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Not to beat this issue to death, I would hope that we would concentrate on reducing the environmental impact of materials use and disposition, rather than use weight (or volume) as a criterion. John Reindl Dane County, WI >-----Original Message----- >From: Peter Anderson [mailto:anderson@no.address] >Sent: Friday, August 26, 2005 12:09 PM >To: GreenYes >Subject: [greenyes] Recyclability > > > In response to the request for what is recyclable, Jerry correctly >points out that, by definition, thermoset (as contrasted with >thermoplastic) >plastics cannot be remolded into anything, and, if recovered, >could only be >chopped up for filler. > > But something even broader needs to be raised here that his point >illustrates. > > There has been a major undercurrent in the recycling movement that >anything can be recycled, as a matter of pride. > > While technically that may be true, it ill serves our long term >interests in being sustainable ourselves, if we blithely >ignore real world >limitations that only makes some things practicably >recyclable. For without >some underlying economic rationale, whatever we summon >extraordinary efforts >to recover will be less than a little noticed flash in the pan. > > Our blurring the line between technically and practically >has led us to >do some very counterproductive things such as in vigorously >chasing the >infinitesimal #3-#7 plastics, which are less than one half of >one percent of >the MSW stream -- while doing precious little to broaden base level >recycling of C&D, which is as large as the entire MSW stream. > > > > Peter >_________________________ >Peter Anderson, President >RECYCLEWORLDS CONSULTING >4513 Vernon Blvd. Suite 15 >Madison, WI 53705-4964 >Ph: (608) 231-1100 >Fax: (608) 233-0011 >Cell: (608) 698-1314 >eMail: anderson@no.address >web: www.recycleworlds.net > > |
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