As we continue to look at our recycling efforts, I want to interject one idea worthy of consideration. Environmental advocates are calling on manufacturers to consider the entire life cycle of products from manufacture through disposal and to create products that don’t need to be dumped at the end of their lives into a landfill, but can actually be composted or made into other products with a minimum of waste. Architect William McDonough is a pioneer in this movement and came up with the phrase “cradle to cradle.” You can learn more about Mr. McDonough and his programs at his website www.mcdonough.com and/or read the book he wrote with coauthor Michael Braungart: Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things. Ultimately, in our efforts to sustain our planet, we will have to look at how we manufacture things as well as what we purchase (and who and what we support). As consumers, we can begin demanding changes in this direction. Along with doing that, however, we do need to continue in our efforts to recycle as well as to reduce and reuse.
In this last segment on recycling, I promised to talk about e-waste (electronic waste), plastic, and paper. Tomorrow, look for information on buying recycled and precycling.
E-waste is really technological trash and it is the fastest growing municipal waste issue in our country. Since faster, more efficient high-tech products are introduced regularly and it’s usually cheaper to buy that new piece of electronic ingenuity, we are faced with the dilemma of how to dispose of our former versions in a responsible manner. As the cycle time of bringing new products to market continues to accelerate, this dilemma will only get worse. The optimal answer will be for manufacturers to make products that last longer and can be repaired easily and relatively inexpensively, which ties into what I stated earlier: ultimately, we will have to look at how things are manufactured and what and how much we consume. So far, our recycling technology has not been advancing at the same rate as our electronic technology. It’s improving–at least now when you ask a store about their recycling programs, your question is usually not met with a blank stare–but much, much more needs to be done.
The best resource for determining how to recycle your old model is to talk to the store where you are purchasing the new model. More manufacturers and retailers are offering EASY ways to recycle electronics. Since recycling is profit driven, big businesses appreciate that the easier they make it for you to use their recycling services, the more likely you will be to actually use them! Everyone benefits: you are able to let go of the equipment you no longer are using, manufacturers save money on reusing the parts, and the environment saves natural resources.
If you are not able to recycle directly through the manufacturer, there is a great online service called E-Cycling Central. Their mission is “bringing you everything you need to know about electronics recycling” throughout the United States. There are links to questions for you to ask potential recyclers, such as “What are your policies and practices for destroying personal data that may still exist on used computers or cell phones?” and “What percentage of the materials you collect are recycled and what percentage is disposed (either through landfilling or incineration)?” along with guidelines for the best answers to look for. There are also links to other recycling and green purchasing resources–this is a great resource.
Many other stores–such as office supplies, pet supplies, cell phone providers, and grocers–will help you with recycling batteries, ink cartridges, cell phones, game systems, and more. Before you leave any electronic device at the curb for garbage collection, look for a company or service to help you recycle.
Plastic can be another category that poses challenges. Plastic has become an integral part of the way we live–most of us no longer even realize to what extent plastic has permeated our lives. From packaging to toys to outdoor furniture to the inside of our cars, plastic is everywhere. When we think about recycling plastic, we usually think of clear plastic containers, like water bottles. However, plastics come in all shapes, colors and sizes. As we look at our recycling efforts, it’s important to consider all these varieties of plastics. In this post, though, I’ll focus on the many different numbers on plastics and which numbers are usually associated with which products. You’ll find a number on the bottom of almost all plastic containers which is surrounded by the triangular arrows–the recycling symbol. How you dispose of each of these numbers can vary from place to place so be sure to check with your local waste management company. In my neighborhood #1-#7 are recycled.
#1–Type of plastic: polyethylene terephthalate (PETE or PET). Used for single-serve water bottles, soft drink bottles and cans, plastic peanut butter jars, and oven-ready meal. When recycled, it can become beverage and food containers, luggage, and film.
#2–Type of plastic: high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Used for detergent bottles and grocery bags. When recycled, it can become recycling bins, motor oil bottles and buckets.
#3–Type of plastic: polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Used for window cleaner bottles, cling wrap, window frames, carpet backing, floor tiles, and food trays. When recycled, it can become traffic cones, garden hoses, and loose-leaf binders.
#4–Type of plastic: low-density polyethylene, commonly called LDPE. Used for grocery store bags, most plastic wrap, frozen food bags. When recycled, it can become compost bins, trash cans, and floor tiles.
#5: Type of plastic: polypropylene (PP). Used for some baby bottles, most Rubbermaid products, microwave meal trays, medicine bottles, yogurt cups. When recycled, it can become ice scrapers, bike racks, and rakes.
#6: Type of plastic: polystyrene (PS). Used for takeout food containers, plastic cutlery, and protective packaging for electronics, such as CD covers. When recycled, it can become egg cartons, foam packing, and thermal insulation.
#7: Type of plastic: Other polycarbonate materials and miscellaneous materials. Used for most baby bottles, sippy cups, plastic plates, and reusable water bottles. When recycled, it can become more bottles.
Again, find out in your area which of these are accepted by your waste management pickup. Also, you may want to inquire about what happens to the different categories of plastic once they leave your home. One company who is making a difference is Stonyfield Farms. Often, #5 plastics (used for yogurt containers) are hard to recycle or are simply burned. On their website, Stonyfield Farms states, “Finally, a recycling solution for your yogurt cups, hummus tubs and other #5 plastic containers! If you’re serious about recycling, you know that most communities don’t accept these common containers for recycling. There’s not enough money in it for them to make it work. And those communities that do accept #5s almost always bundle those with other low value plastics and sell them to someone else who burns them for energy. Yuck!” So, Stonyfield Farms has created a project–reflecting their commitment to reusing–called “Preserve Gimme 5.” Through this link, you can find locations for dropping off your containers as well as Stonyfield’s address to mail the cleaned containers directly to them. It is companies such as this who are trying to bring “cradle to cradle” practices into action!
Paper is our last–but not least–category. The wiser we can be with our paper consumption, the more we’ll help preserve our precious forests and reduce solid waste. We also have the ability to reduce pollution, including greenhouse gas emissions, the major contributor to global climate change. Here are some major ways to make a significant difference. Buy post-consumer recycled paper or try to find paper that’s been certified according to the Forest Stewardship Council’s standards. When paper is made from recycled content rather than virgin fiber, 75 percent LESS air pollution and 35 percent LESS water pollution are created. It’s also best to use paper that hasn’t been bleached by chlorine (which is done to make it look whiter) because the bleaching process causes both air and water pollution. Also, ALWAYS recycle your paper. It’s still the most frequent item found in landfills, according to the EPA. If everyone recycled JUST their Sunday newspaper, 550,000 trees would be saved each week, according to the Earth Day Network.
As I previously posted, banish junk mail and reduce the mail sent to you by receiving more electronic mail! Additionally, here are some other ways to minimize paper:
*Print on both sides of the paper and think twice before printing. Oftentimes, we can simply save a document to our computer or bookmark a website to refer back to the information.
*Cancel phone book deliveries and recycle old phone books.
*If paper hasn’t been printed on both sides, cut it up, make note pads, and use the blank side for notes.
Use your intuition to find more ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. The more we adopt the attitude that everything can become something more, the more we’ll automatically look for the way to make that happen!
