Even though more and more people are educated and aware of the benefits of recycling, many recycling centers are closing in the state of California. What should be done about this…or what can be done?
A Look At The Stats
In the last 3 years over 800 recycling centers have closed their doors; leaving customers looking for alternatives or possibly not. The recycling rate of beverage containers in California fell below 80 percent, which hasn’t happened since 2008. Other types of recyclable materials also decreased drastically, leading to speculation as to a cause for such a decrease. It has become less expensive to create new products and therefore the use of recycled beverage containers decreased. That combined with more waste being produced overall and recycling incentives decreasing has led to these decreases in rates of recycling. A stark picture of the results of this can be seen when looking at one company, rePlanet, they closed 191 recycling centers and laid off 278 employees in California just last year. Recycling advocates want more government subsidy programs to help these recycling centers out of these difficult times.Rural Areas Impacted
Many Californians have lost their local recycling center, especially in rural areas as businesses tend to close those first and are keeping centers open in bigger cities. This also hurts those in low income areas who may not have the means to travel to a recycling facility not within walking distance.The Politics of Recycling
Getting caught up in bureaucracy is frustrating considering some believe that fixing the issue might not even cost the state more money. Recycling centers are in need of about $50 million to stay open, and CalRecycle currently has $250 million in surplus money, but the funds are not approved for the purpose. The system will continue to collapse unless swift action is taken. And the customers and the environment at large will pay the ultimate price along with the recycling companies and their employees. A lot needs to be done to try and fix the issues modern recycling centers face, but it may have to get some major help from Governor Jerry Brown. There have been some efforts made by Senators, but nothing has gained traction thus far. Hopefully with increased awareness there will be more action taken and soon.Read Original Article Here: Outlook California Recycling Center 2018
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Taking computer recycling seriously is very important if you want to make your contribution towards a greener planet. There are currently no federal regulations on e-waste recycling, so individual states have to come up with their own regulations. Only about half of the states in the US have so far come up with such regulations. However, regardless of which state you live in, it is a matter of responsibility to find out the available computer recycling options.
We live in a wireless world that runs on batteries, most of which contain toxic metals that can be extremely harmful to the environment. Only a very small percentage of alkaline batteries get recycled after use. At least for the car batteries that contain lead and acid, the recycling rate in the US is over 90%. That has been possible because manufacturers of such batteries have initiated the efforts to recycle them. However, for most of the smaller batteries commonly used in households, many efforts in creating awareness for recycling are needed. Don’t just throw away batteries after use Lead, cadmium, mercury, cobalt and other toxic materials contained in different types of batteries should never find their way to the landfills. If that happens, they will cause soil contamination and finally find their way into the water or food that we end up consuming. The toxic effects on humans include diseases like cancer, respiratory and kidney problems. So if you are kind to our planet should never throw batteries into the trash. Your city’s municipal solid waste management processes cannot take care of that. So all the batteries you have used in various devices at home should go to a recycling center near you.
Plastic is literally everywhere on our planet. It has become a vital part of our lives, which are mostly driven by convenience. However, that convenience comes at a price. Thanks to its resiliency, nearly every piece of plastic ever made still exists today. A very significant amount of it is thrown away and ends up in landfills, and sadly in the ocean. It is estimated that there are some five trillion pieces of plastic in the world’s oceans. By 2050, it is predicted that there will be more plastic, by weight, in the ocean than fish. Every year, around 8 million tons of plastic finds its way to the sea. In the U.S. alone, nearly 2.5 million plastic bottles are used every hour. It gets worse from there. All this plastic ends up swirling around in the ocean creating immensely large trash islands. One of the world’s largest is known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. While it’s difficult to get an actual size measurement, some estimates have it equal to the size of Texas, roughly 700,000 square kilometers. This area has one of the highest levels of plastic particulate caused by plastic degradation. Essentially, the plastic degrades and disintegrates into pieces so small that it becomes small enough to be ingested by aquatic organisms. It then becomes part of the food chain. There is actually growing evidence that fish may prefer eating plastic to food. There is also evidence that plastic is harmful to humans. Plastic’s main ingredient, styrene, is most likely a human carcinogen. There’s no evidence just yet that says the plastic that we eat in fish directly affects human health, but it is certainly getting there. Some of these plastic particles end up in the stomachs of marine animals like albatrosses and sea turtles. Many of the former lose approximately 1/3 of their chicks. Many of them die due to their eating plastic that is fed to them, when it is mistaken as food by their parents. It is estimated that every year, nearly five tons of debris gets fed to albatross chicks. Microscopic debris can also be eaten by jellyfish, which are then eaten by fish. It is a deathly cycle that doesn’t show signs of stopping anytime soon. With a life span of over 500 years, plastic isn’t going anywhere. In America, 50% of what gets put into the 
Who doesn’t have a bunch of aluminum cans lying around their house? Since their introduction to consumers in 1959, they have steadily grown to be the most sustainable drink container. You can quickly chill them, stack them, and hopefully, recycle them. Since they are the most recycled beverage holder, and contain around 70% recycled material, they are the most valuable item in your recycling bin. Merchandisers love them because they offer long-term preservation benefits. Aluminum cans create 100% protection against light, moisture and oxygen. They are packaging that is tamper-resistant, which helps to put the consumer’s mind at ease. Not only are foods and drinks packaged this way, but also paint and aerosol products. There are literally thousands of products that come in aluminum cans, and they should all be turned in to an