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Re: [greenyes] Abandoning glass recycling?


Alan:
Helen is right, except I would call it other non hazaradous discards
rick

In a message dated 11/3/2004 10:19:33 AM Pacific Standard Time,
hspie@no.address writes:would like to suggest that the group is pursuing the wrong
dichotomy.
Rather than divide all waste into the two proposed categories, I suggest
that you think about separating wastes into ORGANICS and OTHER WASTES.

There would need to be strong supplemental messaging about BANS on the
disposal of HAZARDOUS PRODUCTS.

This is the familiar wet-dry system, which collects "wet" food waste, yard
waste, and low-grade paper products separately from "dry" products, which
would include both currently recyclable products (such as glass,
newspapers, etc.) and products for which no current recycling programs
exist (all other products except HAZARDOUS).

Thus, rather than bicker over which products are 'recyclable', we go with a
distinction which is practical as well as principled.

PRACTICAL:
After hazardous products (paint, oil, pesticides, computers, etc.) organics
cause the most immediate problem when landfilled: they are the source of
leachate and methane. Also, there are local markets for finished compost
(if nothing else, as soil amendment in public parks). Also, organics
technologies are turning out to be quite diverse, with the promise of
producing not only soil amendment but energy (methane) in conditions that
are much more controlled than the very crude landfill gas capture programs
that are being used by the waste industry to rehabilitate landfilling.

PRINCIPLED:
As a devout supporter of EPR, I hold to a vision that someday all products
will go "back to their makers" (this is the kind of discourse we are
supposed to use in the post-election era?). My belief in EPR also compels
me to hold my local community responsible for proper stewardship of
community organics. Just as I don't cut producers any slack in landfilling
their products, I won't cut my local government any slack in landfilling
community organics.

I urge you to take a look at Metro-Portland's White Paper on its Organic
Waste Management Program at:

<http://www.metro-region.org/library_docs/recycling/white_paper-1-28-04_final.
doc>www.metro-region.org/library_docs/recycling/white_paper-1-28-04_final.doc

Helen.

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