I was reading the paper the other day as is my daily habit to get my eyes focused and kick-start my brain. Right on the front page was an article that immediately caught my attention…The Chinese are imposing strict rules for what they will accept in the way of our recyclable materials. Materials such as five types of plastics (identified as numbers 3 through 7 on most containers) and increased crackdown on contaminated materials. Like it or not, China has the right to control what the will take of our cast-offs. But that means that more of our refuse will end up in US landfills and municipal solid waste expenses could rise.
Big changes are ahead for Northwest recyclers that have long depended on shipping low-value materials to China, where manufacturers re-use the paper, plastics and scrap metal to make boxes, cans, cellphone cases and many other products.
Some of those materials now may end up in the region’s landfills as China rolls out new rules in January that ban imports of 24 types of recyclables and sharply restrict the amount of contamination in other imported waste materials, which is expected to increase processing costs in the U.S.
The article sort of bummed me out, because if there is one thing that I’ve always prided myself is in the area of recycling…my first bit to save the environment. Are we reaching “peak recycling”? I have become used to just chucking just about most things into one of 2 large bins by the side of the house. I must ramble a bit…
I became a recycler. As soon as my roommates and myself established an off-campus household, we discovered that if you kept the empty beer bottles (the generic stubby types that were ubiquitous in the ‘70’s), you could get 2 cents back for each…that’s 48 cents for a case, not an insignificant down payment for the next purchase in 1973. They were returned to the brewery and refilled…completing a magical circle! Those other bottles and jars that would normally be thrown into the trash could be taken to the Art Building for the glassblowing students to use. Clear, green and brown glass each had its own barrel.
Soon an outlet was found that would take aluminum, and then newspaper. When we moved from one place to another, our new landlady remarked to her husband as we moved in: “Oh look honey, they brought their own garbage!”
Hat’s off to Oregon, as they put into place a deposit on bottles and cans in 1972. A study done a few years later found that litter was down by 83%. Washington had the chance to do the same around that time, but voters turned down a similar plan…go ahead, pitch that beer bottle into the brush…freedom!
Once we purchased our home a few years later, my wife and I were able to go into recycling full scale. Cans, paper and glass were stored in the basement until a recycle run was needed, and I would put on a pair of work boots and flatten the tin and aluminum cans and load up the car. Initially, stops at different locations were required for various items, but soon the county and the city set up drop-off sites with pods for the different materials. Unfortunately these locations seemed to change too frequently, and always when I had a car packed to the max.
In tandem with our recycling habit, a compost bin took care of vegetation and kitchen parings. Outside of creating an occasional raccoon assembly area, and once as hypodermic needle drop-off point, that worked pretty well.
It was time for the city to take charge. In the mid-80’s Seattle was facing a landfill capacity problem, and conflicts with suburban communities forced the city to come up with a plan for future garbage disposal. The mayor at the time promoted the idea of an incinerator. “It would create just an itty-bitty bit of waste and particulate matter” was the promise. But the city residents collectively said “Hell No”. Thus we became to be on the cutting edge of recycling. Trying different collection methods in various parts of town resulted in what we are now using now: A large bin with everything thrown inside. A separate bin is for yard and food waste…no more compost pile, or trips to the transfer station after hedge-pruning. This system is probably used country-wide now. Life is great!
But still, questions abound. At gatherings, people stand befuddled before three cans…which is garbage, what can be recycled, and is this paper plate compostable?
Do you strip the tape from the box before recycling it? (Please do…it’s not required, but preferable.) Do you wash out the peanut butter jar? (It would be best if you do…but you don’t have to, just don’t leave enough inside to make one last sandwich.) Do you leave the cap on the water bottle? (Yes, it will be separated through the cleaning process.) I learned these answers listening to a radio interview this week. Your municipal requirements may vary.
So many rules…I’m just learning to leave the lid partially attached when opening a can, to be pushed back inside when emptied. Throw it away if it’s separated, it’s a hazard to the sorters.
In a region long known as a stronghold of the recycling movement, Republic also is hoping for more help from residents as they fill curbside bins. A ketchup bottle, for example, should be empty, briefly rinsed and air-dried before getting tossed into a recycling bin — otherwise it might dribble and contaminate a lot of other stuff in the bin.
“If you remember empty, clean and dry, you are helping to improve what goes into the (recycling) stream,” Knocke said.
Yes…let’s help China! Wash that ketchup bottle. And also you might steer little Caitlin away from the Lunchables at the grocery store and nip some of the problem at the source.
What are your recycling habits?
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