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Joined: 08/08/2003 Posts: 6670
Likes: 3512


So a centralized recycling center


that can stay in same place for years and years is worse than expanding a landfill or relocating it to a new location further away from population centers or maybe closer to your home (and lawn)?

Like we said, costs to recycle don't make it terribly efficient (trucks, processing, etc.) from a exact dollar comparison, but once landfills are full you've got to create a new one somewhere, and that also usually leads to higher trucking, road maintenance, etc. Especially if you don't want it near populated areas - which is a "cost" people value differently depending on how close it is to them - therefore you will have studies that differ. How much does your property value go down if a new landfill is located across the street? How much does that affect the "public" good?

I also don't hesitate to throw something away if recycling bin is full - or even if it has excessive residue in the container - I laugh when I see someone using clean, treated, hot water to wash out something to recycle it, when it will be melted down (cans/bottles) anyway. Worldwide, clean water is becoming one the scarcest resources on the planet.

Paper, plastic and cardboard are kinda different. The number of different types of plastic make it difficult to not get contamination without a lot of costly sorting. Paper and cardboard on an individual level is tough unless collected separately. Now commercially - look behind your local Wally World or big box store at the quantity of collapsed cardboard boxes. It is staggering. That has to be cost effective, including the public relations component, or they wouldn't do it.

There are lots of things we as a society do that aren't "worth it" from a strict dollar point of view - subsidized mass transit in some areas for example - but the convenience and impact on the public can make it the "right" thing to do.

(In response to this post by HokieinTampa)

Posted: 06/03/2018 at 11:30AM



+1

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Current Thread:
 
  
6 Things You’re Recycling Wrong -- EDGEMAN 06/02/2018 06:52AM
  Problem is, most plastic isn’t actually recycled -- WestyHokie 06/02/2018 08:44AM
  What would Winny the Poo say? ** -- EDGEMAN 06/02/2018 09:03AM
  Yep ** -- `lag 06/02/2018 08:17AM

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