greenyes@earthsystems.org Archives: [GRRN] good news follow-up

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"With regard to the minor residual, it is not a good idea to ignore the
fact that its utility depends upon it being separated by resin type in
order to be re-used in a paying end market (blending it into low grade
lumber is not a paying proposition). "

It is my understanding that the plastic from our recycling center is =
made into bender board. Perhaps this is not a viable option on a large =
scale, but I am grateful that it exists in my area. Since I take my =
recyclables to the center, I separate them. Mind you, the staff must =
then handle them and that does make Peter's point about "a(n) (item =
must have) sufficient size/weight to justify the sorter reaching down to =
lift it off" a valid consideration.

When I posted the response from Tom's it wasn't necessarily intended to =
rally everyone to recycle their toothpaste caps. It was intended to =
point out a company that is trying. I also was encouraged by my first =
"success" in a string of efforts to encourage manufacturers to label =
their containers. If items are not labeled, they are landfill food. =
If, and only if, the items are labeled, can anything (potentially) be =
done with them. I agree that bothering to recycle a toothpaste cap may =
not make financial sense, but I would like to have the choice and that =
choice requires labeling.

"That is to say, to pursue a purist approach of pushing the =
recycling of
virtually all plastics, even very minor fractions of the whole, will, as =
a
practical matter, force the demise of all plastics recycling, even that
larger part which can be saved."

just keep going with the programs you have in place. However, I hope =
that my efforts will result in there being a quantity of raw materials =
available when a clever person comes along with an idea for their use. =
In the meantime, we will just keep making as much bender board as is =
practical and landfill the remainder.

For a long time, I have dreamed of making a difference in this world. =
It took me a while to realize that "swinging for the seats" doesn't =
often result in a home run. Nowadays, I purposely have a very narrow =
focus. I figure that if I can just get a base hit, maybe one of you =
will send me home. =20
=20
Are there guidelines established for manufacturers who want to package =
responsibly? =20

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"With regard to the minor residual, it is not a good = idea to=20 ignore the
fact that its utility depends upon it being separated by = resin=20 type in
order to be re-used in a paying end market (blending it into = low=20 grade
lumber is not a paying proposition). "

It is my understanding that the plastic from our = recycling=20 center is made into bender board. Perhaps this is not a viable = option on a=20 large scale, but I am grateful that it exists in my area. Since I = take my=20 recyclables to the center, I separate them. Mind you, the staff = must then=20 handle them and that does make Peter's point about "a(n) (item = must have)=20 sufficient size/weight to justify the sorter reaching down to lift it = off" a=20 valid consideration.

When I posted the response from Tom's it wasn't = necessarily=20 intended to rally everyone to recycle their toothpaste caps. It = was=20 intended to point out a company that is trying. I also was=20 encouraged by my first "success" in a string of efforts to = encourage=20 manufacturers to label their containers. If items are not labeled, = they=20 are landfill food. If, and only if, the items are labeled, = can=20 anything (potentially) be done with them. I agree that bothering = to=20 recycle a toothpaste cap may not make financial sense, but I would like = to have=20 the choice and that choice requires labeling.

Maybe today it is not viable and to avoid Peter's=20 prediction:

"That is to say, to pursue a = purist=20 approach of pushing the recycling of
virtually all plastics, even = very minor=20 fractions of the whole, will, as a
practical matter, force the demise = of all=20 plastics recycling, even that
larger part which can be = saved."

just keep going with the programs you have in = place. =20 However, I hope that my efforts will result in there being a quantity of = raw=20 materials available when a clever person comes along with an idea for = their=20 use. In the meantime, we will just keep making as much bender = board as is=20 practical and landfill the remainder.

For a long time, I have dreamed of making = a difference in=20 this world. It took me a while to realize that "swinging for the = seats"=20 doesn't often result in a home run. Nowadays, I purposely have a = very=20 narrow focus. I figure that if I can just get a base = hit, maybe=20 one of you will send me home.