Recycling - Are we changing with the times?

Perhaps many of you remember the Mobro 4000 trash barge in 1987 that hauled the same load of trash from New York City to Belize and back until a disposal site was found. Or perhaps the first Earth Day in 1970 is a more prominent memory. The Cuyahoga River fire in 1969 was another event crying out for better care of our resources and environment. It was a time that created the mantra Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. I like to add Rethink.

As a society we have done a great job of thinking it’s good to keep “it” out of the landfill, whatever “it” might be. We have emphasized the importance of recycling but failed to adapt with the changes of an industry that began over 50 years ago.

Today’s Schedule D Landfills are a far cry from the town dumps they replaced. Today’s landfills are engineering marvels, in my opinion, but that doesn’t mean we should fill them up. So, what do we do?

Just about everything could be recycled, but that doesn't mean it is. Recycling is always local. What is collected in your area may not be collected in mine. Glass is a good example. Although glass can be recycled repeatedly, it is heavy. Transportation costs are many times prohibitive. There are entities in and around Indianapolis that can collect glass in an economical way, and yet they won’t collect plastic bottles.

Styrofoam is another material that can be recycled, but the transportation cost of something that is mostly air is not usually seen as a wise way to spend money.

 There must be a market for the material, it must become something else. If not, it just takes a more costly route to the landfill. Cardboard lately brings in more profit than aluminum. There are companies that will process it nearby and a market to supply boxes for our online purchases. I was surprised when I heard that. That strong need for cardboard won’t last indefinitely.

 Find out what’s recyclable in your area and follow the guidelines offered. Reach out to the company or the solid waste district that serves your area.  You can find your district here. http://aiswmd.org/page-1630206

 Proper recycling is good. Reuse and reduce are even better options. They eliminate the transportation and energy costs involved in recycling. Reduce and reuse do take some thoughtful planning. Consider where will my item go when I’m done with it, what will it become and how will it get there?

 Things to Consider:

 -         Perhaps there is a way to lease, borrow or share the item you want to purchase. 

-         As you head to a restaurant that serves large portions, take your own container for the leftovers. 

-         If plastic silverware is provided take only what you need. Perhaps you can share a knife, maybe you don’t need the spoon. Better yet, take your own. Those plastic utensils are not recyclable, and the compostable ones are not compostable unless you have a commercial type of compost facility. 

-         Explore your own creative options as you rethink what you throw away.

 Respectfully,

Carol Stradling

Solid Waste District Director, Retired