bbro2018
Full Member
Discovering that getting your kicks is tricky at 66!
Posts: 235
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Post by bbro2018 on Apr 7, 2018 20:58:00 GMT -5
China stopped buying our recycling several years ago. Did they start back again? It seems that I recall hearing that they spread it out in open fields. Single stream has its trade-offs. More people do it, b/c they don't have to bother separating materials, but more gets thrown away and fewer items are actually recycled. AFAIK broken glass has never been acceptable for recycling. I assumed (or did I know?) it was because it could injure the workers. Traditionally styrofoam was not recycled with other plastics. I used to keep it in the trunk of my car and drop it off at a plastics company in St. Paul. (Anchor, I think it was??) Then the company moved due to redevelopment in the area, and I couldn't find out where to take it after that. Luckily I get very little of it now. You're right on the broken glass. Hazardous to both the pickup workers and to the recyclers too.
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Post by picturefreak on Apr 7, 2018 21:41:59 GMT -5
It's extremely unfortunate that broken glass is hazardous to work with and must be disposed of -- glass is almost as recycleable as metal. Metal is almost 100% recovery (minus loss in slag). Glass, if it weren't for impurities in the glass, is also nearly 100% recycleable.
Now, I suspect glass like light bulb glass people will want to recycle. This unfortunately is not good to recycle due to the frosting and the such small amount of glass in most light bulbs. Same as the expanded polystyrene problem...
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Post by CampKohler (Sacramento CA) on Apr 10, 2018 20:59:59 GMT -5
The objection to broken glass is that the tiny bits of it contaminate other recyclables like plastic. Glass won't be recycled if it costs more to ship it to the buyer than it's worth (unless the locals want to pay anyway).
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goldie
All Star Member
Posts: 19,808
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Post by goldie on Apr 11, 2018 4:31:41 GMT -5
Does anybody know how to recycle old videotapes, or what is the best way to dispose of them? Ones that cannot be taken to a used book/media store, such as those that were tapped off the television, home movies, etc. Also audio cassettes?
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Post by yanarich on Apr 16, 2018 2:05:48 GMT -5
Read that India banned single-use plastics. Now, that's exciting!
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Post by CampKohler (Sacramento CA) on Apr 25, 2018 1:06:34 GMT -5
I guess the drug addicts there will have to run their syringes through the dishwasher.
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Post by lightbulb1 on Apr 25, 2018 11:51:04 GMT -5
save everything when possible...
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goldie
All Star Member
Posts: 19,808
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Post by goldie on Apr 25, 2018 13:24:30 GMT -5
Are syringes plastic?
Anyway, there was a very good (Earth Day) episode that I happened to see on Nova (PBS) the other day. I don't usually watch it, but just happened onto it and they were talking about the huge garbage patches in the oceans, and how plastic bottles and such somehow end up in the oceans and other faraway places, and then inside wildlife such as sea turtles, big fish, and even a desert camel.
The Five Gyres Institute
I don't understand why people think it's offensive to be asked to be more responsible for their waste.
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Post by lightbulb1 on Apr 28, 2018 16:26:16 GMT -5
we all recycle at work 95%
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goldie
All Star Member
Posts: 19,808
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Post by goldie on May 15, 2018 19:10:46 GMT -5
Asking again: Does anybody know how to recycle old videotapes and audio cassettes, or how to responsibly dispose of them? Ones that cannot be taken to a used book/media store to be sold, such as those that were tapped off the television, home movies, etc. ?
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Post by picturefreak on May 15, 2018 21:40:23 GMT -5
Erase them and sell them as blanks; if you popped the do not erase tab, then just trash them - there's nothing of value in video cassettes. Unless you know somewhere that takes plastics, you will need to disassemble and separate the parts of the cassette...
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bbro2018
Full Member
Discovering that getting your kicks is tricky at 66!
Posts: 235
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Post by bbro2018 on Jun 3, 2018 22:04:37 GMT -5
Any clues on what to do with that execrable substance called Styrofoam? As part of my job at Walmart, I open boxes of everything imaginable and deal with Styrofoam packing that keeps items in place, not to mention those cheap-@$$ coolers that I wouldn't choose if they were givin' them away for free. Not to mention those beanbag chairs that use Styrofoam pellets as stuffing.
When the packing breaks, it shatters into nice fluffy little pills that cling where you don't want them (like Walmart uniforms, counters, etc.), flutters all over the place, and clogs up any type of vacuum cleaner you use to pick them up!!!
And you can't recycle them (despite what it says on the stuffing or the coolers themselves), because most recyclers will not accept them. Any ideas or am I shoutin' to the choir???
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Post by Styrofoam on Jun 6, 2018 20:41:16 GMT -5
Reuse Styrofoam!
Craigslist/Freecycle it, if it's clean. Someone will need packing material.
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goldie
All Star Member
Posts: 19,808
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Post by goldie on Jun 7, 2018 7:35:16 GMT -5
Great idea! Maybe you can even sell it for a bit on eBay (says she who never conquered her eBay phobia). Or a store that packages and ships things might take it off your hands. Or, as guest Styrofoam suggested, maybe someone will take it off your hands for free. Likely an internet seller.
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goldie
All Star Member
Posts: 19,808
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Post by goldie on Jun 16, 2018 7:51:02 GMT -5
I talked to my relative who works in the environmental/recycling industry and asked about styrofoam recycling. He couldn't name anywhere exactly, but there are some places. He said the styrofoam industry is feeling the pressure to do something about recycling it, b/c people don't want to use their products.
I'd suggest doing online searches periodically for styrofoam recycling in your area. Or, since you work with large quantities of it maybe you can find out who the manufacturer is and ask them if they have a recycling plan. But reusing it first is usually better. Although in this case I'm not sure, since you would recycle it but the next person to use it might not.
* * * Reduce * * * Reuse * * * Recycle * * *
In that order, when possible.
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