By Steve Davies, Healthy Planet Columnist
Over the years, I have to say some things have gotten easier with recycling, like having your own recycling bin on wheels where all you have to do is put all your recyclables in it, roll it out to the curb and then your city will pick it up.
On the other hand, back when I was young, the fact that there was so little being recycled, it made me feel that it was rather simple. There were bins for glass, metal, cardboard and newspaper. All you had to do was sort it at home before dropping it off at your recycling center.
So, the question these days is, what’s happened in between. Well, I think it’s fair to say that, that would be plastic. From containers to store bags to package wrapping, it’s everywhere we look.
First off, there isn’t just one plastic but rather seven. That said, there are many plastic containers, bags and the like that have no number associated with them at all. Just recently in fact, I got a drink at one of our local fast-food restaurants and noticed that the cup is a plastic number 5. If I remember right, they used to be number 2 which wouldn’t seem like a big deal except most recycling centers only accept plastic’s 1 & 2.
Now a couple years ago I also did a little research regarding the recycling of plastic bags at our grocery store, asking them what numbers they took. What I found out according to the East-West Gateway Council of Governments was that “the recycler won’t look at the numbers”.
Finally, the other plastic that I’ve come to see more and more of is that which is used for packaging. My youngest son needed some more deodorant the other day but unfortunately, they only come in sets of two, wrapped in plastic. Then when I went to get some boxes of tissues and again, most of them were only in sets of three, again, wrapped in plastic.
So, what’s the next step here, well for me, it’s to not purchase those products made with plastics that aren’t recyclable (easier said than done, I know), to use my own bags instead of those at stores (which I do) and to avoid those items wrapped in plastic (which I also do).
As I’ve said before, it’s equally important to follow the first of the 3 R’s and reduce what I’m purchasing that isn’t recyclable. I know that isn’t always easy but, I think if we all do it together, it can be done.
For questions or comments email me at thprecycler@yahoo.com