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Recycling in the US (and many Western countries, for that matter) is a sham. It always was. (aus.social)

submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by ajsadauskas@aus.social to c/green@lemmy.ml

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Recycling in the US (and many Western countries, for that matter) is a sham. It always was.

In reality, most of the plastic placed in recycling bins were never turned into new products.

Now China has stopped taking that waste, the myth of near infinite consumption without the guilt of waste has been exposed for the lie that it always was.

That's not to say that we shouldn't aim for a sustainable circular economy. Of course we should.

But we'll need much bigger changes to make it happen.

"For decades, we were sending the bulk of our recycling to China—tons and tons of it, sent over on ships... But last year, the country restricted imports of certain recyclables... Waste-management companies are telling [municipalities] there is no longer a market for their recycling.

"These municipalities have two choices: pay much higher rates to get rid of recycling, or throw it all away.

"Most are choosing the latter.

"When [its kerbside recycling] program launched, Franklin [in New Hampshire] could break even on recycling by selling it for $6 a ton. Now the transfer station is charging the town $125 a ton to recycle, or $68 a ton to incinerate.

"This end of recycling comes at a time when the US is creating more waste than ever. In 2015, the most recent year for which national data are available, America generated 262.4 million tons of waste, up 4.5% from 2010 and 60% from 1985."

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/03/china-has-stopped-accepting-our-trash/584131/

#Recycling #CircularEconomy #Politics @green #ClimateChange #Environment

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[–] siobhansarelle@tech.lgbt 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

@Urban_Hermit @ajsadauskas @green

We have climate crisis.

We have people buying unnecessary stuff that unnecessarily uses up resources, energy, fossil fuels, and pollutes the environment.

Clearly largely we are putting pleasure and convenience over the environment and climate crisis.

I don't see how that could be denied.

[–] Urban_Hermit@mstdn.social 2 points 2 years ago

@siobhansarelle @ajsadauskas @green

No one is denying it.

Do what you can, where you can.

Closing the loop and saying that disposable products that can not be recycled should not be produced is a good thing. Doing this good thing does not prohibit other good things from being done. In fact, it helps to confirm a precedent.

Consumers are not clamoring for unrecyclable trash. That is not where the demand is.

Don't conflate issues unnecessarily. Pls.