Trash piles up in US as China closes door to recycling

AFP ^ | July 12, 2018

[BitWielder1]

One day it might make economic sense to mine old landfills for resources and then someone will do it.
Until then, burn what will burn (to get rid of disease) and pile up the rest.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

I live in a university town. Recycling virtue-signalling is big here. Years ago I took some stuff to the municipal landfill and saw them burying recycling bags. I called them on it and they said it was only temporary and they would dig it all up and recycle it later. I told all my recycling acquaintances about it and they said I must be mistaken. Then in January of this year a local newspaper staffed by journalism students had an article on how the “recycled” bags are being buried in the landfill.

[rockinqsranch]

Idiocracy: “Function: noun. Definition: an act or actions that come from ideas or beliefs that are not smart......”

IOW Democrats.

[henkster]

Steel and aluminum are readily recyclable. Paper/cardboard and glass only somewhat. Recycling plastic has always been a scam.

The key is in the cost of sorting. Putting all of your “recylables” into a big plastic container isn’t effective because downstream someone has to be paid to sort it out. If the consumer doesn’t sort it, it’s never going to be economically viable.

[neverevergiveup]

This all sounds like an opportunity for American entrepreneurs.

[bgill]

While I’ve never bought a mocha latte with extra cinnamon from Starbucks, I’m assuming they still give everyone a one time use cup with a piece of paper wrapped around it and covered with a plastic top and individually packaged sugars.

[CopperTop]

"..I just burn my paper and plastic.."

If ya have neighbors I'm sure they appreciate that stench.
I've got a neighbor who does that occasionally. It's nasty, just like them.

[cuban leaf]

Well, my nearest neighbor is 500 yards away. :)

[Zhang Fei]

[China never did any “recycling.”

They accepted payment, loaded it onto cargo ships, and dumped it into the ocean.

It’s not that hard to connect the dots.]

---

That’s incorrect. China pays for the trash, which makes its way back into the supply chain after being reconstituted. Other countries will buy it, but they don’t pay as much. I expect it’s to do with those other countries having the typical brain-dead/corrupt tariffs and regulations that jack up materials costs to local producers, which is why China remains the manufacturing center of choice despite Southeast Asia having cheaper labor costs, on average.

[Red Badger]

https://www.cnn.com/2016/07/21/world/turning-plastic-into-fuel/index.html

[Buckeye McFrog]

California’s Department of Resources Recycling sent a letter cautioning that the “economics of recycling” had become “unfavorable” thus “challenging what recycling means to Californians.”

translation: Time for some new Green Taxes to SCROOOOOO with the natural economics.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

[wally_bert]

I’d love to see my city and county recycling programs go away.

[dfwgator]

The Great Garbage Avalanche of 2505.

[CopperTop]

"..Well, my nearest neighbor is 500 yards away. :).."

Damn, I miss those days. Now we're "conveniently" located. Me and the tractor are bored.

Take care, "Stinky". Hehehe. d;^)

[old-ager]

burn it

[EQAndyBuzz]

Can’t they shred the plastic and mix it with material for 3D printing?

[SoCalCynic]

The last line of the article pretty much sums up the whole recycling mess

“They’re going to have to start paying more for the privilege of recycling.”

Key word - “privilege”. It’s all about virtue signaling and assuaging liberal guilt.

[fella]

"Idiocracy: “Function: noun. Definition: an act or actions that come from ideas or beliefs that are not smart......” IOW Democrats."

Also a very apt and funny movie. In which Hollyweird unwittingly exposed the logical results of the Progressives agenda.

[Truthsearcher]

I doubt that, they were paying us for the recyclables.