tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87079692992918655152024-01-07T14:29:02.129-08:00Recycle 2 SaveAn easy, light hearted discussion about recycling news and topics. Geared to motivate readers to help keep our planet green and healthy for our future generations. tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.comBlogger134125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-36870666434935353242023-10-25T12:15:00.003-07:002023-10-25T12:45:02.418-07:00Recycling Education<p>I was out in the materials recovery facility trying to get some action shots as the single-stream material was being processed. It is always good to have visuals as you speak about how the material is handled to help everyone understand how we process your recyclables. As I walked to the loading spot I passed overflowing barrels - they caught my attention because they weren't going to look great in the video I was trying to capture. </p><p>I paused in the feed area waiting for a large 100-yarder to empty the community's single stream so I could follow it as it was loaded and began the sorting process. As I waited the line stopped once, twice, and then again. I turned to see why it kept stopping and the team was expediently working together to scoop a shrub off of the line including branches, leaves, and dirt. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5pKjM0h-cXm6bY0E1F8OpQ4ZXwrvlTVwN1Nrp-2yF2WkTNh2UNmN_JhiVqjRHm_Of6q1b09RDGdfaN7fn12_bHyGQhrjcU9h4GBKW-dWkcYhN1dPxaVUnjwr6fE8f2a1Pee-wlDUuUncUnRto76brGRURhlJceNv1zzhlPAcrYgEt7QVtG4gXgVGkt0/s4000/20231025_111104.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb5pKjM0h-cXm6bY0E1F8OpQ4ZXwrvlTVwN1Nrp-2yF2WkTNh2UNmN_JhiVqjRHm_Of6q1b09RDGdfaN7fn12_bHyGQhrjcU9h4GBKW-dWkcYhN1dPxaVUnjwr6fE8f2a1Pee-wlDUuUncUnRto76brGRURhlJceNv1zzhlPAcrYgEt7QVtG4gXgVGkt0/w400-h300/20231025_111104.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>It was at that moment I decided it was more important to cover the "ugly" things I didn't initially want to capture than the process itself. <p></p><p>The overflowing barrels were empty at the start of the shift and emptied again at the 9:00 am break, it was 11:18. The first sorting station is in charge of getting out the blatant offenders; they're also there to try and limit the exposure those contaminants will have on the clean material. They are charged with opening bags, removing contamination, and any large items (plastic or metal). To be clear, nearly all programs state that recyclables should not be bagged, yet we have a team dedicated to trying to open them. At times, the amount of bags is so great that in order to keep the system moving, full bags will be thrown away. </p><p>Next to the main sorting bins, there were three barrels; one for metal, wood, and garbage - these barrels weren't large enough to contain everything they were pulling out. </p><p>I am willing to concede that metal is sometimes confusing - you know it is recyclable and without knowing exactly how it's handled it seems logical that you'd put that in the single stream bin for recycling. For the record - don't, do not place any metal in your single stream except aluminum and tin cans (that is all the process is really set up to handle). </p><p> As for the other items that are constantly contaminating the material, I really have no explanation. As I started to photograph the items some of the team members told me that I missed the 8x10 rug and the queen-sized mattress. Lucky for me, I didn't miss the tire (oh, and it's a big one), the mini refrigerator, the plywood, the pile of shoes, bricks, rocks, or the barrels filled with other items that should've never been placed in any recycling bin. So, as we mull over how to better educate on recycling I'm left wondering if education is really the largest problem that faces recycling. It's not, in my opinion, but the bigger question is how we fix it. We can target education (we have been for quite a long time now) but how do we make people care? This isn't a hypothetical question, we would love your feedback, please!! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7EEJiNX5Cko3Cm8vWfLGQrkjMynDONYTKpuDuF5z8B8DI5_8lNJ8qToHyjrLRiHYLYIwkyzO8KPFnV2kmw5-xmq8kPR_V6mkQvvaEQGf5zKxIDpwF4_krtcBmGHC2nMh4cbAdFDNEm5HAOodlj9XBfJjmYsKgfK8LF0kqAv1Y_uNGrQQdWa9xGev-YU/s1564/IMG_20231025_153936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="1564" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC7EEJiNX5Cko3Cm8vWfLGQrkjMynDONYTKpuDuF5z8B8DI5_8lNJ8qToHyjrLRiHYLYIwkyzO8KPFnV2kmw5-xmq8kPR_V6mkQvvaEQGf5zKxIDpwF4_krtcBmGHC2nMh4cbAdFDNEm5HAOodlj9XBfJjmYsKgfK8LF0kqAv1Y_uNGrQQdWa9xGev-YU/w640-h640/IMG_20231025_153936.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKkiYwnLhJaWZnAtqZf002icy4-JytvQXdrdNcPdGDnrdZ5wWHvR1LZnW0XTmZivkkI3pAJiK1VIoJnakzHJapxhqJIdO60fYXIQqJlrfiXuM3s_61PKHQS_zGnFdRtRKPTQqaVKVmrQTfKWvFItkY58o1koQVoR6p3E65m6u0Wecziwc07PecMCjyyc/s1564/IMG_20231025_154400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="1564" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiKkiYwnLhJaWZnAtqZf002icy4-JytvQXdrdNcPdGDnrdZ5wWHvR1LZnW0XTmZivkkI3pAJiK1VIoJnakzHJapxhqJIdO60fYXIQqJlrfiXuM3s_61PKHQS_zGnFdRtRKPTQqaVKVmrQTfKWvFItkY58o1koQVoR6p3E65m6u0Wecziwc07PecMCjyyc/w640-h640/IMG_20231025_154400.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtsJ_IUiBoAE07ZaC77hdU9-JzFRA3iItNQJK2RzwRUI3X0YgIwRtWcfY7YAO0iHMKSbZQWKjKuhdCI6eZ2jLBhLUzMBRoNcYnlpsJ6baVGBDWf-GdtgDQseaeTfhc8r91EMBEUbD1SxK72ad1E4L2FRLELzshj8h-VGVGklHr25W7VvjqKxhmglMLy10/s4000/20231025_111851.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-24358761934685260512023-10-25T10:38:00.001-07:002023-10-25T10:38:42.280-07:00Glass is a pain!?! Yes, I said what I said. <p>We are a company born from the goal and desire to recycle every item possible. We are not a waste company that also handles recyclables. During dual-stream collection days, we had four glass bins and sorted the glass by color. The mixed color bin (made up of the materials that broke during sorting and transit) was difficult to consistently move or find a "home" for but the other bins were generally manageable. This method of handling the glass was more manually intensive and harder on the equipment directly processing the containers but the paper was collected separately and the process and material remained free of glass contamination. </p><p>Fast forward to single stream collection, all material being collected in one vehicle, compacted and dumped on our tipping floor. Most of the glass arrives broken from transport and has completely infiltrated every inch of the load. On especially wet and snowy days the glass has become "glitter" on clumps of waded paper. (Imagine de glittering after an overzealous little one has completed a sparkly project - that stuff is present for months.)The paper sorting equipment (and staff) is no longer exempt from the exponentially faster wear and tear associated with processing glass and it now impacts the entire process. </p><p>To deal with glass and not cut it from the recycling program, it must be removed as early in the process as possible. Since a majority is already broken we break the remaining intact bottles and remove them through a "fines" screen. In doing this all the glass colors are mixed and any non-glass "fines" contaminate the glass material. Non-glass fines are small items like bottle caps, small shredded paper, straws, small pieces of plastic, aluminum tabs, etc. This mixed-color glass (along with the "other" fines) now needs to be processed. A majority of glass manufacturers are not able or at times willing to utilize mixed color, material recovery grade glass. The amount of processing and equipment destruction involved in handling and sorting the glass to this point is costly and glass manufacturers (at least near us) are not willing to pay for the material. In addition to a low value, they also have extremely tight tolerance related to contamination. Contamination in the glass is typically identified as ceramics, plastic, metal, etc. Additionally, the cost to transport it to them is pricey. Shipping the material at a loss (slightly less or almost equal to a landfill tipping fee) to potentially have it rejected due to a 1% ceramic contamination is just not a feasible option. Yes, there is technology available to optically sort glass except that equipment comes with a very large price tag for a product that doesn't have a reciprocal value, even when cleaned up. </p><p>So now what? We decided to process the glass material, remove as much contamination as possible, and resize it to be used for sand mound septic systems, trenching, reed beds, etc. We know it's not recycling but we really have no other sound alternatives. </p><p>So what's the point of writing this? Frustration. </p><p>I continue to see post after post about how evil plastic is. "It" is contaminating our environment and "it" should be banned. People have suggested going back to good old-fashioned glass bottles because they are endlessly recyclable and can be made into new bottles infinitely. This all makes great sense, except, please reread the above. We have ongoing, consistent markets for PET, HDPE, and PP bottles. When that material is brought to our facility we can segregate, quality sort, and sell it to become a new product. Based on how much of the industry is currently handling glass, we see things a little differently. Glass recycling needs to be revamped. Sure, in theory, it is a very eco-friendly material, but in practice, it is not. Plastic manufacturers are taking heat because a desirable item is failing to be consistently placed in the recycling bin by capable yet seemingly unwilling consumers. It is much quieter on the glass manufacturer front - they aren't being harassed about their footprint and effect on our planet. Yet the recycling process for this material needs to be revised, even when the consumer follows recycling instructions. </p><p><br /></p>tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-28088617809833804342023-02-21T08:57:00.001-08:002023-02-21T08:57:02.375-08:00Great Question - Response to Reader Question <div align="center">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><i>Hi! And thanks for being the recycler
for our residential trash service. I was looking at your blog and found it
useful. I wonder if you could address a topic in the blog, and/or send me a
personal reply. It is said that about 10% of what we put in our home recycle
bin gets recycled. The rest goes overseas, into landfills, etc. Can you
comment on this? I realize some of the reason for this is that people
contaminate their recycling, rendering the whole load unusable, but what
other reasons are there that cause such a small percentage of our recycling
to not get recycled? Thanks in advance.</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Thanks for reading, asking, and for your concern in general. When the 10% number is thrown around it sure is concerning. This number, from what I've read when we researched a bit more in-depth, is based upon 10% of ALL materials produced in the US being recycled. That is still terrible, but not reflective of only 10% of the material placed in your recycling bin. Unfortunately, much like media stories in general, shock sells. We should all be concerned about recycling and the lack of it but we should be concerned based on true data, not the shock effect. </p><p class="MsoNormal">While I can not speak with complete certainty on material recycled at other material recovery facilities, I can on the material processed here, at our Hamburg facility. We have an overall residue rate of ~9.96% for last year (2022). That means, that of ALL the 85 thousand-plus tons of material that were brought in and processed at our facility (in 2022) 9.96% of that was lost due to contamination. Our residual rate is generally due to failure to recycle with care - lack of following bin & program instructions. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Of the ~76 thousand tons of material that are sent from our facility, processed and contaminant free, the recycling rate should be just shy of 100% as it reaches the end users. They may find a small percentage of fine contamination that may need to be removed during processing. In addition to the cost of transportation, the receivers are paying per ton (for paper) or per pound (for plastic & metals) - they are motivated (if only by sheer economics) to utilize every possible pound of material. Our company, like many other material recovery facilities, is selling to repeat manufacturers or established brokers who have direct relationships and knowledge of the thoroughly vetted end users. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Materials are at times shipped overseas - this occurs because typically because the domestic demand is not present. Thankfully, some of the pain from the iron sword has created end users domestically that previously did not exist. As a MRF we are very excited about the growth of domestic markets for the material. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Can I speak about all MRF's and guarantee their story would echo ours - no.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Can I promise that if you've witnessed your garbage and recycling picked up in the same truck it is actually getting recycled - no. </p><p class="MsoNormal">What I can tell you is that if the company you are utilizing for your recycling is doing the environmentally responsible thing, their answer will be much like ours. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><i>Sidenote: CRI does NOT handle trash, only recycling - we pay to have our facility trash removed and taken to a landfill or WTE facility. We aren't affiliated with any landfills. Our goal is to recycle every possible item and limit the material that is considered trash. Our outlook is slightly different than other Material Recovery Facilities based on that information. </i></p>
