To Recycle or Not to Recycle?

[Woody]

This is the question.

Why do we recycle? Unfortunately ... my dear wife is into the recycle thing. My question is: IS IT WORTH IT?

We pay for garbage service and nowadays we only fill less than half of the can. I would rather just FILL it. But my dear wife ....

We have to tear off the paper off of bottles and cans. We have to flatten cardboard. We have to clean and sort. We fill the garage with garbage till we can make the ten mile trip to the recycle center. This is in a direction that we never otherwise travel.

Of course we end up spilling liquids and foods all over the clean car. The center is full of potholes so we have to end up washing the car. And of course cleaning it inside and out.

Then while trying to sort and place the cans in the right containers at the recycle center ... the dear wife cuts her finger.

Well ... at least the garbage is now out of the garbage and I am less likely to trip over it and end up in the hospital.

My question to you all ... is in your wisdom ... do you really feel it is worth it. Just analyze the environomental impact and use of resources to try to recycle.

On top of this ... one reason I am opposed to the PC recycle business is that after all this effort ... in the past where i have lived ... it was discovered that all this garbage ended up along with all the other garbage because it was too expensive to haul the sorted garbage to a place that had the ability to recycle. And you know all the pollution those big trucks cause.

Folks ... bottom line ... IT JUST AIN'T WORTH IT.

But ... Happy Earth Day

[Gail]

Wow...

Reduce, reuse, recycle!!

In our city the garbage collectors take the recyclables with the garbage in the same truck. The trucks are built with 2 compartments, one for garbage and the other for the recyclables.

We have an awesome recycling plant that hires on disabled people (or they did when we spent a day there while we were homeschooling...) We give them cans, milk cartons, some plastic, newspapers, office paper and cardboard. We can put an unlimited amount of recyclables on the curbside as long as they are packed in the blue bags for easy identification.

I know that the city uses park benches made of that stuff that tetra brik packages are recycled into. There are places that recycle tires and make welcome mats or use them in playgrounds for kids to climb.

Any plastic that is #1,2 or 5 can be given to the recycle centre. At our garbage collecting place they will take old car batteries and metal for recycling.

There is a place back East in Canada which totally breaks down old computers into reusable material. I'm not sure which places around here support this but I'm willing to ask around to find out. Otherwise they go on containers for China to be recycled in a more scary and unhealthy manner.

[Woody]

Ain't got any of that where this "recycler" lives.

[jlbyrd]

There is no question that recycling is beneficial. By reusing these materials we are causing less pollution which would otherwise result from their production.

However, I think you should call and make sure that your trash company is actually keeping the items separated, otherwise it is definitely a waste of your time.

It may be a little cumbersome to prepare, but it helps the planet, and by extension you, your family, and future generations.

[Woody]

Perhaps you missed my original post ... but my garbage company does not collect what we recycle. I have to take it to a collection area which is a ten mile trip. I just question whether they do anything with it or if they are just being PC. How to know what or if they do anything with it? It would take an investigative reporter. Where I previously lived ... they told everyone they were recycling but they were not. The entire county had been fooled.

I just question whether all the environmental impact to recycle is really worth it. See the OP.

[Outta Here]

Ask the fishes if recycling is worth it. If they could talk, they'd say yes.

If the drive is too much for you, how about asking neighbors to help with the job of recycling--you could take turns with returning the recycled packaging to the proper receptacles. Or, perhaps get your church involved in a recycling program. Lots of good can come of this!

If nothing else, consider doing these:

Buy things in bulk, with less packaging materials.

Use canvas bags when shopping instead of plastic or paper bags.

Buy only non-hazardous products.

Consider purchasing reusable items (cloth napkins, refillable bottles, etc.)

Purchase more durable items that need to be replaced less frequently.

Reuse items as you see fit.

Borrow, rent or share items instead of making purchases.

Buy only packaging that's been recycled.

[Woody]

Thanks Aubrey. I think my wife pretty much makes sure we do all of the above good suggestions. If it were me ... I wouldn't. Oh Well ...

[Bravus]

I think at this stage in a lot of places recycling is a good idea badly executed. As well as doing our recycling, we need to make sure that the local council (or whoever manages the waste) is actually following through.

But I don't think we should discard a good idea because it hasn't been done well... most of our plastics are made from oil, and they ain't making any more of that...

[Woody]

Okay. Point well taken. I hate it when you are right.

[phkrause]

Redwood I know that in Florida where my mom lives they pick up the recyclables on a different day than the garbage. So I'm gonna guess that they don't throw it in the same place. But where I live I used to separate everything until I saw that they just throw all into the same garbage truck. So eventually I stopped separating. But like bravus says just because they don't do it right should we be lacks on our part. Kind of reminds me of the tithe, many don't give there tithe because they hear about some of the abuses that the church has done with our tithe. So does that mean we should no tithe? I know its not a perfect example but its an example none the less.

pk

[Gerr]

I'm sorry you feel "it ain't worth it." We are drowning in our own trash! Remember that tugboat from NY full of trash and no one wanted it? Or no place to put it? I don't know what eventually happened to it, but if we don't recycle where will we put all that thrash?

Did you read that article on plastics trash in the recent Review? How it has polluted the oceans, and that krill, the basic food in the food chain are ingesting the tiny plastic polymers that are not biodegradable?

It's way past time for every American, nay, every citizen of this planet, to get serious about trash, pollution, and recycling! There may be some inconveniences, but in the long run we will all benefit!

[GreatLakesGramma]

If it isn't already too late.

[jlbyrd]

The general public's apathy towards keeping our planet clean is appalling.

[phkrause]

Yes agreed, and I'm the first to admit that I haven't done my part very well either.

pk

[Woody]

The question IS ...

The resolution that are being proposed .... ARE these methods really effective or counter productive.

That is the question.

[Gerr]

Of course, they are effective and productive!!!!!!!!!!

Look at how many trees we save by recycling the mountains of paper and cardboard that otherwise would go to the dump!

And the mountains of plastics that would pollute our oceans even more if they were not recycled.

And all those toxic metals in old electronic gadgets/equipment that would pollute our water supply if they were not recovered and recycled.

We need to do more!!!

While in France, I noticed that they have made it very convenient to recycle. The large trash bins I've seen had 3 compartments: 1. for paper/cardboards 2. Plastics 3. Cans and bottles

[Gail]

It is the same in Germany. There is not very much there that you can't recycle, as far as packaging goes.

I'm just thrilled with the reduction in the volume of my household garbage. And I do try to purchase items made of recycled material.

The worst things for me to do something with are things like toothbrushes (we use them for cleaning stuff), razors and other items that are not recyclable.

I've even bought pencils made of old blue jeans- innovative idea!