Decided to give recycling another try - nope!

[catherine]

The problem is that packaging alternatives just aren’t offered. When I was at WF yesterday, I went over the toiletries aisles with a fine tooth comb looking for the item I wanted. There were NO bar shampoo, conditioner, or lotions offered. Tons of plastic.

I agree--it's very hard to buy things that aren't packaged in plastic.

[Rogar]

One way around the packaging waste is to buy from the bulk bins or actually prepare things at home rather than buy packaged foods in boxes or plastics. Which also hints at avoiding highly processed foods. But I know that's a tall order. Seems like there was a woman a couple of few years ago here that had a vow to avoid buying things in plastics for a year, but maybe it was somewhere else. That seems like it would be a large expenditure of energy.

I've probably spent too much time thinking about recycled electronics. As an example, lets say I have an old out dated computer with a bit of life left, but approaching obsolescence. I could give it to someone or place that might get a bit more life out of it, but then what. Will they they send it to landfill or other waste stream, or would it be better just to recycle it and assure it's end of life disposition.

[Tradd]

My thinking about recycling shifted when I read Bright Green Lies which quantifies the negative environmental impact of recycling as well as the profitable nature of the industry. The authors state that they personally recycle because "it's the right thing to do and isn't more harmful than not recycling," but they make the point that we're fooling ourselves if we think recycling will help save the planet. Is it worse to bury cans in a landfill or pay to have recyclables shipped far away for processing? Refusing and reducing are far more effective in that regard. So I do recycle--DH and I cart our cans to the transfer station or we leave them outside our son's house in town where the homeless are happy to grab them and cash in. But I am trying to consume less plastic and aluminum. Not easy.

I’ll look up that book. Thanks

[Teacher Terry]

I used to go to great lengths to recycle when I lived in my first condo 26 years ago. When in a house it’s easy. Since I learned that waste management is throwing away most of the recycling I don’t worry about it being back in a condo. I do buy my soaps in big containers so I can refill the small ones to cut down on waste.

[Tradd]

One way around the packaging waste is to buy from the bulk bins or actually prepare things at home rather than buy packaged foods in boxes or plastics. Which also hints at avoiding highly processed foods. But I know that's a tall order. Seems like there was a woman a couple of few years ago here that had a vow to avoid buying things in plastics for a year, but maybe it was somewhere else. That seems like it would be a large expenditure of energy.

I've probably spent too much time thinking about recycled electronics. As an example, lets say I have an old out dated computer with a bit of life left, but approaching obsolescence. I could give it to someone or place that might get a bit more life out of it, but then what. Will they they send it to landfill or other waste stream, or would it be better just to recycle it and assure it's end of life disposition.

Even lots of non-highly processed food is wrapped in plastic. Frozen veggies and fruit, for example. I buy frozen often as there is less waste with it being just me. I don’t do beans or lentils often. With the cost of energy to cook them, I’m better off with canned. And tomatoes are nearly always canned.

[iris lilies]

My thinking about recycling shifted when I read Bright Green Lies which quantifies the negative environmental impact of recycling as well as the profitable nature of the industry. The authors state that they personally recycle because "it's the right thing to do and isn't more harmful than not recycling," but they make the point that we're fooling ourselves if we think recycling will help save the planet. Is it worse to bury cans in a landfill or pay to have recyclables shipped far away for processing? Refusing and reducing are far more effective in that regard. So I do recycle--DH and I cart our cans to the transfer station or we leave them outside our son's house in town where the homeless are happy to grab them and cash in. But I am trying to consume less plastic and aluminum. Not easy.

yes, refusing and reusing are definitely better than recycling. We’ve all seen recycling go through so many versions in our lifetimes. If we are all that it’s just one more thing that makes me roll my eyes.

As for shipping things— the library where I worked withdrew 100,000 volumes each year. Much of that was print material, but some was video, CD, etc. For several years we held a 3-day book sale that essentially lost money, but that was OK as long as we were looking at it as a “community building event.”

One year we contracted with a company that picked up our withdrawn materials in a large truck and hauled them to Colorado to sell them online, giving us a split of the profit. I was skeptical that process would result in a profit for us, but it did! So that process went on for several years and I don’t know if the library is still doing it. The company said they “recycle “books they can’t sell and who knows what that means but we were able to tell concern citizens that these items were “recycled. “

[iris lilies]

The problem is that packaging alternatives just aren’t offered. When I was at WF yesterday, I went over the toiletries aisles with a fine tooth comb looking for the item I wanted. There were NO bar shampoo, conditioner, or lotions offered. Tons of plastic.

I use a beeswax lotion bar that comes in a tin. I also use Nivea cream that comes in a tin. Plastic yogurt containers are probably the most plastic I generate, besides bread/bagel plastic bags. I do try to buy the quart pots, but I still eat a ton of it. Guess I should investigate making my own.

I know! Finding bar soap isn’t easy. Finding powdered laundry soap in cardboard containers not easy.

[Rogar]

Maybe this is where I got the idea? I does have some ideas, though.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/16/s...ee-living.html



Life Without Plastic Is Possible. It’s Just Very Hard

[gimmethesimplelife]

Wow, that’s great that you can make a little money with number one recyclables. I don’t know what number one type plastic is but I’ll have to go seek it out to see what you’re talking about.

IL, hi. An example of PETE #1 plastic would be the plastic bottles 20 oz. Coke or other sodas are sold in. Rob

[ApatheticNoMore]

There is no recycling for renters here either. I gave up a few years ago as recycling centers (that I used to take stuff to) kept shutting down one by one. I am not imaging this, there have been news articles on how poorly the recycling even when you pay the tax on say beverage containers is working in California.

Not only are individual solutions limited, but they aren't EVEN possible to do if the infrastructure isn't there (someone to take the darn recycling without driving 30 miles). Oh I did used to leave them out, outside the trash, for homeless or whoever to collect, and they were gone. And then the landlord ALSO banned us doing that! Sometimes someone still gets in the trash though. But mostly that solution has also been blocked.