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</div>tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-73753059292602793692023-01-19T10:33:00.005-08:002023-01-19T10:46:18.803-08:00The Great Divide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9dJqrqQIg135USeBtM6IYpGxdScgu3BGIr9gDGMagyr_BaPKObVR8NldjfBtg2M9fc83x0Na3f9H7_l0e0LKEYxlNSxtyeNc9mOdCrzA20nRNq-_3wSYSpIj9HItb9Y3h7CewK3zBcXW11gd7ZCyAOOsyw_QbIk-nichrlswdN_iq9dHmskAi6Ib/s6000/iStock-1352726997.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="6000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9dJqrqQIg135USeBtM6IYpGxdScgu3BGIr9gDGMagyr_BaPKObVR8NldjfBtg2M9fc83x0Na3f9H7_l0e0LKEYxlNSxtyeNc9mOdCrzA20nRNq-_3wSYSpIj9HItb9Y3h7CewK3zBcXW11gd7ZCyAOOsyw_QbIk-nichrlswdN_iq9dHmskAi6Ib/w400-h400/iStock-1352726997.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>We recently shared our thoughts on what is wrong or "going on" with recycling. I admit it was out of sheer frustration, but 100% true. We paused accepting material direct from residents at our facility due to the overwhelming amount of garbage received and litter that was occurring despite repeated warnings and postings. </p><p>We were absolutely shocked at the response we received. Some were angry and frustrated (at us) and other residents explained how frustrated they'd become seeing the bins they used littered with items they knew didn't belong. We even had one resident explain that they had themselves cleaned up material that was thrown outside the bins, despite having room inside. </p><p>Although we have expressed such frustration with people who refuse to cooperate and follow instructions we have also spoken and interacted with so many who go above and beyond. Our goal is and has always been, to increase not only the recycling efforts but the positive recycling impact of our company, local businesses, and our community. As we continue to mull over the next steps, in hopes of getting the collection bins back in place, we wonder how to infuse the caring nature of some into more residents. How do we encourage and inspire more to recognize the positive impact they can make? Each small step in the right direction (which may seem insignificant at the time) can have such a substantial positive impact. </p><p>What do you think? Have you found a way to motivate others - we would love your suggestions. By the way - if you happen to be one of the locals that have been doing the right thing and are anxiously awaiting the return of the recycling bins - thank you and please bear with us we're doing lots of brainstorming over here. </p>tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-72284590557960843262022-12-12T11:49:00.007-08:002022-12-13T11:41:25.993-08:00Stay off the angry train - Jump into action<p>It's crazy - as I scroll through business social media posts I am seeing an uptick of anger in regard to plastics and recycling. Seemingly angry people call out others for irresponsible behavior, false information, and despicable treatment of our environment. Passionate comments, varying degrees of first-hand knowledge, and lots of blaming and pointing. This public platform seems to be what people need to vent or blame. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFbEMJMe8FzupqrCJzhH1rwPmgU3o7tPk3IJ22qzEB4X8yvgLl4KYg3SWIRUFW7SShS8aAdJQ5pEwG21RX0hr9p6-kuRduS1NDw06bYGB358AU8HdbCKZ-D_Bho6q_bk60a1SFBcTo1pzO_vlK3gEf39uRqn9rKDidRq69KlfogHd-xcoDelkn99f/s7952/Annoyed-young-daughter-shouting-in-the-store-1322935568_7952x5304.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5304" data-original-width="7952" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFbEMJMe8FzupqrCJzhH1rwPmgU3o7tPk3IJ22qzEB4X8yvgLl4KYg3SWIRUFW7SShS8aAdJQ5pEwG21RX0hr9p6-kuRduS1NDw06bYGB358AU8HdbCKZ-D_Bho6q_bk60a1SFBcTo1pzO_vlK3gEf39uRqn9rKDidRq69KlfogHd-xcoDelkn99f/w400-h266/Annoyed-young-daughter-shouting-in-the-store-1322935568_7952x5304.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I struggle. Should I celebrate that people are taking notice? It seems like the wrong kind of notice, not necessarily productive or positive but attention nonetheless. I wholeheartedly agree that we have some problems when it comes to "stuff" I see these as the three most significant issues: </p><p>1. Litter is a big problem. </p><p>2. Items being landfilled are a big problem.</p><p>3. 100% recyclable (and in demand) items being littered or landfilled is a HUGE problem. </p><p><b>What solutions do we have? </b></p><p><b style="font-style: italic;">Litter is a big problem</b><i>. An unpopular but pretty basic issue, </i><b><u>consumers</u></b><i> need to take responsibility for the products they buy/use and ensure that they do not litter, accidentally or on purpose. Should an event cause litter it can and needs to be quickly remediated. Litter is 100% preventable.<b> Litter solved. </b></i></p><p><i><b>Items being landfilled is a big problem.</b> We all seem to like our stuff, but unfortunately, most "things" have a life cycle, and they get discarded and replaced once worn, damaged, or a newer shiner model becomes available. It seems to have taken a bit but we are all starting to catch on to this product life cycle and what happens to items once they're no longer "wanted". Manufacturers are currently being tasked with ensuring that the items they manufacture have readily available recycling/reuse options - which is great and overdue. Manufacturers that design with recycling and reuse in mind will create environmentally friendly products. If all items that are manufactured have an end-of-life plan that consists of recycling or reuse, landfilling should be solved. This issue is super easy for me to hypothetically solve because as a consumer I have no real information or impact. I get to tell the companies what I want and expect they make it happen - now. Is the idea of no landfill (ever) really achievable? Is the idea of products that are 100% reusable or recyclable (in the near future) realistic? As a consumer, what changes would I be forced to make this a reality, and are consumers willing to make those changes? <b>Landfill solved, <u>in theory</u>. </b></i></p><p><i><b>100% recyclable (and in demand) items being littered or landfilled is a HUGE problem.</b> What can you do when solutions are in place but efforts are not being made to get quality items into the recycling bins? Another issue is when quality items are being placed in the bins but are being contaminated by items that should not be placed in the recycling bins. These "breaking" articles about how recycling isn't real or effective certainly do not help drive people's recycling motivation. Why bother doing it well, or at all if it has no positive impact. Speaking from a material recovery facility standpoint, your recycling quality does have a real, direct, and positive impact. Our facility will make every effort to recover and send recyclable material to the end user to become something new. You can bet on a percentage of recyclable items being downgraded due to wishcycling and contamination in the bins. This percentage can be greatly decreased by following program directions, reading bin labels, and knowing what can and cannot be recycled at your location. R<b>ecycling downgrades solved - if everyone does their part. </b></i></p><p>We all know when we head to the doctor that there is a chance that what ails us may not be something the doctor can fix. I am fairly confident that no doctor has a 100% "healing" rate. Despite that, we go see a trained and knowledgeable professional to get the best advice and solutions for our health. The idea of boycotting doctors because they aren't able to completely heal every patient is as silly as deciding not to recycle because recycling rates aren't high enough. </p><p><b>What we need to do at this time is ensure that we are doing our part - jump on the action train.</b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTLi4SugWAC8L1WdqQTlIrHidAiGP_UmSWxpeLkR6F-f_SvhCS5PB4IUz9MmLWw5fthaQoKAt7BKW3MV_x1N7SSRCfB-UWGEvZ8bfjsoo84DoHZbNKahYXTjsFsd43UPvENlrGutRU81_DwOnggzeDvi9KMD1_aIhkhGSh7bUBVnbfAELs2gVaM0q/s6250/BUD5EF~1.JPE" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4167" data-original-width="6250" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTLi4SugWAC8L1WdqQTlIrHidAiGP_UmSWxpeLkR6F-f_SvhCS5PB4IUz9MmLWw5fthaQoKAt7BKW3MV_x1N7SSRCfB-UWGEvZ8bfjsoo84DoHZbNKahYXTjsFsd43UPvENlrGutRU81_DwOnggzeDvi9KMD1_aIhkhGSh7bUBVnbfAELs2gVaM0q/w400-h266/BUD5EF~1.JPE" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p>1. Am I recycling with care? Do I know what should and should not be placed in our recycling bins - am I certain to follow those guidelines? <p></p><p>2. Am I buying with recycling in mind? Do I know what will happen to the products or their packaging when I'm done with them (can they be reused or recycled?) </p><p>3. Are the products I'm buying made with recycled material?</p><p>4. Are there similar products that I am seeking that are more sustainable - making it a better choice? </p><p>5. Do I let companies know my thoughts on the environmental impact of the products and the importance of sustainability and environmental impact? </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p> </p>tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-50181500878685580262022-12-12T10:08:00.002-08:002022-12-12T10:09:31.393-08:00Recycling Today<p><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">I've posted many times before about the "real issue" with recycling. Spoiler alert - it has a whole lot more to do with <b><i>who</i></b> is doing it than the <i><b>items</b></i> in need of it. We're presently feeling pretty deflated - we'd love some real suggestions on how to fix this. </span></span></p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Let me give you a little back story: </span></i></p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Right around the time COVID was at its peak, recycling markets were also doing pretty terribly. Due to health and safety as well as overall costs, a large number of public recycling programs were being cut or closed entirely. Recycling is what we do so we wanted to try and step in and provide a solution for residents who no longer had recycling access. We decided to ramp up our residential collection bins onsite and provide this service free of charge. </span></p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><u>We purchased some bins </u>and to ensure that we were setting things up for success we invested in clearly worded labels to avoid recycling confusion - <u>we had signs made and posted them</u>. Our bins received an overwhelming reception - residents were dumping material constantly, 24 hours a day. </span></p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br style="box-sizing: inherit;" /></span></p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">Unfortunately, the material they were dumping did not follow the signage we had posted - large amounts of garbage needed to be <u>cleaned up almost daily</u>. Requests to keep material only inside bins were ignored. We were greeted with piles and heaps of material strewn on top, beside, around, and behind the bins. We <u>posted educational videos and information</u> on social media about keeping the area tidy and about items that were and were not recyclable. <u>We invested in lights for the area and cameras</u> to try and catch and educate those who were dropping material that did not fit within our recycling program. <u>We spent hours watching videos and attempting to track down individuals</u> who must have "mistakenly" dropped that sofa, dining room table, or grill as recycling. Education and quality recycling has been our goal but it seems despite our efforts, we've been missing the target. We alerted residents that if we couldn't collect clean recycling without all the continued garbage and clean-up costs