am certain we will see new laws appearing on the plastic and recycling scene.

Another thing -- laws have to change so that people are forced to do the right thing. It's really sad that it would have to come to that for us to change our lazy, bad habits.

It is sad, definitely. It's even sadder that some of those "in authority" with the power to actually do something about it, deny that it's a problem that needs anything done about it at all.

Ecology? Why? The earth isn't suffering. Let's build more instead. Let's dig into our planet more and rip out more coal. Can't find it there? Then dig in somewhere else til you find it. Just keep digging - don't worry, the ground won't collapse.

Save the whales? Why? They're big and ugly, who cares if they die from eating plastic? Food chain? Screw the food chain. My food chain is cheeseburgers and McNuggets. You don't need anything else. The whales can die.

Fresh water? To heck with that. It's a minority town, no one cares if their kids are poisoned. Keep dumping toxic waste into the rivers and stop worrying about it.

Climate change? Doesn't exist. Let's give those car manufacturers and other manufacturers some more tax breaks and get rid of those silly pesky limits on how much waste and pollution they're allowed to create.

[Midnight Cowgirl]

Then - disposable diapers, plastic bags, and take-out containers. Are you willing to give all three up? I'm not specifying what kind of plastic bags. ALL plastic bags. Including garbage bags, trash can liners, kitty litter bags, grocery bags, ziplock bags for the fridge and freezer, sandwich bags, etc. etc. etc.

If we start with straws, we're doing SOMETHING other than just saying "let's do something, but not straws." You have to start somewhere. Straws are the least-used item that has the least impact on civilization.

To Midnight Cowgirl, stop trying to take a drink while you're driving. You shouldn't be doing that anyway, with or without a straw. Problem solved.


In the center console of my car, I have two cup holders and I choose to use them for the function for which they were designed.

In addition, that's where I keep my quarter for Aldi's shopping cart, but that doesn't interfere with my glass being in the holder, too.

I shouldn't be doing that anyway? Sez who???
I don't have a problem with that.

[Barefoot]

"There’s only one real solution, these experts say: make and consume less plastic."
:agree: We must make and consume less plastic, but that requires cooperation by the companies that package goods in plastic.

In Ontario, probably everywhere in Canada, there is a five-cent charge for plastic bags.
A shopper quickly gets used to providing their own cloth bags.

In Ontario, we have four streams of recycling, compost and garbage.
Obviously the intent is to increase recycling and composting because containers are provided by the City.

Garbage is picked up every two weeks, and one quickly gets used to that. A garbage tag is provided by the City.
If you have more garbage, you need to buy additional tags.

Compost is picked up once a week. Compost (in a compostable bag) contains paper towels, as well as fruit peels, meat bones, etc. There is a small container provided for under the sink and a larger container for the garage.
Of course, a shopper has to buy compostable bags for each container.

Recycling is also picked up once a week, and the first container is for paper and cardboard.

The other recycling container is for plastics, cans, milk cartons, plastic food cartons, etc. The bad stuff.

We need cooperation by the companies that package stuff in plastic.
Otherwise, sadly, we will continue down the same path.

[Midnight Cowgirl]

:agree: We must make and consume less plastic, but that requires cooperation by the companies that package goods in plastic.

In Ontario, probably everywhere in Canada, there is a five-cent charge for plastic bags.
A shopper quickly gets used to providing their own cloth bags.

In Ontario, we have four streams of recycling, compost and garbage.
Obviously the intent is to increase recycling and composting because containers are provided by the City.

Garbage is picked up every two weeks, and one quickly gets used to that. A garbage tag is provided by the City.
If you have more garbage, you need to buy additional tags.

Compost is picked up once a week. Compost (in a compostable bag) contains paper towels, as well as fruit peels, meat bones, etc. There is a small container provided for under the sink and a larger container for the garage.
Of course, a shopper has to buy compostable bags for each container.

Recycling is also picked up once a week, and the first container is for paper and cardboard. Most everyone

The other recycling container is for plastics, cans, milk cartons, plastic food cartons, etc. The bad stuff.

We need cooperation by the companies that package stuff in plastic.
Otherwise, sadly, we will continue down the same path.


Obviously, Ontario is going overboard and doing the right thing with trash, garbage, etc.
I applaud their efforts and everyone who abides by their rules.

I think to myself how something such as you described will NEVER happen in TV. Can you imagine?
Half the residents here complain and moan about just having a trash can and the developer obviously has no plans to change the way things are done!

Going the extra mile here just isn't in anyone's agenda to do the right thing to help the environment.
I see no beneficial results happening.

Yup. Most people here are inherently lazy and can't be bothered.
It's sad that the next generations are the ones who will be paying the price for all the things we aren't doing.

