Joelle,
I encourage you to view Point of Return at:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8090488110377995776&q=Point+of+Return
"Point of Return, a 17 minute video documentary, illustrates what
happens to recyclables generally after they leave the curb and explores
sustainable choices with regard to local, regional, and international
consequences. Using Oakland, Northern California, and the Pacific Rim as
a case study, Point of Return looks at economic policy and land use
planning. This documentary raises the profile of these issues among the
general public, elected officials, and other decision makers. Point of
Return moves beyond the current feel good level of comprehension and
shows what recycling actually means to society."
Once you view this DVD, I urge you to include it in any articles you do
on this subject. Thanks!
Gary Liss
Zero Waste consultant
At 03:27 PM 8/31/2007, Brenda Platt wrote:
Hi all,
The email below from Joelle Novey at Co-Op America poses some excellent
questions concerning recycling plastics. Does anyone have data on
this? either from a national perspective or from their local/state
perspective? I'm very interested in this issue too, so please email
Joelle and me directly on this. Joelle is not on the listserv.
Thanks in advance.
Brenda
--
Brenda Platt
Institute for Local Self-Reliance
927 15th Street, NW, 4th Fl
Washington, DC 20005
202-898-1610 ext. 230
www.ilsr.org
*********************
Brenda,
I'm writing at the suggestion of Ann Leonard over at the
Environmental
Grantmakers. I'm writing from the publications department at Co-op
America, where we're doing research for the next issue of the Co-op
America Quarterly about waste and recycling issues.
I'm hoping you can help because I'm having quite a hard time coming
by
any reliable numbers about what happens nationally to the plastics
Americans "recycle."
I would like to be able to tell our readers:
1. what percentage of the plastics in their recycling bins get
rejected
by the MRFs and are ultimately sent to a US landfill or
incinerator.
2. Then, of those plastics recovered by the MRF and sold for
"recycling," what percentage are shipped overseas? (To what
countries?)
3. And then, of those that are sent to other countries, what
percentages
of these items are ultimately recycled into some other useful product
rather than dumped?
4. If the numbers are very different for different grades of
plastics,
I'd be interested in those numbers too.
I would really like to be able to tell our members what is happening to
the plastics in their recycling bins -- where are these things
going,
and what is being done with them? Can you recommend any
reputable
resources that have looked at this in a systematic way? I'll look
forward to hearing from you!
In cooperation,
Joelle G. Novey, Editorial Associate
joelle@no.address
Co-op America: Economic Action for a Just Planet
1612 K St NW Washington DC 20006
Gary Liss
Gary Liss & Associates
4395 Gold Trail Way
Loomis, CA 95650-8929
916-652-7850
Fax: 916-652-0485
gary@no.address
www.garyliss.com
|