incurred we may need to stop providing this free service. </span></p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">In late November our company needed to suspend residential drop-off. We underwent system upgrades and could not process material. We also did not have room in our building or lot while the equipment was being installed, moved, and relocated. We posted on social media, google, alerted callers, and posted signage where the bins were once placed. We continued to be flooded with the material - despite no bins being in place. Residents threw bags on the ground, in parking spaces, gardens, entrances, and piled them on top of the new and old equipment we were moving. Logistics, office, and other team members needed to confront residents and inform them in person that they could not just drive into the lot and dump material. Although some residents were understanding a majority was extremely combative and angry. Our team was yelled at and given an extremely difficult time about their frustration that we would stop this service and how inconvenient it was to them. </span></p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">We expected to replace the residential recycling bins late last week as we got our single-stream equipment online and running. As we work to clear the space where the bin should go it is quickly refilled by residents who are dumping "recycling" in our lot. As angry residents continue to drop by to explain their displeasure about the free service (that has cost us a lot) to get garbage in place of what should be recycling (that we pay to get rid of) we are left uncertain about the future of residential single-stream collection at our facility. </span></p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia;">This example sums up the current issue with recycling today. Boy, we'd love ideas on how to make it better - our futures deserve it. </span></p><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7QsUu6fcckSQRBt0ZwjeTQWHLEBxFywoXTMgQ1g6Qd7_pCXOj83QWGVts9acvmkFAysrVEUS86hc6feL009INkXcoXDDVn1gWp0vwFlYeqSDDcC-_TsuPt8f2UPmO23l8uzIjTk2xw7EszXUb62HTnYI9lCYFOH_1AUutQDu8IcmM-cdzNzf72GQ/s4000/20221212_085111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7QsUu6fcckSQRBt0ZwjeTQWHLEBxFywoXTMgQ1g6Qd7_pCXOj83QWGVts9acvmkFAysrVEUS86hc6feL009INkXcoXDDVn1gWp0vwFlYeqSDDcC-_TsuPt8f2UPmO23l8uzIjTk2xw7EszXUb62HTnYI9lCYFOH_1AUutQDu8IcmM-cdzNzf72GQ/w400-h300/20221212_085111.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTroiaPue16dnJQSjf0-th9_krK6bfBujt135D8KomN55Io86FDnzqV-ZO_PcH1hyq0SuvMFSHg3sC7vzE1BDMQlG3pdpmyGQgL9Itgl8B2HA3oNNFluKxHsSilVs7yiMoXOhwLdm9g8I71j4R8Wl-GWJjCwfy44uQJs5_rbaqh9kkwpM85RsonSZG/s4000/20221212_085050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Yg-ETtJGzV7F3J-nT_ii6yEyAtY-Nt1H_xM6FbKyhgRKL65NXZiGW6eYZq67WqnKXwEE_9VFht4nsuPqzRPD8nXomd58m28p3PTgXhA7zD8w6890S1u2i0I9C2NdFr-15CjeGrtF1lGNJoBbGMciVPEL73A90_48kWDmfhAjVDzY2RyB_VV3zTTe/s4000/20221212_085057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3000" data-original-width="4000" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Yg-ETtJGzV7F3J-nT_ii6yEyAtY-Nt1H_xM6FbKyhgRKL65NXZiGW6eYZq67WqnKXwEE_9VFht4nsuPqzRPD8nXomd58m28p3PTgXhA7zD8w6890S1u2i0I9C2NdFr-15CjeGrtF1lGNJoBbGMciVPEL73A90_48kWDmfhAjVDzY2RyB_VV3zTTe/w400-h300/20221212_085057.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="--artdeco-reset-typography_getfontsize: 1.6rem; --artdeco-reset-typography_getlineheight: 1.5; background-color: white; border: var(--artdeco-reset-base-border-zero); box-sizing: inherit; color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.9); counter-reset: list-1 0 list-2 0 list-3 0 list-4 0 list-5 0 list-6 0 list-7 0 list-8 0 list-9 0; cursor: text; font-family: -apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", "Fira Sans", Ubuntu, Oxygen, "Oxygen Sans", Cantarell, "Droid Sans", "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Lucida Grande", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: var(--artdeco-reset-typography_getLineHeight); margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: var(--artdeco-reset-base-vertical-align-baseline); white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-81599591043286416972022-09-01T10:15:00.007-07:002022-09-01T10:23:03.700-07:00Celebrate each step<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vXR0VbROPukFEdoMvHkONFYFA-fZUzXFOf16uU1hQ0xZ3Os1Hb5hGVbTx8HweUoB8USwiy2ugEEb-B9gUAD_QOx35EPmt6bhHCpJvnFxd2CFgLsKJiKySSnb6gXjlGxItE4DPlGcdK3JfeYWs_wvXLWoEQmjrPKl3iRFRnP6uBr54gn8hJH6nJT9/s5713/iStock-802468456.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3809" data-original-width="5713" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_vXR0VbROPukFEdoMvHkONFYFA-fZUzXFOf16uU1hQ0xZ3Os1Hb5hGVbTx8HweUoB8USwiy2ugEEb-B9gUAD_QOx35EPmt6bhHCpJvnFxd2CFgLsKJiKySSnb6gXjlGxItE4DPlGcdK3JfeYWs_wvXLWoEQmjrPKl3iRFRnP6uBr54gn8hJH6nJT9/w400-h266/iStock-802468456.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></div><p>You come home from work and in place of the organized and mess-free home, you left this morning, you enter chaos. Even an amateur hunter could follow the trail across the entire first level and lead to the bedrooms of the accused. Step by step, sock by sock and paper by paper anger rises as you walk. You are about to blow.</p><p>With so many examples of wrong behavior, how can you open the door and celebrate the homework that is currently being worked on? </p><p>It may be a leap, but in my mind, this is the current state of recycling. </p><p>We read articles, watch news stories, and see blips on our social media. Recycling is going in the wrong direction and the pollution and destruction of our environment are at an all-time high, or is it? Sometimes when you are so close, you cannot even make out the big picture, you are not getting an accurate view, it's just all blurry and messy. </p><p>Recycling by nature is messy (both figuratively and literally). When you are dealing with "trash" you don't always get the respect and attention you deserve. Yet some of the most important tasks are often overlooked - until a problem arises. Despite the publicized new buzz of recycling failures, litter increases, pollution, false recycling reports, and falling recycling rates there are a lot of positive things happening in the industry. </p><p>Consumers have made known their concerns for our environment - at least in buying situations. Companies have been forced to more closely examine their environmental impact (both in how they do business and what they're producing). These changes are great for the industry and our environment, these changes are directly due to consumer voices. These changes should be celebrated! Large companies are tirelessly seeking recycled content raw material because that is a requirement that purchasers have set. Companies are reviewing their overall strategy to find more environmentally friendly and sustainable ways to do business. We still have a ways to go, and consumers now need to do their part and ensure they are buying with care and recycling with care. Regardless, good things are underway and we all really need to celebrate each step. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KynMbkyMYrqGul8vNcHpjcJelZyhR8bSj6OLhkk-JECpqLgXMYbWSB-ordkH9uVeivspGGgmZpvGewFoBTQeZf4yevIDYZKIhX-UX-mgANfqwsjMy8RCmQPxRi1gSfKyuMsi0uHLyllmJSnCYcfU5nptnWvaKxNBOXJbmoSsLsszkbKfuTZKd9Qo/s6240/Brazilian-Carnival.-Group-of-friends-celebrating-carnival-party-1364444442_6240x4160.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4160" data-original-width="6240" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5KynMbkyMYrqGul8vNcHpjcJelZyhR8bSj6OLhkk-JECpqLgXMYbWSB-ordkH9uVeivspGGgmZpvGewFoBTQeZf4yevIDYZKIhX-UX-mgANfqwsjMy8RCmQPxRi1gSfKyuMsi0uHLyllmJSnCYcfU5nptnWvaKxNBOXJbmoSsLsszkbKfuTZKd9Qo/w640-h426/Brazilian-Carnival.-Group-of-friends-celebrating-carnival-party-1364444442_6240x4160.jpeg" width="640" /></a></p>tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-90099837653918879392022-05-26T11:03:00.000-07:002022-05-26T11:07:33.481-07:00Let's Own It. <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBxIYHlQHj_ioh1JfItM8DDquaXux30_ALFdnc75Qr_GqbYzsUpuoPXkr-DlYQFoP5BGo_UDkQC8oQ05MqFKSZPgz7pQb_YZd_AdjhZRNzw9fCxCcKFJsfNOdWBk5vW7wmP2RleeOfdYNcH1BlVg2vDpscutIZCv_f54S9I3FszZGESSdv1B1wGAp/s4212/Post-Shipping-work-164569397_3943x4212.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4212" data-original-width="3943" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBxIYHlQHj_ioh1JfItM8DDquaXux30_ALFdnc75Qr_GqbYzsUpuoPXkr-DlYQFoP5BGo_UDkQC8oQ05MqFKSZPgz7pQb_YZd_AdjhZRNzw9fCxCcKFJsfNOdWBk5vW7wmP2RleeOfdYNcH1BlVg2vDpscutIZCv_f54S9I3FszZGESSdv1B1wGAp/w375-h400/Post-Shipping-work-164569397_3943x4212.jpeg" width="375" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Holding way too much in my arms and hands, not a finger to spare (I am a huge fan of the lazy man's load - as my husband always tells me), I try to use my foot as the lever to open the door in front of me. After the first few failed attempts I struggle to shift the weight of the many overflowing items in my arms and reach with my elbow. Somehow, almost unexpectedly the door abruptly swings open, I lose the disheveled balance of every item that I was haphazardly clinging to, and one by one they crash to the ground. "Stupid door" is my immediate and gut response. As I look back and chuckle (now), how did I not think that would happen, how can I call anything but my actions "stupid"? </p><p>Despite my newfound clarity, after the fact, it is so hard in the moment to recognize that our own decisions are often what lead to unfavorable outcomes. Frustration, disappointment, embarrassment, and sometimes fear (during larger mishaps) take over and we feverously search for a quick reason that this situation is just not our fault. Even in my harmless example, it became a campaign to sell why this incident was not my fault. I quickly shared my story and embellish the aspects of the sticky latch, the threshold that we should've fixed months ago, the fact that no one ever helps me, the dogs that were in my way, the next task I was rushing to, and any other "valid" or semi-related items I can conjure up. These excuses become <i>my</i> truth if I let them. </p><p>The truth is much simpler. Don't carry more than you can manage - simple, yet a semi-deep adage. </p><p>My example is a quick reminder of the developed culture of today. Blame-shifting is a way to ease the burden we are responsible for and help spread out the failure or move it to someone else entirely. Examples of this behavior are everywhere, in every single aspect of our lives from the simple and harmless to the vast and life-altering. </p><p>It is so difficult to just own things; our responsibilities, our failures, and our flaws. </p><p>So what does all this have to do with recycling? </p><p><a href="https://www.wastedive.com/news/big-food-sustainable-packaging-goals-challenges/624351/">https://www.wastedive.com/news/big-food-sustainable-packaging-goals-challenges/624351/</a></p><p>The article above delves into "big foods sustainable packaging goals" and if they can actually accomplish what they are aiming for (or, they seem to imply) is it just greenwashing? In the article, they list a mountain of reasons that the goals haven't come together. Some are within the control of the "big food" corporations and others are well outside their wheelhouse. It seems obvious, to me, that there are some BIG market changes that no one could have expected, controlled, or planned for. External factors such as the war in Ukraine, worldwide Pandemic, and Natural disasters led to staffing and economic fallout. So, let's ignore those items and focus on what the "big foods" corporations can control because that is really all they can be held responsible for. </p><p>Better yet, let's focus on what our role in this whole shortfall is (because most of us cannot control or even play much of a role in big corporate decisions, or do we). </p><p><i>-How much did you recycle in 2021 thus far, how much more could you have recycled?</i></p><p><i>-How much did you throw away, and why?</i></p><p><i>- Did you make the extra effort and steps necessary to carry your bottle home with you when the recreational field, concert hall, school, (insert any location) you were at that didn't have a recycling bin?