[Barefoot]

Obviously, Ontario is going overboard and doing the right thing with trash, garbage, etc.
MC, I don't think it's a Villages problem. I think it's a global problem.
My point was that recycling bad stuff continues; like take-out food containers, coffee
cream containers and plastic bottles.
And until the companies stop packaging products in plastic, I don't see that changing for the better.

[Bambi]

I lived in Michigan - not far from Sarnia. Everyday there was a parade of garbage trucks from Canada crossing the border and traveling down I69 towards Flint, Michigan. Why were we accepting their recycling or whatever was in the trucks?

[Barefoot]

I lived in Michigan - not far from Sarnia. Everyday there was a parade of garbage trucks from Canada crossing the border and traveling down I69 towards Flint, Michigan. Why were we accepting their recycling or whatever was in the trucks?
I did not realize there were Canadian garbage trucks crossing the border into Michigan.
Why indeed would you be accepting any garbage or recycling from Canada?
Perhaps it just composting? How long ago was this happening?
I think you already have enough challenges in the USA as far as recycling goes.

[Midnight Cowgirl]

I lived in Michigan - not far from Sarnia. Everyday there was a parade of garbage trucks from Canada crossing the border and traveling down I69 towards Flint, Michigan. Why were we accepting their recycling or whatever was in the trucks?

I did not realize there were Canadian garbage trucks crossing the border into Michigan.
Why indeed would you be accepting any garbage or recycling from Canada?
Perhaps it just composting? How long ago was this happening?
I think you already have enough challenges in the USA as far as recycling goes.


At the risk of sounding really stupid, could the Canadian trucks be picking up recyclable stuff as opposed to taking things to the U. S.???:shrug:

[ColdNoMore]

A quick search turned this up. :shrug:

Canadian Garbage to Michigan Landfills (stir here) (http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2018/02/19/canadian-garbage-michigan-landfills-solid-waste/337837002/)

February 19, 2018

After years of decline, Canada's dirty diapers, coffee grounds and banana peels are once again being trucked to Michigan in a major way.

The reason? Michigan's abundant landfills and low fees make it a preferred destination for trash from other states and other countries.

"Michigan has made its regulations as landfill-friendly and trash-friendly as any state in the country," said Mike Garfield, executive director of The Ecology Center, an Ann Arbor-based environmental nonprofit.

The amount of Canadian solid waste imported to Michigan jumped 19% from fiscal year 2016 to fiscal year 2017, to nearly 10.6 million cubic yards, according to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality's latest annual solid waste report. That’s enough trash to fill 881,000, three-axle dump trucks. Those dump trucks, lined up bumper-to-bumper, would stretch from Florida’s Atlantic Coast to California’s Pacific Coast and back to the Gulf of Mexico in Texas.

NOT to dump garbage where it's allowed, with the least expensive overall cost...would be dumb.

As a general rule, with my extensive lifelong interaction with a lot of average Canadian's...they are anything but dumb. :thumbup:

[New Englander]

Obviously, Ontario is going overboard and doing the right thing with trash, garbage, etc.
I applaud their efforts and everyone who abides by their rules.

I think to myself how something such as you described will NEVER happen in TV. Can you imagine?
Half the residents here complain and moan about just having a trash can and the developer obviously has no plans to change the way things are done!

Going the extra mile here just isn't in anyone's agenda to do the right thing to help the environment.
I see no beneficial results happening.

Yup. Most people here are inherently lazy and can't be bothered.
It's sad that the next generations are the ones who will be paying the price for all the things we aren't doing.

How did you come to this conclusion?

[Barefoot]

I had no clue that other states and other countries were trucking their garbage to Michigan. I'm gobsmacked.
It's a strong visual to say that dirty diapers can be trucked to Michigan.
If Michigan does offer low fees and abundant landfills, is it possible that The Villages can truck garbage to Michigan?
But I think this thread is about the lack of recycling.

P.S. Banana peels and coffee grounds can be composted.

[ColdNoMore]

I had no clue that other states and other countries were trucking their garbage to Michigan. I'm gobsmacked.
It's a strong visual to say that dirty diapers can be trucked to Michigan.
If Michigan does offer low fees and abundant landfills, is it possible that The Villages can truck garbage to Michigan?
But I think this thread is about the lack of recycling.

P.S. Banana peels and coffee grounds can be composted.

What's even harder for me to believe, is that up until 1992 New York City was towing barges of human waste out to sea...and just dumping it! :22yikes:

NYC Sludge (Flush Here) (http://www.wnycstudios.org/story/sludge-bottom-sea)

In March, 1986, when New York started loading up barges with human waste and dumping it into the Atlantic, 106 miles off the coast, the EPA told environmentalists not to worry, that sludge wasn’t going to affect the ocean -- hell, it wasn't even making its way to the bottom.

The EPA's argument was that the ocean was so vast, when the barges dumped the sludge it would disperse harmlessly into the trillions of gallons of saltwater. That’s when the benthic guys, those scientists that are very interested in the activity down on the sea floor, called their bluff.

