Comments on: Recycling Part 3: Further Lessons from Davis Street Transfer Center http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/10/recycling-part-3-further-lessons-from/ Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:19:19 -0700 hourly 1 By: Brave New Leaf http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/10/recycling-part-3-further-lessons-from/comment-page-1/#comment-776 Brave New Leaf Tue, 04 Dec 2007 23:01:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/10/recycling-part-3-further-lessons-from-davis-street-transfer-center/#comment-776 Wow - these pieces on your visit to the recycling station are gripping reading. Thanks for pointing me to them! I think if more people had a mental picture of their trash at these facilities, they would be more thoughtful about what they do with it. But our current society treats this infrastructure as "out of sight, out of mind". This was my attitude for many years, and the way that I was raised.<br/><br/>I wonder if we took kids on field trips to these places starting at young ages, if it would help instill more innate appreciation for the "magic" of energy in, trash out, etc.<br/><br/>Anyhow, I'm so glad I discovered your blog, and agree that there's a ton that we will be able to learn from each other! Wow – these pieces on your visit to the recycling station are gripping reading. Thanks for pointing me to them! I think if more people had a mental picture of their trash at these facilities, they would be more thoughtful about what they do with it. But our current society treats this infrastructure as “out of sight, out of mind”. This was my attitude for many years, and the way that I was raised.

I wonder if we took kids on field trips to these places starting at young ages, if it would help instill more innate appreciation for the “magic” of energy in, trash out, etc.

Anyhow, I’m so glad I discovered your blog, and agree that there’s a ton that we will be able to learn from each other!

]]> By: Beth in the Fake Plastic Fish Tank http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/10/recycling-part-3-further-lessons-from/comment-page-1/#comment-443 Beth in the Fake Plastic Fish Tank Mon, 15 Oct 2007 03:00:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/10/recycling-part-3-further-lessons-from-davis-street-transfer-center/#comment-443 Clif, that's great! I hope that it helps!<br/><br/>At my Green Sangha meeting this morning, I mentioned my trip to the recycling center, and they asked me to prepare a presentation for them for next month. But I feel like I've just barely scraped the top of the ice berg. Hopefully, I'll learn even more before then. Clif, that’s great! I hope that it helps!

At my Green Sangha meeting this morning, I mentioned my trip to the recycling center, and they asked me to prepare a presentation for them for next month. But I feel like I’ve just barely scraped the top of the ice berg. Hopefully, I’ll learn even more before then.

]]> By: Clif http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/10/recycling-part-3-further-lessons-from/comment-page-1/#comment-442 Clif Sun, 14 Oct 2007 22:13:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/10/recycling-part-3-further-lessons-from-davis-street-transfer-center/#comment-442 Beth, I took the part 2 of your MRF visit and put it into a MS Word document which I then printed up for distribution in the 4 lobbies of my condo building. I gave it a cover sheet with the title (forgive me) "Plastic is Plastic, Glass is Glass, so why is recycling such a pain in the a..?" Then on the next page I introduced your part 2 (to do the whole series would be more than is necessary for my purpose) told about your website and directed people to it for more information. I hope my neighbors will read it! Beth, I took the part 2 of your MRF visit and put it into a MS Word document which I then printed up for distribution in the 4 lobbies of my condo building. I gave it a cover sheet with the title (forgive me) “Plastic is Plastic, Glass is Glass, so why is recycling such a pain in the a..?” Then on the next page I introduced your part 2 (to do the whole series would be more than is necessary for my purpose) told about your website and directed people to it for more information. I hope my neighbors will read it!

]]> By: Crafty Green Poet http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/10/recycling-part-3-further-lessons-from/comment-page-1/#comment-441 Crafty Green Poet Sun, 14 Oct 2007 13:13:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/10/recycling-part-3-further-lessons-from-davis-street-transfer-center/#comment-441 You're totally right about reducing rubbinsh being the most important step. Excellent post. You’re totally right about reducing rubbinsh being the most important step. Excellent post.

