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I can never decide whether to recycle or just throw plastic in the trash. If I throw it in the trash, I know it's at least going to go to a well-managed landfi
by Tomminn 6y ago
I can never decide whether to recycle or just throw plastic in the trash.
If I throw it in the trash, I know it's at least going to go to a well-managed landfill and has a negligible chance of ending up in a river somewhere overseas, and then into the ocean.
Plus, the feedback feels more accurate. The feeling of how much non-degradable trash I'm creating hits viscerally when I throw plastic in the bin, and makes it hurt more to buy plastic.
I end up using the recycling because my flatmates get angry when I don't.
- cdolan 6y agoWhen in doubt, throw it out
- PaulDavisThe1st 6y agoIn some places (e.g. Santa Fe County, where I live), you can be fined for placing "recyclable" materials in the "trash" stream.
- cdolan 6y agoPerfect example of regulation having the opposite impact of its stated intent. Its 100% better to dispose of something that “maybe” recyclable, rather than “wish-recycle” it and contaminate an entire load of material.
- PaulDavisThe1st 6y agoThat's a misreading of what I said about SFC regulations. The (potential) fine is there to prevent people from throwing away e.g. corrugated cardboard boxes, glass bottles, aluminum cans. From my interactions with the solid waste dept. workers, I find it extremely unlikely that anyone would intervene if you put a "maybe recyclable" in the trash stream.
- cdolan 6y agoI missed this! Perhaps you are correct. But I know where I live (Pittsburgh), if I put soiled and nasty cardboard in the trash, Pittsburgh’s sanitation people will take the cardboard out and leave it for the recycling route. Sometimes the recycling driver notices its not “clean”, and leaves it for next weeks’ trash route. <Cue Zaney Movie Theme>
- ip26 6y agoTougher plastic is more valuable. Laundry detergent bottles, milk jugs, yogurt tubs. Picture what would happen if you crushed the item in your hand. Would it crack and splinter? Trash. Would it rebound, unblemished? Probably worth recycling.