[GreenYes] Plastics

["Doug Koplow" <koplow@no.address>]

The operator of one of the bigger MRFs in Boston said that mixed loads of paper and plastic that two years ago had to be sent to an incinerator or landfill now have market value in China.  He said the loads are being manually separated into constituent materials, driven by huge demand for raw materials and high energy prices there.

This is still second-hand knowledge; I'd also be interested in anybody who has studied Chinese reuse markets in detail.

_______________________________
Doug Koplow
Earth Track, Inc.
2067 Massachusetts Avenue - 4th Floor
Cambridge, MA  02140
www.earthtrack.net
Tel:  617/661-4700
Fax: 617/354-0463

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> > > "lstoerkel@no.address" <lstoerkel@no.address> 01/05/07 01:32PM >>>

The City of Emeryville, CA accepts "all plastic bottles" although I've
never seen a load refused because it contained other plastics.  I spoke
with a WMAC (Waste Management of Alameda County) rep who assured me
that all mixed plastic shipped to China was being accepted at the port
as recyclable, and she was certain that it was all being recycled.

For me, that's the million dollar question.  What's happening to all
this plastic in China?  How are they recycling 3-7 and non-bottle 1 and
2?

Has anyone actually seen a Chinese plastic recycling plant in
operation?  And if so, what type of volume can they handle?

Laurie Stoerkel
City of Emeryville
(510) 596-3795






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