RE: [GreenYes] glass recovery from commingled curbside program

["Reindl, John" <Reindl@co.dane.wi.us>]

I think that this opens up the entire issue of why we are recycling --
saving of landfill space, environmental benefits, economic development, etc,
and the relative merits of each goal to our final decision making. 

My sense is that recycling glass has some of the lower environmental
benefits in terms of energy saved, reduction in leachate and gas generation
at landfills, saving scarce natural resources, reducing toxic emissions
during product manufacture, etc.

The next question I would have is how to value the various benefits and then
relate them to the costs of recycling. There is a field of economics that
attempts to do this (environmental valuation), and some European countries
that have used this approach to impact decisions, but I am not sure that it
has developed yet to the point where a significant number of people in the
US would feel comfortable with it.

I would like to hear what others think about these issues.

John Reindl, Recycling Manager
Dane County, Wisconsin

> -----Original Message-----
> From: eric@ecocycle.org [mailto:eric@ecocycle.org]
> Sent: Wednesday, March 13, 2002 9:39 AM
> To: Michele Raymond
> Cc: Steve Hammer; GreenYes
> Subject: Re: [GreenYes] glass recovery from commingled 
> curbside program
> 
> 
> Hi Michele,
> 
> You're a brave woman to say this ... and it makes me wonder 
> if its true?
> Can anyone out there make a "compelling environmental reason" 
> to collect
> curbside glass?   The key statement here is "curbside" as opposed to
> recycling glass through drop-off centers.
> 
> Eric Lombardi
> EcoCycle
> 
> Michele Raymond wrote:
> 
> > It may be heavy, but there is no compelling environmental 
> reason to collect
> > glass curbside.
> >
> > They should try to collect plastic and aluminum,as they have higher
> > value.  Just a personal observation
> > Glass contaminates other streams too.
> > Michele Raymond
> >
> > At 03:24 PM 3/12/02 -0500, Steve Hammer wrote:
> > >As you're probably aware, NYC is in the thick of a debate 
> over its metal
> > >glass and plastic recycling program.
> > >
> > >One of the most contentious issues is what to do about 
> glass -- the city
> > >claims that markets have essentially disappeared, and now 
> simply counts all
> > >glass collected as part of the 40% residue rate coming out 
> of the processing
> > >facilities that sort the material.
> > >
> > >Obviously, part of the problem is the way it's collected 
> and processed --
> > >compacted in a packer truck, dumped onto a concrete floor, 
> and then jostled
> > >on a conveyor belt to a picking line.  Very little remains intact.
> > >
> > >I'm interested in learning more about the markets that 
> other (preferably
> > >large) cities have found for their material.  Using Chaz 
> Miller's Waste Age
> > >profile from a few months ago, are we destined to low 
> value applications
> > >(fill, cover replacement, glassphalt)?
> > >
> > >What steps have other cities taken to ensure they have a 
> marketable cullet?
> > >Are redemption centers or curbside sorting the only way to 
> achieve a
> > >marketable material?
> > >
> > >Thanks for any feedback you can provide.
> > >
> > >
> > >Steve Hammer
> > >(w) 212-645-9912
> > >shammer@wastesaver.com
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >******************************************
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> >
> > Michele Raymond
> > Publisher
> > Recycling Laws International/ State Recycling Laws Update
> > 5111 Berwyn Rd. Ste 115 College Park, MD 20740)
> > 301/345-4237   Fax 345-4768
> > http://www.raymond.com
> >
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> --
> ÐÏࡱá
> 
> 
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