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Seems like CRV could be increased to get the target recycling rate desired by legislators pretty easily. If each bottle was $0.50, many more people would separ

by cwkoss 6y ago

Seems like CRV could be increased to get the target recycling rate desired by legislators pretty easily. If each bottle was $0.50, many more people would separate and sort their recycling to take advantage of this. Would probably have some free beneficial side effects, like less soda consumption and more use of re-usable water bottles.

Alupis 6y ago
Or, we can focus on automated garbage sorting. It shouldn't matter which bin you toss something into, it should all be automatically handled the best way for whatever material it's made from. Increasing CRV disproportionately impacts people with less economic stability than others. Many of us here on HN probably wouldn't miss $0.50, at least enough to be compelled to take the time to properly sort our garbage 100% of the time. Plastic floats, glass and metal sinks. Shred everything and separate it. Machines already exist like this - but everyone wants to focus on compelling human behavior to be a certain way instead of just removing that hurdle completely, which would be better for everyone involved.
- bluGill 6y ago
  The advantage of garbage sorting is it can change. If I don't get the memo that X can be recycled I won't put it into the right bin, but if it is sorted automatically the garbage company just installed the equipment and we are done. Not to mention all the lazy people who don't bother to sort anything still get the right thing done. There isn't much cost to the above: I'm not perfect so they need to re-sort my recyclables anyway (this is why I only have two bins, one for non-recyclables, one for recyclables instead of a dozen for each type). The real trick is to make the machines cheap and reliable enough to handle any input. I think the main reason they don't do this already is the machines jam if you feed them plastic bags.
  - Alupis 6y ago
    I haven't heard of the plastic bag issue. I'd think industrial equipment would be able to rip them up, which is what would need to be done to recycle them anyway. Only having a single bin to worry about - all garbage goes into it - would be a huge win for the environment. It's one of the few areas I'd actually be OK with significant government subsidies to help companies/municipalities acquire the equipment.
    - bluGill 6y ago
      Plastic bags tend to not shred into pieces, but into strings that wrap around the shredding blades until they are jammed full and don't shred. (this isn't a stop the moters jam, just the machine stops shredding)

by cwkoss 6y ago

Alupis 6y ago

Or, we can focus on automated garbage sorting. It shouldn't matter which bin you toss something into, it should all be automatically handled the best way for whatever material it's made from. Increasing CRV disproportionately impacts people with less economic stability than others. Many of us here on HN probably wouldn't miss $0.50, at least enough to be compelled to take the time to properly sort our garbage 100% of the time. Plastic floats, glass and metal sinks. Shred everything and separate it. Machines already exist like this - but everyone wants to focus on compelling human behavior to be a certain way instead of just removing that hurdle completely, which would be better for everyone involved.

bluGill 6y ago
The advantage of garbage sorting is it can change. If I don't get the memo that X can be recycled I won't put it into the right bin, but if it is sorted automatically the garbage company just installed the equipment and we are done. Not to mention all the lazy people who don't bother to sort anything still get the right thing done. There isn't much cost to the above: I'm not perfect so they need to re-sort my recyclables anyway (this is why I only have two bins, one for non-recyclables, one for recyclables instead of a dozen for each type). The real trick is to make the machines cheap and reliable enough to handle any input. I think the main reason they don't do this already is the machines jam if you feed them plastic bags.
- Alupis 6y ago
  I haven't heard of the plastic bag issue. I'd think industrial equipment would be able to rip them up, which is what would need to be done to recycle them anyway. Only having a single bin to worry about - all garbage goes into it - would be a huge win for the environment. It's one of the few areas I'd actually be OK with significant government subsidies to help companies/municipalities acquire the equipment.
  - bluGill 6y ago
    Plastic bags tend to not shred into pieces, but into strings that wrap around the shredding blades until they are jammed full and don't shred. (this isn't a stop the moters jam, just the machine stops shredding)