</i></p><p><i>-Did you call said recreational field, concert hall, school, (insert any location) and ask how you could help to get a recycling bin/program in place? </i></p><p><i>-Did you throw non-recyclable/garbage into your recycling bin because you wanted to recycle them but knew that the recycling program "says" it didn't take them. </i></p><p><i>-Did you review your product options and weigh what would be left after you were done with the item, and how recyclable is the container? </i></p><p><i>-Have you provided your feedback to corporations about how you feel about sustainability and the role that plays in your purchase? </i></p><p><i>-Have you researched the brands you purchase and make a decision about the products not only based on whether you like their performance, taste, or look, but also on the company's environmental responsibility stance. </i></p><p>I am certain that there are many more that I've missed, a list of items that every single consumer, on a very small scale and personal level can do to make a direct impact on the recycling goals of "big food" brands. </p><p>Everyone has a job that they need to do, to be responsible and committed to. We need to own and accomplish our goals. We can all play such a larger and more impactful role than we give ourselves credit for. We need to stop waiting and blaming and just own it, that is how real change will happen. </p><p><br /></p>tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-10862968300664008802022-02-17T09:38:00.000-08:002022-02-17T09:38:28.266-08:00Are you buying the greenwash hype -or isn't it greenwashing at all? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtkJXx3ccOZJcIq9iDlJnUFUt5DcbrC4IEe6gQjGKE7ZlARhvpZN77_jJkXHVn7sTziGn70gOPKmzbYkQiEbXC1GAWTerxbffqrSjpeCi1Mhr9UH-LeoNbvk2C_XM7h3Alhs-1BH7mKZom5EnUhkNKF4Me_S02_HZiGWeXvesY8h_cAXvj79VE8llA=s3936" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2624" data-original-width="3936" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhtkJXx3ccOZJcIq9iDlJnUFUt5DcbrC4IEe6gQjGKE7ZlARhvpZN77_jJkXHVn7sTziGn70gOPKmzbYkQiEbXC1GAWTerxbffqrSjpeCi1Mhr9UH-LeoNbvk2C_XM7h3Alhs-1BH7mKZom5EnUhkNKF4Me_S02_HZiGWeXvesY8h_cAXvj79VE8llA=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Sometimes it's all just about image but other times it really does go much deeper than that to real environmental and sustainability goals. The largest problem is cutting through the talk and determining what to believe and who is just greenwashing.</p><p>There has been a good deal of negative talk lately about the use of plastics and their effect on our environment. When plastic items are not recycled and are landfilled, or worse, littered I agree, they have a large negative impact on our environment. </p><p>The idea of reducing or ending plastic consumption has opened doors to new products. Some of these options are catching on simply because they are not plastic. While some may be good options others are just a form of bait and switch, creating no real environmental benefit or at times negative effects. </p><p><a href="https://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Article/2021/12/11/If-you-re-using-paper-but-you-re-putting-a-plastic-liner-in-it-you-haven-t-really-solved-anything-Footprint-talks-sustainable-packaging">https://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Article/2021/12/11/If-you-re-using-paper-but-you-re-putting-a-plastic-liner-in-it-you-haven-t-really-solved-anything-Footprint-talks-sustainable-packaging</a></p><p>I could put this on repeat but I am a firm believer that we need to follow the three R's in order. Reduce, Reuse and then Recycle. As the product(s) move through the chains of the process, the responsibility shifts (it's like a handoff). As a manufacturer they are responsible for sourcing recycled content, ensuring that any products that claim recyclability are in fact easily recycled, and managing the production and distribution in the most environmentally friendly way possible. As a consumer, I think the responsibility becomes theirs to ensure that the containers or packaging they purchase are properly recycled (or disposed of). As the recycler, it is their responsibility to ensure that every effort is made to sort, remove contamination, properly dispose of contamination, and ensure that the highest quality and quantity of the received materials are recycled. </p><p>End markets and demand have a huge effect on the recyclability of an item. Even with recycling potential in place, if no manufacturers want or need the material there is little potential of it being recycled. </p><p>There is plenty of need in the area of PET plastic bottles. These are sought-after raw materials that will be recycled (if they make their way into the bins and are not extremely contaminated by undesirable items). Some of the other container options do not have as continual or consistent end markets in place, some have none. Innovative ideas that take our environment into account and help save resources with a real positive impact speak to me. Sometimes there is so much false chatter the conversations are difficult to clearly understand. </p><p><br /></p>tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-6714423957450723942022-02-08T10:15:00.002-08:002022-02-15T08:29:31.463-08:00Would an increased bottle rebate = recycling improvements? <p> If we gave you .10 cents for every water bottle you recycled, would you recycle more? </p><p><a href="https://www.news10.com/news/legislation-introduces-revised-bottle-bill-to-include-ten-cent-returns/">https://www.news10.com/news/legislation-introduces-revised-bottle-bill-to-include-ten-cent-returns/</a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1HQ-jT7llk5yxTsqt1wUDY62RcWH4oWEads86nbjPcRwhJI7DN-vKD816NovBOefq_g93fwUWiJDeJuMzStH7Cx-C2RmnGM2vdBL0Lq6CRUH7iWYTVonsw-AzeLfsk9giQ7UNVQZHRGNdoDlsf49GiNRhI-rHk7hBERALVUvVfxHchXJ16WT9teEg=s3644" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3644" data-original-width="2733" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj1HQ-jT7llk5yxTsqt1wUDY62RcWH4oWEads86nbjPcRwhJI7DN-vKD816NovBOefq_g93fwUWiJDeJuMzStH7Cx-C2RmnGM2vdBL0Lq6CRUH7iWYTVonsw-AzeLfsk9giQ7UNVQZHRGNdoDlsf49GiNRhI-rHk7hBERALVUvVfxHchXJ16WT9teEg=s320" width="240" /></a></div><p>I can say with a great deal of confidence that it would not affect the recycling rate in my household. What would it affect? Well, that is a good question. </p><p>The stated goal of the bill is to increase recycling rates and promote recycling participation with some monetary motivation. The downfall is that much like most rebate/refund programs there tend to be those who try to exploit them. An episode of Sinfield speaks to bottle redemption road trips. </p><p>I have never enjoyed the muttered complaints without a solution but I don't think there is one clear, single solution. </p><p>I take that back. There is one clear solution that would make an enormous positive impact on recycling and launch forward the circular economy. The solution is so incredibly easy and I've said it so often that I even get tired of hearing it. It's so simple yet the problem is that it involves a universal change among so many. A genuine effort in recycling with care. Often recycling confusion is cited as the main issue with recycling failures and contamination. If we are being honest though, with so many devices and technology in our hands how difficult would it be to text, email, message, call, or pull up a local collection center website to determine what can be accepted? If we want the information and really put in the effort don't you think it could be found? But then what would our excuse be? </p><p>When we pull up to the bins and see the sign clearly stating that they do not want a product we know is mixed in our recycling, do we make the choice to sort it out or drop and run? </p><p>As we pull up to the recycling bins and know we cannot place grocery bags in the bin but don't want to make one more stop at the grocery collection bin and just want the "junk" out of our truck; are we making the choice to recycle with care? </p><p>When you have a television, couch, or another large item that you don't want to pay to get rid of but know of a local recycling center ... ("who knows maybe they can recycle it somehow") ... are you really thinking that you're doing anything short of dumping your garbage and disposal expenses on someone else? </p><p>It is so much easier to push the blame to the company who makes it, the hauler who picks it up, the collection site that takes it (or won't) but whose responsibility are the products that you have bought and consumed? </p><p>I do accept that there are plenty of opportunities for change from the manufacturer, the haulers, the processors, etc. Yes, these changes could also create a positive impact but genuine concern and interest in recycling with care will propel recycling to a whole new level, demanding the others to make real changes as well. If we really care about recycling, we need to show it by our efforts and behaviors, not just our words. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-48640855351014598852022-01-13T09:43:00.005-08:002022-01-13T09:43:29.506-08:00What motivates you? <p>In order for goals to be kept and exceeded people need to be motivated. Some people have an easier time getting and staying motivated all by themselves, others need periodic stroking, some need consistent prodding, while others may need to be pulled. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiI34298ZRzWLprgx5a_VnbRJPbjsoVa6uNN1sWW3XZW495UonQCxx5KSTczzEN8oDL1BCCraZUu7nH12TBmovjqSB2f4fNLdwZWfj7EpKypfGsISrKoBuLsCDkWsZANpw-2dYEvSz_fEMAh9oBs_EJ9UpF7qDwtoOFpkWnqV193O0OOyehH5BV1fTL=s6250" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3575" data-original-width="6250" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiI34298ZRzWLprgx5a_VnbRJPbjsoVa6uNN1sWW3XZW495UonQCxx5KSTczzEN8oDL1BCCraZUu7nH12TBmovjqSB2f4fNLdwZWfj7EpKypfGsISrKoBuLsCDkWsZANpw-2dYEvSz_fEMAh9oBs_EJ9UpF7qDwtoOFpkWnqV193O0OOyehH5BV1fTL=w400-h229" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Knowing what motivates people to start as well as how to keep them going can help to shape your message and improve your impact. This would go for something as common as New Year health goals, organization practices, quitting smoking, eating healthier, or improving the recycling and waste reduction in a household, or business. We are very biased but we feel that recycling is pretty essential. We do also feel that following the first two R's first is necessary (1. Reduce & 2. Reuse). We want to be sure that as an organization we are helping to motivate residents and businesses alike to continue to improve their recycling impact. </p><p>So, please help us out. </p><p><b>Tell us what motivates you to recycle with care & reduce waste? </b></p><p>1. Reducing waste costs? </p><p>2. The health of our environment and its impact on future generations? </p><p>3. Being a rule follower who feels like it's the "right" thing to do? </p><p>4. Keeping recyclables out of a landfill. </p><p>5. Teaching our children (and future generations) how to be environmental stewards. </p><p>6. Not being the only house/business in the neighborhood that doesn't recycle.</p><p>7. Bragging rights. </p><p>8. The nagging and reminders from your children.</p><p>9. The nagging and reminders from your spouse/significant other/roommate/colleagues. </p><p>10. Not really super motivated to recycle with care or reduce waste... then, question two what would motivate you?? </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-10453606097641525162021-10-14T12:20:00.001-07:002022-02-15T08:46:06.307-08:00Is it worth the argument?<p><br /></p><p>You are on a business-focused social media platform and there is a great post motivating consumers to recycle their PET bottles. It's an encouraging video showing all the potential "new" products the "old", recycled PET can become. The post focuses on the idea that these bottles are not only recyclable but an in-demand raw material that manufacturers are actually seeking. This is all an attempt to stoke the interest of the public and motivate them to recycle and keep bottles out of the landfill or worse, discarded as litter. What possible negative reaction could this post get? </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7KJfFQk5GDVezeOJEg_RIl2Yj1ZtxIlItFyALznxwmjAyQnvkYIkxfM6qpDn_wPm6Tj8SeURkEjFjbpixfCvo128rqWKRSkPFT4RRUY_IYhWo423De3PC-Nz3ckvmlU3DNskeCnb0vE/s2048/The-scales-on-which-lie-a-lot-of-facts-and-bias.-1272410872_5700x3800.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs7KJfFQk5GDVezeOJEg_RIl2Yj1ZtxIlItFyALznxwmjAyQnvkYIkxfM6qpDn_wPm6Tj8SeURkEjFjbpixfCvo128rqWKRSkPFT4RRUY_IYhWo423De3PC-Nz3ckvmlU3DNskeCnb0vE/w400-h266/The-scales-on-which-lie-a-lot-of-facts-and-bias.-1272410872_5700x3800.