You may have recently received a letter from your garbage and recycling hauler telling you that monthly rates will be going up…again. Many people just don’t understand why these costs keep increasing every year.
You may think that there is a straightforward reason for this, but it is a complex topic. Yes, labor costs and benefits keep increasing; and operations costs (gas, vehicles, machinery, etc.) are higher. But there is more to the story.
The last few years have been a nightmare for the recycling industry! And most of these companies are losing serious money because the heart of the issue is our reliance on exporting discarded paper, plastics and metal to other countries. For decades U.S. recyclers shipped most of our recyclables offshore, especially to China, where their flourishing economy relied on importing recyclable resources. But recently, China established very strict guidelines for what they will and will not accept. At the top of their non-acceptable list is most plastics: plastic bags, yogurt cups, take-out containers and other “mixed plastics.”
So, if all these low-grade plastics are not recycled, where are they going? The answer varies by jurisdiction and by recycler. Non-recyclable plastics are stockpiled for potential sale later, incinerated, or even landfilled. This situation is disturbing on many levels, but for individuals who have put in the effort to clean and sort plastics for recycling, it is disheartening.
Plastic recycling may be an uphill battle for the foreseeable future, but there are potential solutions for the long-term. Some people suggest that manufacturers should be responsible for the costs of recycling their products and packaging. This model is known as “Extended Producer Responsibility” or EPR. Other experts think manufacturers should ensure that their products and packaging are manufactured with high-quality materials that can be easily and profitably recycled.
Placing responsibility on manufacturers is a valid method for ensuring that our products and packaging are actually recycled, as we expect. But how do we hold them accountable? The best way is to let your dollars do the talking! If we reduce our own individual reliance on disposable plastics, that sends a very serious message to these industries to step up to the plate. For ideas on how to easily reduce plastics in your life check out: “11 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Waste Today” at Treehugger.com.
And, thanks to the Guardian.com for their in-depth article: “Americans' Plastic Recycling is Dumped in Landfills, Investigation Shows."
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