Time to throw out 'myth' of recycling [9 years ago, Sweden determined Al Gore was full of crap]

The Washington Times ^ | March 4, 2003

[SoFloFreeper]

Throw away the green and blue bags and forget those trips to return bottles recycling household waste is a load of, well, rubbish, say leading environmentalists and waste campaigners. In a reversal of decades-old wisdom, they argue that burning cardboard, plastics and food leftovers is better for the environment and the economy than recycling. They dismiss household trash separation a practice encouraged by the green lobby as a waste of time and money.

[q_an_a]

So the fact that “new” news print is $400+ per ton, in any given year, but recyled is 160 per ton, looks like a good thing. The paper is waste in America, creates waste hauler jobs, creates recyled plant jobs and save the printing industry 50%. These all sound like good conservative business practices.

[redgolum]

As an engineer, this isn’t news. There are things that should be recycled (steel for instance), but a lot of it is just a boondoggle.

[moehoward]

"Why else would glass manufacturers simply send the jars out of bad molds right back to the furnace?"

Because the glass hasn't been contaminated or mixed with other colored glass yet?

[moehoward]

“When they start paying you for your trash, then you will know that recycling is a worthwhile enterprise;"

Before our township took over the trash/recycling collection, Waste Management gave us a credit for recycling. Wasn't much, about $15 and we separated the "recyclables". When the city took it over everything gets tossed into the same bin and no more credit.