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Insert a snarky comment by someone who knows someone who had a job, at one time, that is semi-related to a position that assisted in the recycling of PET. They fire back that PET recycling back into a PET bottle isn't possible and/or profitable. This one comment is followed up quickly by a few other recycling naysayers "recycling is dead", "recycling can't be profitable", "recycling is fiction and never actually happens". Sprinkle on top a few recycling cheerleaders and you're left with a lot of confused people. </p><p>I read, get irritated, and find myself wondering, do I even bother arguing this? I know with all certainty that PET bottles can successfully be recycled back into new PET bottles as well as a gamut of other products as well. The shared video was perfectly informative and on target. Have I had a recent, direct peak at the manufacturers' books to ensure they are (or are able) to make a profit recycling PET back into bottles? No, I have not. </p><p>Have we sold countless loads of PET to a variety of manufacturers filling the need for all of the above-listed end products? Yes, we have. </p><p>I struggle between responding, based on first-hand knowledge to make sure that others do not buy into the misinformation. Often, when I pause prior to responding to social media misinformation I think of a quote <i>"Careful when arguing with a fool; onlookers may not be able to tell the difference." </i></p><p>What do you think, is it worth the argument? Are minds ever changed by a fact-based social media response? </p><p><i><br /></i></p>tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-55816712436415506822021-09-28T11:40:00.001-07:002022-02-15T08:47:01.244-08:00reduce REUSE recycle<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gIxPlKuSkQwzpQM4rgSHSCnBYMto7Nw3ty0gdqFxHQVgpQp8dG046WQG17R16idjs1rIU8tA8nfb4koOR2nHS72N9bUc1-318o9Iey4Wcel9RAwhpK6aDFkHt3nohPBSWdf4tOnYkfA//" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="501" data-original-width="1075" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3gIxPlKuSkQwzpQM4rgSHSCnBYMto7Nw3ty0gdqFxHQVgpQp8dG046WQG17R16idjs1rIU8tA8nfb4koOR2nHS72N9bUc1-318o9Iey4Wcel9RAwhpK6aDFkHt3nohPBSWdf4tOnYkfA/w400-h186/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>This has been in the works for quite some time now. Manufacturers have been discussing the logistics and how to spark interest and participation. I think it sounds like a wonderful plan but it will take extra effort and participation. Are you willing to pay the extra deposit and take the extra time needed to return the reusable packaging? </p><p>In my opinion, it will depend on circumstances. There are traveling and vacation occasions that don't lend well to the extra steps that would be required. Daily though, if the setup is easy enough, it just might be worth the little extra effort. </p><p>I do worry because we have posted repeatedly about the failure of recycling efforts. I don't see how the reuse efforts would be any different. The process is only as good as the participants. </p><p><a href="https://apnews.com/article/europe-business-france-environment-and-nature-united-kingdom-bbd9e1e7bfe999ae749f39155fd63078" target="_blank">https://apnews.com/article/europe-business-france-environment-and-nature-united-kingdom-bbd9e1e7bfe999ae749f39155fd63078</a></p>tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-52710468351047282182021-09-15T08:37:00.008-07:002021-09-15T09:34:52.644-07:00The real issue with recycling. <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">As an insider looking at
the state of recycling and all the pitches at trying to "fix it" I am
left scratching my head. Sure, there is plenty that can still be done to tweak
and improve recycling. There is absolutely no negative impact of a stronger focus on a complete environmental approach as companies push towards a circular economy and true
product recyclability. Those are all wonderful things. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div align="center">
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<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8707969299291865515/5271046835104728218?hl=en"><span style="color: #999999; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-decoration-line: none;"><br /><!--[endif]--></span></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYplzWW9zLWxL4XPiO8Mx8weX-rOertuzj_xRk-dp8Y6ODwTqjzhi9fI5FcRwU9ScYFh3m1vbtMbxAnK1CP4fqXvb7wkyXlceWV5ZsCH6jN4pbLiw_qq1NwbwikuM36ciHgd86jqOD0Ss/s2048/20210915_081931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYplzWW9zLWxL4XPiO8Mx8weX-rOertuzj_xRk-dp8Y6ODwTqjzhi9fI5FcRwU9ScYFh3m1vbtMbxAnK1CP4fqXvb7wkyXlceWV5ZsCH6jN4pbLiw_qq1NwbwikuM36ciHgd86jqOD0Ss/s320/20210915_081931.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkW7zMkFdQ2uREugVaw3W6Pr66oxQpsnRxQFWeEfyp4qf_QbmsuCJllOE9IhMfajuMxfI_geZKWHQ1rTgryRoTUhDVqLfc3qQyFe-EHVZr9gO_CLOkkAG06D-w-9rckzSUmz2dIxY8YSw/s2048/20210915_081925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkW7zMkFdQ2uREugVaw3W6Pr66oxQpsnRxQFWeEfyp4qf_QbmsuCJllOE9IhMfajuMxfI_geZKWHQ1rTgryRoTUhDVqLfc3qQyFe-EHVZr9gO_CLOkkAG06D-w-9rckzSUmz2dIxY8YSw/s320/20210915_081925.jpg" width="240" /></a><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>
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which is clearly labeled "No Bags and No Metal other than alum/tin
cans" in the bin you'll see MANY bags and a metal charcoal grill
(complete with charcoal). Recycling with care? </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">All those great changes
won't do much though unless we focus on the real recycling issue. I just can't
help feeling like we are trying to put a band-aid on a toe while we have lost
both legs. The real issue with recycling is us. Consumers, residents, the
recyclers are doing a terrible job and most just don't care. They say they care;
they say that recycling matters but when it comes right down to it, they refuse
to put in the minimal effort needed to make it work. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">They have reasons
why: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">1. Confusion - we don't
know how to do it right, everywhere has different rules.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2. Poor bin labeling -
the bins/program don't show us what they want or how to do it right. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">They have plenty of
blame to pass around: </span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">1. Manufacturers aren't
labeling packages correctly.</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">2. Recycling isn't real,
not everything I place in my recycling becomes something new. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">3. Manufacturers are
using material that doesn't recycle itself. </span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">(Okay, that one may have been a snarky add
on) <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The real reason
recycling continues to have issues despite being a no-brainer is that people
just refuse to cooperate and that is what the focus needs to be. You cannot
place complete garbage in a recycling bin and complain that your recyclables
aren't really being recycled. You cannot throw your fully recyclable bottle in
the garbage or litter it on the ground and then blame the company that made it,
because YOU are the problem with recycling. It doesn't matter how many changes
bottlers and manufacturers make, how many laws are passed; if we don't change
our mindset about recycling and start doing it with care, recycling will
continue to suffer (and so will our planet). <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-35938348395506743472021-09-14T07:11:00.005-07:002021-09-15T09:19:16.431-07:00Cape Cod's plastic *WATER* bottle ban<p>Cape Cod towns decided to take a stance and ban plastic water bottles in their town. You can drink soda, juice, and other beverages in the same plastic bottles but under no circumstance should you consider drinking bottled water, not in their town. The confusing part is that these bottles are 100% recyclable and in demand. There are consumers currently seeking these raw materials. There is no question about their recyclability, the only thing in question is if consumers can be bothered to get them into the recycling bins. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvpPvIFQPClPyyQHxSTkQWgHYJ7Eju6BLIIt5M_3UmkbT9Z1DsxK9B38kbB6QP8Gs8YesHAE4fCBTBgVHjL-XtO4B9xnA3zR4KPK6-XqI_jfn-D5YSN-ZweBvU8HLXU-pmYRsWmG2g2g/s2048/Young-beautiful-arab-woman-over-isolated-background-clueless-and-confused-expression-with-arms-and-hands-raised.-Doubt-concept.-1081520992_4916x2959.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1233" data-original-width="2048" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvpPvIFQPClPyyQHxSTkQWgHYJ7Eju6BLIIt5M_3UmkbT9Z1DsxK9B38kbB6QP8Gs8YesHAE4fCBTBgVHjL-XtO4B9xnA3zR4KPK6-XqI_jfn-D5YSN-ZweBvU8HLXU-pmYRsWmG2g2g/w400-h241/Young-beautiful-arab-woman-over-isolated-background-clueless-and-confused-expression-with-arms-and-hands-raised.-Doubt-concept.-1081520992_4916x2959.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>I've found that as I read the news I am confused. This decision by the towns of Cape Cod is one of those times. I agree wholeheartedly that there are many necessary steps to be taken to increase the positive impact of recycling. This very random and illogical approach is what absolutely baffles me. If you want to ban something look into items that really have inconsistent or no end markets. Styrofoam for example - have at it, ban away. Plastic sandwich/snack bags; okay getting rid of these also makes sense. </p><p>The idea of focusing on one specific type of liquid in a bottle that can be recycled instead of focusing on consumer education or motivation just seems extremely off-target. It is especially concerning since these exact bottles will still be in the stream because people will (and are allowed to) still drink sugared and carbonated beverages in this town. What was really accomplished and what was the real goal of this new decree? </p><p><a href="https://wasteadvantagemag.com/cape-businesses-in-massachusetts-support-plastic-water-bottle-ban-seek-substitutes/">https://wasteadvantagemag.com/cape-businesses-in-massachusetts-support-plastic-water-bottle-ban-seek-substitutes/</a></p><p><br /></p>tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-32060679959816328652021-08-24T12:19:00.002-07:002021-08-24T12:19:45.447-07:00Compostin' <p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strike style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="667" data-original-width="749" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIcGjt4J0wrMys5ZKbGOZA-U7wAu6XeHlLHbq9oxJorgKvNF7yB8GPK52M4yc2rEkUaecEX6gut1VQ111cDXVD1vZGsGNE7-53To3p6JxeqlQb7LDiZAdxQ4xK09fmOLjfy6pIu8jj30/w400-h356/image.png" width="400" /></strike></div><p></p><p>As a materials recovery facility, we were/are passionate about composting and the potential for growth in that area. So passionate in fact that a few years ago we worked with a few local communities and companies to try and get a successful composting program underway. Despite a good deal of effort, there were a few reasons we could not get the program off the ground during the pilot process. Steps taken by Baltimore's Food Waste Pilot Program, as quoted in the article, would assist with many of them. </p><p>1. Unfortunately, due to being located in a semi-rural area, we could not get the saturation we needed to make the collection/transportation affordable.<i> Having one collection point that the businesses, institutions, and community can pool their material makes participation possible. </i></p><p>2. The second and repeated issue with recycling and waste reduction programs; we had severe issues with contamination among the facilities that did agree to participate. If you send contaminated compost to a farmer to field apply you are littering his fields and providing a negative impact instead of the positive aim. <i>Having a person monitor and "police" one bin would assist in limiting the number of contaminants that would be in the supply. Many times at a business or institution the employees who are clearing tables or emptying trays may be focused on another job and miss contaminants. </i></p><p>3. The seasonal weather where we are located creates the worst of both "world" challenges for collection sites, although one of the reasons many Pennsylvanias are located where they are. These weather challenges were especially true of smaller generators that needed to space out pickups due to smaller quantities. In the summer heat, the material would smell terrible and draw flies and fear of rodents (which has a negative impact on food-related businesses) in the winter the material would freeze solid and be almost impossible to get out of the containers. <i>A climate-controlled area or at a minimum a setup that would allow a focus to downplay the extremes of temperatures in one specified area would make servicing and stockpiling easier and less of a nuisance. </i></p><p>Based upon the reasons above we could not offer these programs to residents and needed to pilot based solely on the participation of industry and institutions. Composting is a wonderful, environmentally friendly way to reduce waste costs by eliminating the bulk of your trash density and use it for a positive impact. If a community composting program is not underway in your community, unfortunately, few have it at this time, do your best to start your own DIY composting initiative (and let your local officials know you have an interest)! </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://enviropolitics.com/new-food-waste-pilot-program-wants-to-change-how-baltimoreans-think-about-composting/" style="text-align: left;">https://enviropolitics.com/new-food-waste-pilot-program-wants-to-change-how-baltimoreans-think-about-composting/</a></div>tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-67056906352107512412021-08-11T08:40:00.001-07:002021-08-11T08:40:10.796-07:00Say What??