[New Englander]

Originally Posted by ficoguy

China now wants to send us their paper and plastic

Instead, they sent the world a PANDEMIC.

[Koapaka]

Originally Posted by WhiteToast

It’s just plain irresponsible to throw glass, plastic, aluminum into landfills. <shaking my head>.

You have missed the point....it is only IMPORTANT to TPTB when it is PROFITABLE....they sell the idea to make money, and then shun it when it no longer benefits them. Kinda like paying for "carbon credits".

[UpNorth]

In many states there is a deposit on beverage containers. I would think this is a significant percentage of the recyclables down here.
Even if it is a PITA to return them back to the stores and it may not be economical in the long run, it does eliminate this one form of trash from the roads. I would think that aluminum cans and plastic bottles could be recycled more efficiently than if simply thrown in a bag with other recyclables.

[sloanst]

Sorry, but we should do zero business with China, ever

[billethkid]

Priority? Politics and $$$$$!

[DeafDeaf]

1. The packing styrofoam materials are not recyclable and are buried in the dump forever!

2. The shredded paper in the bag is disposed to the dump instead of being recyclable because the recycling companies do not want any shredded stuff directly from people - they prefer doing shredding themselves.

[mulligan]

They did specify that 100% of waste will go to a trash burner. Nothing to a landfill but ash.

[SnowflakeinDeLaVista]

It is my understanding that many recycling programs across the country are ending. Recycling is a complex process. In many cases, recycling requires chemicals and processes that are dangerous to breathe and drink if allowed to escape into the air and water. Communities across the United States want recycling to be done—only elsewhere. Large numbers of recycling agencies began shipping recyclables to other countries long ago. China was apparently a primary destination for US recyclables and they were essentially going into landfills there rather than actually being recycled. During the trade war with China, the Chinese government adopted a policy of no longer accepting what amounts to monthly tons of US garbage. Municipalities all over the US have been struggling to figure out what to do with our recycling, with much of it actually going to landfills for some time now. This new policy most likely reflects what’s been already happening for months.

[NoMoSno]

Originally Posted by SnowflakeinDeLaVista

It is my understanding that many recycling programs across the country are ending. Recycling is a complex process. In many cases, recycling requires chemicals and processes that are dangerous to breathe and drink if allowed to escape into the air and water. Communities across the United States want recycling to be done—only elsewhere. Large numbers of recycling agencies began shipping recyclables to other countries long ago. China was apparently a primary destination for US recyclables and they were essentially going into landfills there rather than actually being recycled. During the trade war with China, the Chinese government adopted a policy of no longer accepting what amounts to monthly tons of US garbage. Municipalities all over the US have been struggling to figure out what to do with our recycling, with much of it actually going to landfills for some time now. This new policy most likely reflects what’s been already happening for months.

Had nothing to do with a trade war.
China's “National Sword” policy, enacted in January 2018, banned the import of most plastics and other materials headed for that nation's recycling processors, which had handled nearly half of the world's recyclable waste for the past quarter century.
Why the world’s recycling system stopped working | Financial Times

[kcrazorbackfan]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

In the meantime, we can try to re-use, when practical. If you have a cat, don't buy bags for the litter box. Re-use the grocery bags you get when you go grocery shopping.

If you prefer spring water, and like carrying water around with you, then buy the bigger 1-gallon or even 2.5-gallon jugs, and refill a re-useable drink cup instead of buying a case of 24 1/2-liter bottles every month.

Paper bags can be used when you're weeding the garden, all those take-home bags you get from Taco Bell, Burger King, Culver's etc are great for that.

Buy the biggest bottle of cleaner, laundry detergent, paper towels, TP, sponges, as you possibly can. Why? Less packaging waste. You can buy big half-gallon bottles of liquid hand soap, and refill a pretty soap pump for your bathrooms instead of buying a new pump container every time you run low.
Protest the companies that create extra waste, by buying whatever soaps use the least amount of packaging. I know some have a bar wrapped in paper or plastic, and THAT put into a cardboard box. For why? Because it looks good, and they pretend it justifies the higher cost for the consumer. In fact - you could buy from a local soapmaker - you pay more per ounce, but you get hardly any packaging at all, your choice of scents, and a much more interesting-looking bar for your bathroom, while supporting a local cottage industry all at the same time.

These are all little things that won't make all that much of a dent in saving the planet. But if everyone did it, it'd be a pretty nice sized dent.

Good ideas! Thanks

[JoMar]

So many opinions, so little knowledge......so much, it's some one elses problem to fix and if they don't fix it my way they are irresponsible. Do we really believe that if recycling provided an acceptable return on investment there wouldn't be investors lining up?

[nevjudbaker]

I remember back in my childhood black smoke coming from the manufacturing places & semi trucks. Now you see white smoke. If it can be done the single stream is better & far more economical. I do like taking my own bags to the grocery store. They pack & stack better. They are much easier to lift from the cart to my trunk. The insulated bags go on the counter closest to the refrigerator & non-insulated bags go on counters closer to other supplies. I do agree we all can make an effort to reuse containers. I now make my own insect repellent so I reuse the bottles. Egg cartoons in my childhood were made of a different material than the ones todayy. If we burn the garbage can the melted plastic still be used with concrete for roads and home building products?

[MzzJodi]

Originally Posted by Wiserbud47

The North Sumter County Utility Dependent District meet May 6 and has decided to move ahead with the "single stream" of trash, recyclables and yard waste. A contract is being worked out and it will be voted on at their June 8 meeting.
I am very disappointed, but not surprised. There is no money in recycling and the idea that it may help our earth is not part of the decision.
Most of us grow up throwing everything into the "garbage". The garbage was then brought to an incinerator and burned. Years later, burning was considered bad for our environment and they brought it to the dump. Next, the dumps were filling up and it was decided to try to "recycle" certain items. Now they are telling us to "single stream", which means throw everything into the garbage so they can take it to the incinerator and burn it (make energy).
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
I feel sad to loss recycling. I was finally getting the hang of it.

This has already been instituted in Ocala.

[17362]

We have been recycling for over 20 years. We are from Oregon and for us this was taking a huge step back in time. I remember how hard it was to switch the mind set. I just can’t help but wonder places like where we came from made this work in a huge scale- why can’t Florida follow their model and then the counties, cities will follow suit- just like what happened there.
I makes me sad when someone comes up with a great working model and no one sees it to repeat it.
There was time when Oregon was number one at recycling. Now that about the only thing I am going to tout for them.
But I do know this... it took the state to get involved for it to work on a mass level and economic feasibility.
That being said, I am not a proponent for state involvement but apparently at this, it was a good working model for all and earth.

[17362]

Over in the left and up north, there is a deposit and return $, there are large recycle centers where you take your items, allowed 2 bags a day, and they hire and staff these buildings where you take your bottle deposit items and they credit your account which then can be used at the grocery stores or you go there and cash out your account when you want. The stores are all for this, that way they don’t have to deal with it at all. The facilities employ people. The mass bottles and cans (daily consumption kind) don’t become landfill) win -win