So, I was always wondering why the City of Toledo would have a problem with plastic bags going into the landfill. Most of the plastic bags I have, have a little recycling logo at the bottom of the bag, and I thought it was strange with such a high recycling rate in the City, why this would be a problem. Then I remembered why I have never recycled a plastic bag, but more on that in a second.
My post yesterday, in quoting something from the Institute for Life Cycle Environmental Assessment, I read:
"At current recycling rates a plastic bag uses less energy and produces less atmospheric, solid, waterborne waste than a single paper bag."
So these bags are recycled. Keeping bags out of the landfill seems to be a large issue with Joe Macnamera. In the Toledo Blade .
McNamara said that doing such a thing will save taxpayers money because anything that saves landfill space will save taxpayers money. One would then ask, why doesn't McNamara ask the City to allow plastic bags to be recycled? Yes, the City is telling people who recycle to not included plastic bags, so any bag that I don't use for other things gets tossed. Maybe it would not be such a problem if the City encouraged recycling, although since plastic bags are so dense and take up so much space when compressed, I can understand why there is a concern.
If you check out the automated trash brochure that I was given 6 months ago, it specifically says do not recycle plastic bags.
http://swampbubbles.com/files/recycling.pdf
Original post:
http://swampbubbles.com/automated-trash-program-details-did-city-expand-...
So one begins to wonder, if this was such a problem, why doesn't the City encourage plastic bags to be recycled? They clearly can be, given they are #2 recyclables. If saving the landfill from the plastic bags is the mission, why doesn't the City change their policy? Maybe because they cannot get 5 cents per bag.
I think this case exemplifies the problem with this area. Instead of investigating the causes, people jump on feel good legislation that makes no sense while ignoring the real problems that plague the City.
... though I have always assumed that is a "feel good" gimmick. I put mine in the recyclers, and hope that those engaged in the business are doing the right thing. I imagine that once the large containers are filled they are carted off by "collectors" in black bags to the land-fill. That is a lot easier than going through the recycling process, and the "recyclers" still get their money.
Old South End Broadway
we use alot of those bags now
The City only wants to recycle things they can make money from. It's got nothing to do with being environmentally friendly. It's all about them making you sorting out the things they can make money off of. As always with this administration, it's always a money grab. I sort out my cans and turn them in myself. So I get punished with a higher garbage fee for not appearing to recycle.