4 ms·
Don't be so quick to throw the entire concept of recycling in the bin (so to speak). Plastic recycling may be a scam, but metal recycling is simultaneously econ
by kibwen 4y ago
Don't be so quick to throw the entire concept of recycling in the bin (so to speak). Plastic recycling may be a scam, but metal recycling is simultaneously economical, effective, and better for the environment than extracting new metals. Steel, copper, and aluminum are all successfully recycled in vast quantities; the majority of the metal we produce these days was recycled rather than fresh-from-the-ore.
- rsj_hn 4y agoMetal recycling is fine and there was a thriving industry in metal recycling before anyone heard of "recycling". Metal recycling also does not require any subsidies. Your typical auto junkyard is a good example. The issue is the small scale household recycling that does require subsidies and is a strain on local government budgets. You are basically cutting needed services to the community such as funds for libraries, parks, police, and schools in order to subsidize good feels for upper middle class households, which is a regressive and wasteful policy. This is really a technological issue -- in 15 years, it might make sense to recycle something else, but then a market will develop and cities wont have to pay to do it, as it will pay for itself. But regardless of future breakthroughs, it's unlikely that we will ever be able to recycle a substantial proportion of household waste.
- voidee 4y agoYes! Metal is extremely recyclable. I think the biggest problem was the move to single stream in nearly every US municipality. We should have 3 different bins. This requires more personal responsibility and more infrastructure, but it is far easier to separate at the waste source than in a massive dump of every crushed together in India or elsewhere.