<p>I have scrolled through my business newsfeed and felt the need to fact-check or at least provide my input on some topics that have been shared and posted repeatedly. Many may not completely understand, at least from a materials recovery facility standpoint. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rk2ySqzSUXkHvexloprprfqcV_SrbBW7CzCsrNBDe4rjFpLYL3XJLDKqn0KvOh17lxMHDvJwXTPrazKR5FtLJ_ukySW71tUYjqh6QC7-fa7KdGHXgFDJlhNIe6via1zz1g3IF1KVUA4/s2048/Funny-shocked-little-boy-in-blue-shirt-1217056023_5644x3763.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5rk2ySqzSUXkHvexloprprfqcV_SrbBW7CzCsrNBDe4rjFpLYL3XJLDKqn0KvOh17lxMHDvJwXTPrazKR5FtLJ_ukySW71tUYjqh6QC7-fa7KdGHXgFDJlhNIe6via1zz1g3IF1KVUA4/w400-h266/Funny-shocked-little-boy-in-blue-shirt-1217056023_5644x3763.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">1.</span><i style="text-align: left;"> <b>"Choose glass in place of plastic because it's more environmentally friendly."</b></i><b style="text-align: left;"> </b></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">A number of materials recovery facilities made the decision to no longer accept curbside glass. When collected in a curbside/residential recycling program, glass becomes color mixed and collects all the small contaminants (straws, lids, shredded paper, small pieces of plastic) which makes it much more difficult to sell and makes it nearly worthless or a negative value. Glass collected in this manner also has little end markets unless processed for alternative uses (drainage/septic/trenching/etc). Glass is also the most destructive of all recyclable materials that pass through materials handling equipment which makes it extremely costly to process and handle.</span></div><p>Don't get me wrong we should absolutely recycle glass - especially pre-consumer. We should also continue to explore better processing methods and options. Feedback from glass manufacturers has been that the material recovery facility should do it better by equipment changes and upgrades. They do not provide a lot of guidance on how to make those changes affordable because the value being paid for the recycled glass (even contaminant-free) is minimal. It would be helpful if glass manufacturers could provide some support, input, and funding to assist in recycling the glass they manufacture back into the glass they'll sell, especially if they're pushing it as a more environmentally friendly product. </p><p>2.<i> <b>"Water bottlers single-handedly account for a majority of plastic litter on our planet to date."</b></i></p><p>When drinking water is contaminated or I don't have access to my clean tap water I am certainly happy to purchase a clean, safe bottle of water. My good fortune allows me to typically use my own freshwater from the tap but others aren't as lucky. The place where the issue begins is what is done with the bottle when finished. As a consumer, I need to ensure that I recycle it. The idea that the consumers' failure to recycle the bottles after the water is gone is the responsibility of the producer is as ridiculous as saying that your home builder is responsible to clean up the rubble after it burns down or after you decide to renovate. Once the product changes hands from the manufacturer to the consumer it then becomes the sole responsibility of the consumer to do the right thing. </p><p>Do I think if a manufacturer is creating a bottle that they should use recycled content in their manufacturing process, absolutely! </p><p>The issue is that in order for the manufacturer to use recycled content the consumer needs to ensure they recycle it. Recycling markets are readily available, manufacturers are using and looking for raw material (in the form of recycled water and soda bottles) daily yet in the US we only recycle on average less than 30% of the bottles we consume. When companies make the commitment to use recycled content they also have to figure out where to get it from because the consumers are just not doing their part to recycle it, how do we fix that? To me, it sounds like a consumer/public issue, not a company issue. </p><p>3. <i><b>"Recycling is just not cost-effective and the materials placed in the bins are not really recycled."</b></i></p><p>This may be true BUT only because of the job the recycler is doing. Recycling success depends on what is being placed in the bins and the quality of the recyclables. Recycling has become so costly due to all the contaminants in the bin that the materials recovery facility needs to pay to landfill. Just because someone throws dirty diapers in a recycling bin does not mean they'll turn into a valuable raw material that a manufacturer can use to make something new (the definition of recycling). In fact, many times the contaminants placed in one bin not only contaminates that specific bin but depending on the severity of the contamination it can negatively impact the entire load. If your recycling has no value or if your recyclables need to be thrown away it's likely that you are doing it wrong. </p><p>The fix is so easy but it takes collective participation and effort to be a success; recycle with care and know exactly what you can and cannot place in your specific recycling bin. </p><p><br /></p><p>I am certainly not the end all be all of these topics but I feel like there needs to be honest information provided. Everyone can do better - every day; that should be the goal of each person and business. When we get so focused on calling someone else out it's typically because we aren't focusing on the improvements we can make. Positive recycling impact starts in each household and recycling bin every day. Let's make today a better day in recycling. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-84080268063291325122021-08-02T09:45:00.010-07:002021-08-03T12:54:50.149-07:00What's so bad about greenwashing? <p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIY7AQeM0Ja3FdxRF5s8IT-IlxJ6EaclzDj844c1lrcfITtkwWR3DyZ6_3rHDzZ_V_uGtqde6mWYRnF00kdSSnqMqNFO_jP_ztaYK6Qs1-zUyvw34bYP7H4cmFjPGWTW93_Kl5gvtRTUk/s2048/Greenwashing-and-isolated-green-warning-sign-against-white-background-1324900593_5000x5000.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIY7AQeM0Ja3FdxRF5s8IT-IlxJ6EaclzDj844c1lrcfITtkwWR3DyZ6_3rHDzZ_V_uGtqde6mWYRnF00kdSSnqMqNFO_jP_ztaYK6Qs1-zUyvw34bYP7H4cmFjPGWTW93_Kl5gvtRTUk/w400-h400/Greenwashing-and-isolated-green-warning-sign-against-white-background-1324900593_5000x5000.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><p>I tend to believe that you can't really get too upset about anything if it's for the right reason and isn't causing any real negative impact. For example, I'm sure you know someone who likes to tell exaggerated stories, and although it may give you a chance to exercise your eyes from all the rolling, who is it really hurting? Does the same go for greenwashing - is it really hurting anything? </p><p>I was recently given an article about a pending lawsuit targeting a company founded to assist large, big-name brands make their packaging and/or products more recyclable. They came up with some pretty catchy ideas and were often cited in the news for their innovative office design that was just as eco-friendly as their business strategy. Their existence and mission sounded like a wonderful addition to the recycling industry. </p><p>They needed consumer buy-in. To get people on board, you must limit the amount of additional effort they need to put forth and make it sound simple. The message seemed to imply that you could easily recycle pretty much anything (cigarette butts, diapers, drink wrappers, straws, the list goes on and on). With the message focused on the recyclability of these items, they didn't focus on the quantities, where, how, or, if they did, the message was lost.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wZW4iOx5IlvKpfZn3yONehbp-LDtZtBDiSP6GWCLva78YOZWxG_2R_D2eBDL2Rb11DkL_NY5zVEbgAfRoXnuUZNvLhZUPf6emQTQMDOgHj0nsR_FH38X3h41NpemovfDhBv0DJA7eDo//" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="211" data-original-width="1058" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wZW4iOx5IlvKpfZn3yONehbp-LDtZtBDiSP6GWCLva78YOZWxG_2R_D2eBDL2Rb11DkL_NY5zVEbgAfRoXnuUZNvLhZUPf6emQTQMDOgHj0nsR_FH38X3h41NpemovfDhBv0DJA7eDo/w400-h80/image.png" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>We felt an effect in the recycling materials we received. Material already riddled with contaminants began to get new non-recyclable items; cigarette butts, diapers, drink wrappers. Always contaminants but now people were shocked at our "claims" that they were not recyclable. Not only shocked but willing to argue. When we explained although these items *<i>maybe</i>* recyclable in small quantities, at specialty processors and collection sites, that ongoing, consistent markets were not available, and when received at our facility (and most if not all other materials recovery facilities) they were garbage. People were disappointed and would site news articles, advertisements, and social media posts as a source that these items could be recycled easily just like the standard plastic bottles. </p><p>The company and those big-name brands are currently under scrutiny for making it all sound too easy and therefore slightly misleading. Trying to do the right thing but keep the message simple confused many consumers or at least gave them the warm fuzzy, guilt-free way out. So now what? How do we qualify "recyclable" items? How easy and consistent should the recycling option be to be considered truly recyclable? </p><p>It is essential as a consumer to remember: </p><p>1. Recycling doesn't happen until an old item is processed into something new (either in whole or part). Just throwing the material in the bin is not recycling and doesn't guarantee it will be recycled. </p><p>2. Recycling cannot occur if no end-users require or want the raw material. The way you recycle (the contaminants you place in with your material) could eliminate or limit the impact your recycling may have. </p><p>3. Contaminated material can not be a quality raw material to make something new. </p><p>4. If made with recycled content, items can contain from .01% - 100% recycled content. </p><p>5. Although both are better than the alternative there is a distinct difference between preconsumer and postconsumer recycling. Preconsumer never made it to the consumer and is typically recycled from the production process. Postconsumer is returned for recycling after use by the consumer. </p><p>There is currently no standard in place or fact-checker to determine what is truly recycled into something new. As of right now, it's on the consumer to do their research and recycle with care. The best way to increase your recycling impact is to strictly follow processor rules and only drop off material that they can clearly accept and process. If unclear or unsure it's the consumers' job to find out and ask questions. Locate specialty sites that can accept your less common recyclables like grocery bags, batteries, light bulbs, electronic waste, etc. There are so many resources available, please do your homework and your part so that everyone's future will benefit. </p><p><a href="http://www.recyclewithcare.com">www.recyclewithcare.com</a> </p><p><br /></p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-42918866430449899712021-07-08T12:12:00.000-07:002021-07-08T12:12:33.151-07:00Upswing - but let's not be short sighted. <p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhi1OA4z4WKKi-3NiEFNQOFpkdDan4lG3UwH8TUeyDY6iUBRYcZqzupJnVdeXTBOmYRLI6Vr_Ebp4mfXOyaZ4whlVca4b6UVFn7IPCPpKpqa33s4NeOByOCDK40PJosbUG3SP94NOo7rE/s2048/Forest-with-Heart-Shaped-Blue-Sky-1053405882_3869x2579.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhi1OA4z4WKKi-3NiEFNQOFpkdDan4lG3UwH8TUeyDY6iUBRYcZqzupJnVdeXTBOmYRLI6Vr_Ebp4mfXOyaZ4whlVca4b6UVFn7IPCPpKpqa33s4NeOByOCDK40PJosbUG3SP94NOo7rE/w640-h426/Forest-with-Heart-Shaped-Blue-Sky-1053405882_3869x2579.