Is Recycling Worth the Effort?

If a stockpile of plastic exists in the heart of Canada, and the plant needing plastic is in Germany, the cost both economically and environmentally may be prohibitive.  However, it the plastic need be transported just a few miles it might be valuable, and recycling the plastic can make an impact.  So, where is the recycled material being sent?  That is something we are not likely to ever learn.

Another important factor in recycling is to consider just what is being collected.  In my area the local government picks up items to be recycled once a week.  The items accepted are aluminum, tin, plastic, and paper.  Not among the items picked up is glass, possibly as a safety issue.

The items are all placed in a bin, and a truck comes by to collect the items.  So, some sorting is necessary later.

Aluminum is nonferrous, which means it does not have much of a magnetic characteristic.  But large magnets can move the aluminum from the other items due to its weak magnetic characteristics.  The sorting of paper and plastic is probably done by hand. 

Aluminum is a metal found in the Earth.  Once it is all used there will be no more.  Oh, a small amount will come up in volcanic eruptions, but this resource is nonrenewable.  If the mines cease to produce aluminum, we may be forced to mine landfills.

Paper comes from trees, and if the trees are harvested with reforestation as part of the operation the damage to the environment may be minimal.  Paper is a renewable resource, so finding paper piling up might be less important than stockpiling aluminum.

The point is that if there is a glut of recycle material it may be for some items, and not others.  Furthermore, nonrenewable resources have a high chance of eventually being used.

Reusing items through recycling often involves some energy usage, albeit less energy usage than one might need to work with raw materials.  In addition, landfills benefit from recycling.  But the best recycling is repurposing.

Repurposing means to find another use for the item with no or little energy usage.  For example, the eggs we buy come in plastic cartons.  Each carton holds two dozen eggs.  If one were to plant seeds for a vegetable garden these egg cartons would make excellent seed starters if filled with soil.  On a larger scale, composting is a great form of repurposing.

Many items have a multitude of uses.  People harvest boards, doors, and even doorknobs from old homes that are being demolished or renovated.  There is a demand for such items, and antique shops are willing to stock them.  The boards from an old barn might find a new use as a fence.  Old bricks from a fireplace might become pavers.

Old toys and old tools often find a second use, even of they are no longer functional, as décor in restaurants.  It is not uncommon to see old items displayed.  In some restaurants old bottles and old signs are on display.

Repurposing is not always really simple.  Old boards, and even some old toys, might have a lead-based paint.  In fact, old toy soldiers from the fifties were often made of lead.  We must be aware of dangers that were unknown when the items were made but have been found to exist since.

As with many other things, recycling is important.  Having typed that I must add we are responsible for thinking, and we must be willing to alter out actions if a problem exists.  Extreme decisions are often made devoid of thought.  Our goal is to preserve the Earth, and if something is not being used, but energy spent in collecting it, we must be willing to minimize our carbon footprint, even if it defies what we were given as a general rule.  Always think!

Rest assured that if items are stockpiling in your area the economics of collecting a low or no demand item will cause the government to cease collecting that item.  If it is being collected, it probably is being used.

In some cases, we can eliminate the question altogether by eliminating waste.  For example, bringing a reusable bag to the store when buying groceries can eliminate plastic or paper bags.  This saves not only the resources used in making the plastic and paper bags, but the energy in producing these items.  And, this relieves pressure on landfills.

The examples used are representative.  Many more possibilities of making an impact exist.

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