Starting in 1989, a team of bacteriologists, ecologists, chemists, geologists, and biologists went out to the 106-mile site on multiple expeditions, diving over and over in a tiny submarine to gather data.

What did they find? The waste HAD affected the ocean.

It had settled on the bottom, 2,500 meters down. More than that, it had left a vast footprint, covering an area of 80 square nautical miles with a film 5 centimeters deep.

Simply nuts IMHO. :ohdear:

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

How did you come to this conclusion?

It's a hypothesis. My hypothesis is similar, but different: Most people in The Villages have a sense of entitlement, and refuse to be pro-active in cleaning up the environment because it'd mean inconveniencing themselves, or making their front yard look a little less perfect, or it'd mean (heavens forfend) composting, which is what farmers and people who live in tiny homes do, not THEM.

[Kilmacowen]

it's a hypothesis. My hypothesis is similar, but different: Most people in the villages have a sense of entitlement, and refuse to be pro-active in cleaning up the environment because it'd mean inconveniencing themselves, or making their front yard look a little less perfect, or it'd mean (heavens forfend) composting, which is what farmers and people who live in tiny homes do, not them.

wow!!!

[Midnight Cowgirl]

Obviously, Ontario is going overboard and doing the right thing with trash, garbage, etc.
I applaud their efforts and everyone who abides by their rules.

I think to myself how something such as you described will NEVER happen in TV. Can you imagine?
Half the residents here complain and moan about just having a trash can and the developer obviously has no plans to change the way things are done!

Going the extra mile here just isn't in anyone's agenda to do the right thing to help the environment.
I see no beneficial results happening.

Yup. Most people here are inherently lazy and can't be bothered.
It's sad that the next generations are the ones who will be paying the price for all the things we aren't doing.

How did you come to this conclusion?

If you look at the ongoing comments regarding doing anything to help environmental things, you will see that many residents are against them. I say against them because they do nothing to show they are doing anything positive; progressive thinking is not in most people's vocabulary. I'm not just speaking about recent comments. I'm speaking about comments that have been ongoing for years.

I see plastic items in trash bags on trash day -- not for recycling but in with other trash.
Maybe 1% of residents compost (1% is even doubtful) and there are many residents who throw compostable garbage in with their trash.

Do you know how many plastic bags are going into the landfill on a weekly basis? Thousands! And they will never disintegrate in our lifetime and perhaps not even at all!
But residents don't want trash cans and some even say they will still use plastic bags. Why???

Truthfully, if anything progressive or ecologically sound is to happen regarding trash, it must begin with the developer.

How many people do you know who refuse to buy water in plastic bottles?
Frankly, I don't know anyone who doesn't, but I don't and won't. And no; I'm not perfect, but I do try.

Should I go on? I think you get my drift. Enough said!

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

If you look at the ongoing comments regarding doing anything to help environmental things, you will see that many residents are against them. I say against them because they do nothing to show they are doing anything positive; progressive thinking is not in most people's vocabulary. I'm not just speaking about recent comments. I'm speaking about comments that have been ongoing for years.

I see plastic items in trash bags on trash day -- not for recycling but in with other trash.
Maybe 1% of residents compost (1% is even doubtful) and there are many residents who throw compostable garbage in with their trash.

Do you know how many plastic bags are going into the landfill on a weekly basis? Thousands! And they will never disintegrate in our lifetime and perhaps not even at all!
But residents don't want trash cans and some even say they will still use plastic bags. Why???

Truthfully, if anything progressive or ecologically sound is to happen regarding trash, it must begin with the developer.

How many people do you know who refuse to buy water in plastic bottles?
Frankly, I don't know anyone who doesn't, but I don't and won't. And no; I'm not perfect, but I do try.

Should I go on? I think you get my drift. Enough said!

The last time I was down there adding more furniture to my house, I decided to see how I could do without buying a case of water. But I still prefer the taste of spring water (not distilled or "drinking water," ewww). So I bought one of those huge jugs that you turn sideways and use the built-in spigot to pour it into your glass.

And I used a half-litre bottle that was already empty, which I cleaned out every time I emptied it. I absolutely need to be able to carry around a bottle of water that won't leak, and is small enough to fit in my purse. So my thermos is not a good option for me, and those small water bottles are perfect.

Turns out there's a learning curve to those jugs. They pour all over the floor and your wrist til you figure it out! Especially if it's first thing in the morning and you don't have your glasses on yet. :) :)

But after the first couple of days I was an old pro. It's much less expensive than the case of bottles and takes up less room overall.
I'll just have to adjust the shelving in the fridge a notch, and then it'll be just right.

Yes it's still a plastic jug. But it's one plastic jug that is fully recyclable instead of 28 individual water bottles.

[Moderator]

The topic is potential changes to recycling program in The Villages. The thread has strayed into many other areas. Please try to stay on topic.

Moderator