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p>Things are finally looking up in the recycling industry. It has been a long and difficult journey that unfortunately many didn't survive. Positive changes are underway; end-users are now seeking material that collection centers and materials recovery facilities were recently begging & paying to move. Another positive step is that more and more companies are making commitments to increase the recycled content in their products and aiming towards the goal of a truly circular economy. This is amazing news that benefits not only the recycling industry but our environment as a whole. </p><p>With all the positive trends there does remain one consistent issue. End-users will require quality material in order to make quality products. The number one issue that directly contributed to the crumbling of the recycling industry remains the number one issue with recycling; contamination. Outreach, education, and investments by so many have helped to make the information more available and easier to access but the recycler still needs to make the effort to ensure what they are placing in their recycling bins can actually be recycled. </p><p>So many community collection centers opted to close because they just could not properly police their residents or afford to pay the disposal costs for the large amount of contamination they receive. We found that even with clear signage and bin labeling the contamination remains unreal. Below is a picture from our residential collection area. Signage clearly lists what items are accepted, that no plastic bags should remain, and nothing should be placed outside the containers?!? Do people not read, not understand, or not care? Your guess is as good as ours. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhJXUSUl8ZgCVl8fzjsIZpcwLRA0v9pGWEuuczDOxQ7qFFZnDLYGherEg3XUScgftDk_KgV_Qy7fXERdjhJuPcINwcqUr02pCOZtd5vWgrQr7PsVujWsU6dqHhgALhAfNVhFCWZb-oA4/s1280/43541.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="622" data-original-width="1280" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNhJXUSUl8ZgCVl8fzjsIZpcwLRA0v9pGWEuuczDOxQ7qFFZnDLYGherEg3XUScgftDk_KgV_Qy7fXERdjhJuPcINwcqUr02pCOZtd5vWgrQr7PsVujWsU6dqHhgALhAfNVhFCWZb-oA4/w640-h312/43541.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>So what is the solution? How do we ensure that people clean up their act and recycle with care? We wish we had an answer. <div><br /></div><div>We have definitely found success in educating children and they many times successfully guilt parents into compliance. The mini recycling police of the house push parents and siblings to abide. It's all a matter of finding the right motivation but we just aren't sure what that is. </div><div><br /></div><div>We are sure that recycling will continue to struggle if people do not do their part to recycle with care. <br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-50671821791102832432019-06-18T08:30:00.000-07:002019-06-18T10:32:12.541-07:00ISO: RecycleMan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Funny but true. Our bins are begging for a quality control person ... "Recycle Man". Are you willing to fill the position? What could you do to police your bins without hovering over them?<br />
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1. <b>Start with correct and complete labeling. </b>Clearly label what the bin is intended for. Next, clearly explain what should NOT be placed in the bin, make it guess free.<br />
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2. <b>Be sure that you have both garbage and recycling bins in all locations.</b> Often people try to do the right thing by limiting where they place garbage bins (or recycling bins), ultimately forcing people to recycle or avoid contamination in the recycling. The issue with this is that it causes a lot of contamination or failure to recycle. People who care about recycling will do the right thing but those people would also be likely to seek out a recycling bin. People who wouldn't have made the effort to find the recycling bin will throw contaminants in the wrong bin unphased. Although we feel the placement of both bins are best it is essential that you've already addressed #1 - correct and complete bin labeling.<br />
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3. <b>Provide Feedback. </b>Many assume that no news is good news. If you are finding that people are placing the wrong things in the wrong bins let them know. Providing positive and negative feedback keeps everyone on track and increases your recycling impact.<br />
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Any to add? Have you found other tips that are helpful in keeping recycling clean and encourages participation?tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-54996356729213090102018-08-14T11:02:00.000-07:002018-08-15T06:36:06.896-07:00Let's get real<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Recycling markets are in a very tough spot right now. While some individuals and businesses may not know most have felt the strain or have at least heard the buzz.<br />
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The bulk of the issues have been an issue for a really long time it's just gotten a lot worse. It's kind of like when your child tries to go on a hunger strike and will only eat dessert. You can let it go and hope for it to pass, with the likelihood of it spreading to your other children, or you can put an end to it (or at least put a plan in place to slowly put an end to it). In the recycling industry we need a plan. My plan starts with education by explaining what I believe the real issues are.<br />
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<b><u>1. Contamination is real and the absolute HUGEST issue.</u></b> Some recycling rules can be extremely confusing; items that are accepted, preferred, and completely fine in one program can cause big issues for another. Other times (lots of times) there are <b><u>items that are clearly NOT recyclable that are carelessly placed in the recycling bin</u></b>. No one reasonably thought that dirty diaper could be recycled, the planter (full of dirt and a plant) could be destined for something new, or the concrete block would an item to be reused at the recycling facility. The choices that these people made by throwing it in the recycling bin anyway are the careless choices that are currently crippling our industry. I have always stayed clear of directly saying this but ... if you are going to throw trash in your recycling it's better you not recycle at all. <i>GASP!?! </i> I'm not talking the occasional pizza box with a slight grease outline or a yogurt container that may or may not be accepted in your program. Yes, these can cause contamination issues but they are a tiny fraction of the issues we currently face.<br />
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Please check out our MRF's most UNwanted list:<br />
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This list above covers most common offenders that cause processing issues but this list does not include all of the garbage we receive <u>daily</u>. The below items did not make the list because we try to presume that people just wouldn't purposely place this stuff in the bin.<u><b> In an effort to leave nothing opened to interpretation the following items are NOT EVER able to be recycled (at a standard recycling facility) and should NEVER be placed in your recycling bin or dropped at a collection center: </b></u><br />
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1. Diapers in any form<br />
2. Animal remains<br />
3. Medical waste (used bandages, syringes, iv bags, etc.)<br />
4. Animal waste<br />
5. Construction debris (drywall, wires, fixtures, concrete, blacktop, etc.)<br />
6. Full containers (cans or bottles that have not been emptied)<br />
7. Clothing - soiled or otherwise (take it to goodwill, give it away, or throw it away)<br />
8. Lawn-care items (grass, leaves, dirt, branches, tree stumps)<br />
9. Extremely wet material (soiled, soupy, and mushy)<br />
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Our industry is hurting. Companies who have intentions of only creating superior recycled feed stock to be used for the creation of a new product can only watch helplessly as their quality continues to fall, just as external pressure is requiring cleaner material then ever. You can add more staff, you can turn down the speed of the equipment and try to comb through the "garbage" more closely only to struggle to find outlets that will purchase your material (or for some products not charge you to take it). Recyclers can only do that for so long before they will cease to exist. In order to be a business that is not only environmentally responsible but also profitable (so that you can continue to pay your staff and bills) you need to find a middle ground. We need every person's assistance and we have been asking for it for quite a while now.<br />
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<b><u>2. Garbage costs and tightening of landfill availability.</u></b> Recycling facilities (especially those who have no landfill ties or affiliations) pay to get rid of every ton of garbage that is thrown in the recycling bins. Not only does it now require more people, for a longer time, to sort the contaminated material (causing them to lose money) but it also means shelling out the tonnage charges required to throw away the garbage that should never have been received while contaminating good recyclable material along the away (causing it to also turn to garbage). As landfill availability becomes scarce the price per ton increases.<br />
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We all talk about recycling being the responsible thing to do and so important for the future of our planet and children. Almost everyone talks a good game when we do outreach events and most claim to know about and actively recycle in their home (typically this is feedback from children who tend to be pretty honest). So where is the gap?<br />
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<b style="text-decoration-line: underline;">3. External pressure and changes.</b> Foreign market import/export restrictions<b style="text-decoration-line: underline;"> </b>are a source of issues for a number of businesses but have played a very large role in the recycling industry. Many scoff at this and insinuate that a company that was shipping "garbage" overseas should be ashamed anyway and has no room to complain. Many would be incorrect in their assumption. Yes, ideally all recyclers would prefer their material stay in the country. Unfortunately the supply that recyclers create is much greater then the US demand. Without argument work should be done to create more domestic markets. Unfortunately, recyclers can play very little to no role in this market development. If the domestic demand was present it would be fed.<br />
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There are certainly some processors who may have tried to slip contaminated recyclables into other countries but I'd like to think that was the exception. Additionally, if the customer received the material and it was in fact garbage instead of the product they expected wouldn't they reject the material or at least ensure that loads like that would not be received again? Since countries have ended importing recyclables or reduced the allowable contamination rates to extremely tight tolerances (only in a time when contamination is at its peak) moving material is tough. Recyclers are thrilled with the idea of building and strengthening domestic markets (with realistic contamination tolerances) but that will require a domestic push for manufacturing and a domestic push for quality material specifically made from recycled content.<br />
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<b><u>4. Supply and Demand. </u></b>Since the current supply far outweighs the current demand and the large consumer is no longer consuming any domestic market that required the material is taking advantage of the sale price. Instead of paying prior averages (at which they could still make money) they've decided to make more money at the expense of the recycling industry. Recycling collection occurs whether the markets are good or bad. Storage space is always limited and recovery facilities are presented with the terrible choices of selling at a loss, paying to get rid of the material, or stop receiving it. Many recyclers have legal and binding contracts or as an effort to keep their good name they refuse to stop receiving.<br />
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<b><u>5. Angry mother-nature.</u></b> Sometimes luck just isn't on your side. In addition to the above contamination issues our current weather in the Northeast has been super yucky and has just increased problems with contamination. We have had huge amounts of rain and flooding. When people are trying to keep their homes dry & safe they tend not to worry about keeping their recyclables safe & dry. A large majority of the material that we are processing daily is wet, some extremely wet. When collecting single stream (the most common method of collection) broken glass, gets stuck to wet paper and inside containers. Clumpy, wet material is more difficult to process, sort, and becomes stinky and moldy (not a great predictor of good material when it arrives to the manufacturer). Other then trying to keep recycling clean and dry I haven't found a way to control the weather just yet or we'd be shipping some of our rain to areas who need it immediately.<br />
