By Steve Davies, Healthy Planet Columnist
It turns out, while doing a little research on the various items that we recycle in our neighborhoods these days, I have to say I learned a lot. Some things were as I expected but, there were also some that did turn out the way I thought they would. What was probably the most surprising thing was the return of cost on items that you can recycle. These days apparently, the best return comes from paper and cardboard. Now back when I owned my own recycling business, the one thing that was always at the top of that list was aluminum.
What all that research also told me was that we all need to be more aware of what we purchase, where the resources that companies use to make their products come from and the cost that it takes to make the items we purchase . I have to say that over the years, I’ve always tried to buy items like the notebooks I purchased for my kids, made of paper rather than plastic. As I get older however, I’ve come to try to do more and more of that when I can afford to, like purchasing products that come in glass rather than plastic or items made of paper rather than plastic. Even with clothes, I now purchase items that are made of all cotton whenever possible. My thinking being that if they end up in a landfill, at least I know they’re going back to where they came from without necessarily poisoning the ground or water we drink.
Now along with that, I think more importantly, we as a society also need to demand more of companies to use products that are recyclable, made out of items that are recycled or even reused if possible. I have to say, while I’m the first to recycle whatever I can, I often wonder what those materials are recycled into.
So, obviously my first question here would be, who recycles the plastic and where are those companies located? As someone who reads a lot on the topic of recycling, I don’t know that I’ve ever come across the answer. Then, in addition to that, what companies use recycled plastic for their products? If I’m being honest with myself, to my knowledge, I don’t really know any companies that use recycled plastic.
Okay, now that I’ve said all that, I guess now I need to find the answers. Who’s with me? My first step is going to be to ask the companies that make the products I purchase where they get their resources. I’ve actually done that before like with Hershey and Hershey kisses. Turns out their aluminum isn’t actually recyclable but the tissue ties are. Who knew?! I think it’s time to take this to the next level.
For questions about Recycling email me at thprecycler@yahoo.com