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In my opinion these are the top 5 reasons that recycling is currently in crisis. The good news is that the largest issue facing us is controlled by every single person recycling. If we resolve that number one issue most others will <i>slowly </i>resolve themselves.<br />
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<br />tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-11939725427376290052017-06-27T09:31:00.001-07:002017-06-27T09:31:31.598-07:00Don't let a good thing turn bad. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We are thrilled that so many people want to do right by our planet and recycle. BUT... what happens when an attempt at doing the right thing goes all wrong?? More in your bin DOES NOT always equal more recycled. In fact, more of the wrong items in your bin can cause contamination of other good recyclable. Please, always recycle but do so with care!tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-23417958059400331342017-05-17T10:27:00.001-07:002017-05-17T10:28:21.513-07:00Okay, okay, how can I help? <br />
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So, I'm not sure if you've been paying attention but if you have, you've heard (repeatedly), that the recycling markets and industry are in trouble. A number of factors have come into play to create the "perfect" storm. Despite the name there is little positive about it. We are all happy to receive some rain but when the waters keep rising many are found praying for the Sun and a nice long dry spell.<br />
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We know about the challenges so how do we help? As we've posted about previously there are a few factors that are outside of our hands as individuals or businesses. There are also a number of things that you can do to really make a positive impact in your recycling efforts. <b><i><u>The single largest way to positively effect your recycling efforts is to follow bin & program instructions and keep out contaminants, contacting the program directors when needed to clarify those confusing recycling messages.</u></i></b><br />
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Let's say you are an avid recycler and you've done all that... you know exactly what should and should not go into your bins and you are the picture of recycling success (yay, you)... now what? What else can you do to help push recycling in the right direction? Well, thanks for asking.<br />
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<b>1. Reduce single use (specifically with items that cannot be recycled).</b><br />
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Hello, my name is Tiffany and I am a paper towel addict. I've tried to stop, I've looked at alternatives, I've <u>tried</u> alternatives, and I have even gone as far as to leave the holder empty on purpose just to put a (temporary) end to my addiction. I don't know where my need to endlessly pull the paper towels off the roll comes from but it sure is handy and we have more then enough messes to keep the roll dwindling. Paper Towels are not recyclable ( I certainly would not want to be on a sorting line and touching whatever new, sticky mess my children have found to cover themselves in). Don't worry, I feel the guilt. So, in an effort to start simple I've made some other changes ones that have really stuck.<br />
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Ziplock bags used to be another issue for me. They are so easy to use and they don't leave you hanging without a lid like most of the regular food storage containers do. They keep snacks fresh and if someone forgets to bring it home... no big deal (I would likely throw them anyway). We've busted this habit. We found reusable snack bags that work as well as ziplock but we have used them endlessly. They seal, they're easy to clean and they even have some cute prints. This choice has kept endless Ziplock bags out of the landfill from our family. (SCORE!)<br />
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K-Cups - hot topic issue amongst environmentally minded. So handy, less water waste but the amount of plastic generated from these small plastic cups is unreal (especially in areas that aren't able to recycle the K-cup plastics). A well kept secret is a brewing basket. You can purchase your own coffee and use a brewing basket to quickly and easily make a single serving from your machine. No waste of the coffee, the water or the plastic cup.<br />
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Sometimes we are willing to give a little for convenience and sometimes our environment pays the price. I promise, I will continue to look for paper towel alternatives and make a change with that too!<br />
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<b>2. Buy with recycling/end of life in mind.</b> Cat litter comes in two options the paper containers and the large plastic tubs. I know that my recycling collection center takes both, so it really makes no difference which one I select (other than convenience to me) . Some collections centers will not take the large plastic kitty litter tubs so I would keep that in mind when buying. Another instance of this is located at the dollar section in some very popular stores. You can purchase cheap, cute (bpa free) cups and drink, snack and sandwich containers. It seems like a great plan, but because they are so cheap they are also cheaply made and just don't hold up to the abuse inflicted by my children. We have found that after only a few uses they are in need to discard. Some containers fit into the standard recycling program but others are a mixture of plastics or aren't accepted. It's important to weigh the lifespan of the products and know where they will end up when we are finished with them.<br />
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<b>3. Find a landfill alternative.</b> After you have recycled all that is allowed curbside, and you've looked locally and dropped off grocery bags, batteries, and light bulbs at the local collection sites you've still found you have more garbage in your bin then you'd like ... what can you do?<br />
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<b> What about compost</b> - on average a huge percentage of our garbage is food waste. Leftovers, fruit and vegetable cuttings and scraps, coffee grinds, etc. These items do not need to go to the landfill and can instead be composted to help fertilize your garden and grow bigger, happier produce!<br />
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<b>Can it be reused? </b>Sometimes when an item can no longer be used for it's original job it can find a new one. Other times they item may not have use in your home but may be a welcomed (and needed) addition to someone else's. Taking items that are no longer needed to a goodwill, yard sale, or other like sale site helps to keep it out of the garbage, allows someone else to give it a<br />
second life and prevents them from going out and buying something new. The simple choice to<br />
reuse the item can be quite impactful.<br />
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<b>4. Keep it simple. </b>There are so many products created today and it is so tempting to see the newest widget and get sold on it; infomercials are puzzling and yet amazing things. I can be tempted by the seeming ease of the 15 product line, that will most certainly make my life easier. You could have a gamut of kitchen appliances all designed to help you eat healthy and quickly. Many times I've learned that I already have all the pots and pans I need and with the right techniques and a little thought my meals can be just as healthy, almost as quick, and much less wasteful. Sometimes a simple rag can also accomplish as much cleaning as the 3 different height and heat level mops. At times the next greatest product may be just that... great, other times it's just another thing to take up room in your closet and eventually find its way to the goodwill or worse... the landfill. The most difficult part is to learn to tell the difference, I think we're all still working on that.<br />
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<br />tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-57955264853605859102017-04-06T11:04:00.002-07:002017-04-06T11:04:47.796-07:00Aim to make everyday Earth Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8707969299291865515.post-81025386010727721612017-03-13T08:10:00.000-07:002017-03-13T08:10:48.718-07:00Recyclers No Longer Accepting Glass???<div class="_5pbx userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="js_55b" style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.38;">
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">"Glass is 100% recyclable and can be recycled endlessly without loss in quality or purity - something few food and beverage packaging options can claim."</span></h2>
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<span style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.5; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">By the Glass Packaging Institute. </span></div>
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Glass is an amazing material that can be recycled (and recycled, and recycled, and recycled....) glass can also be reused BUT... it currently poses many, many challenges to MRF's (material recovery facilities). Glass has been a problem for quite some time now but with the increase in single stream collection it's become an even larger hurdle. The good news is that it seems that the recycling of glass has increased but the bad news is that, at this point, in the form that it's often received in, it is not unilaterally able to be recycled. We need help and here's why: </div>
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1. Glass is breakable. As glass is placed in bins, transported, dumped at drop center(s), and processed the whole bottle tends to become many, many pieces. The pieces get mixed with other bottles (of varying colors) and due to the mixture of colors they are no longer wanted for making "new" glass.</div>
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2. Glass is a very difficult contaminant<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;"> (when broken). If paper or plastic have any moisture the small glass shards will adhere to it making production much more difficult at the end user.</span></div>
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3. Glass is tough! The highest amount of wear that our equipment experiences is because of continued contact with glass. Rubber and metal wear significantly due to the continual presence of glass and it's highly abrasive nature. </div>
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4. Glass is heavy. When a recycler is accepting mixed recyclables a large percentage of the weight they receive are made up of glass (a product that when broken becomes quite difficult to re market and is thus quite costly).</div>
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5. In this "mixed" color, broken form there are very select markets available for this material. Most end users who are making new glass need color sorted (contaminant free) glass. Just like the glass that contaminants the plastic and paper, plastic and paper contaminant the broken glass. It would not be unlikely to see small bottle caps, shredded paper, small pieces of aluminum and other small items commingled with the glass. Solutions for this material have been located, tested, and approved (it works superbly in septic systems, sludge beds, drainage applications) but the production currently far exceeds the demand. <span style="font-family: inherit;">We need more viable mixed glass markets or the idea of removing glass from the recycling stream may need to become a reality.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The Department of Environmental Production and other like agencies have funds that are working to assist market creation and stimulation for these types of items. We need to see more progress and urgency to get this matter resolved. Despite the recommendation of some agencies to landfill our growing "mountain" of material we just don't feel that this is the right environmental choice but if markets are demanding the material we could be forced (legally) to do so. What are your thoughts??</span></div>
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tiffany mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09945447911863064974noreply@blogger.com0