]]> By: Clif http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/10/recycling-part-3-further-lessons-from/comment-page-1/#comment-438 Clif Fri, 12 Oct 2007 19:41:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/10/recycling-part-3-further-lessons-from-davis-street-transfer-center/#comment-438 Having visited a facility like the one you described, I wonder what the difference in value would be between the co-mingled mess that is currently collected and "pure" aluminum, or glass, or paper. The reason I wonder is I've thought it might be a possibility for communities such as a neighborhood block, to arrange to have large bins placed in their area that would be for the single materials. The recycling companies might go for it 'cause they could completely bypass all of the processing. We do have such a facility here on the north side of Chicago but if it were more localized with smaller receiving bins and within walking distance, it might be a good alternative to the currently abused system, where try as you might, people dump everything in you can imagine.<br/><br/>Imagine what could be done if convenience weren't the be-all and end-all of modern society, if people acted like you and me and made it a point to seek out and solve the waste problem as well as it can be done. I think of what I do as an obligation for all that I have taken and take daily from Mother Earth, not a bother that is asking too much. First take care of what you create (garbage, recyclables, CO2, etc.) then move on to use your time as you see fit. We've been too long in the *want it - take it, don't want it - toss it* mode of all life, from amoeba to man. You see it in the zoo where the keeper must come along and clean up the cages. We two-legged animals just live in a bigger cage. People act like it is a burden to think about what they do, but it is an obligation that comes with our intelligence...the intelligence that allows us to do so much damage when we use it only to extract and not to return from this wonderful world we had no part in creating.<br/><br/>Ok, do I get the long post award? Having visited a facility like the one you described, I wonder what the difference in value would be between the co-mingled mess that is currently collected and “pure” aluminum, or glass, or paper. The reason I wonder is I’ve thought it might be a possibility for communities such as a neighborhood block, to arrange to have large bins placed in their area that would be for the single materials. The recycling companies might go for it ’cause they could completely bypass all of the processing. We do have such a facility here on the north side of Chicago but if it were more localized with smaller receiving bins and within walking distance, it might be a good alternative to the currently abused system, where try as you might, people dump everything in you can imagine.

Imagine what could be done if convenience weren’t the be-all and end-all of modern society, if people acted like you and me and made it a point to seek out and solve the waste problem as well as it can be done. I think of what I do as an obligation for all that I have taken and take daily from Mother Earth, not a bother that is asking too much. First take care of what you create (garbage, recyclables, CO2, etc.) then move on to use your time as you see fit. We’ve been too long in the *want it – take it, don’t want it – toss it* mode of all life, from amoeba to man. You see it in the zoo where the keeper must come along and clean up the cages. We two-legged animals just live in a bigger cage. People act like it is a burden to think about what they do, but it is an obligation that comes with our intelligence…the intelligence that allows us to do so much damage when we use it only to extract and not to return from this wonderful world we had no part in creating.

Ok, do I get the long post award?

]]> By: Michelle Verges http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/10/recycling-part-3-further-lessons-from/comment-page-1/#comment-437 Michelle Verges Fri, 12 Oct 2007 19:38:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/10/recycling-part-3-further-lessons-from-davis-street-transfer-center/#comment-437 <b>LESSON 12: The more you learn about recycling and waste disposal, the more you realize that the issues are complex, the system isn't perfect, and there's always a lot more to learn.</b><br/><br/>So true, so true!! <br/><br/>Beth, I'm currently trying to get a better understanding on the use of Styrofoam. As Lesson #12 states, this Styrofoam issue is much more complex than I initially realized. <br/><br/>Personally, I'd rather not use those suckers at all. But going back to another point (Lesson #11), you have to consider the necessary infrastructure that can handle these products (as well as those bio-plastics). <br/><br/>Considering the infrastructure needed to recycle bio-plastics and Styrofoam is beyond my locus of control. But what is within my locus of control is avoiding the Styrofoam to begin with - and composting my bio-plastics at home - that's what I'll do as technology catches up with these environmental issues. <br/><br/>:0)<br/>M LESSON 12: The more you learn about recycling and waste disposal, the more you realize that the issues are complex, the system isn’t perfect, and there’s always a lot more to learn.

So true, so true!!

Beth, I’m currently trying to get a better understanding on the use of Styrofoam. As Lesson #12 states, this Styrofoam issue is much more complex than I initially realized.

Personally, I’d rather not use those suckers at all. But going back to another point (Lesson #11), you have to consider the necessary infrastructure that can handle these products (as well as those bio-plastics).

Considering the infrastructure needed to recycle bio-plastics and Styrofoam is beyond my locus of control. But what is within my locus of control is avoiding the Styrofoam to begin with – and composting my bio-plastics at home – that’s what I’ll do as technology catches up with these environmental issues.

:0)
M

]]> By: Cynthia http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/10/recycling-part-3-further-lessons-from/comment-page-1/#comment-433 Cynthia Thu, 11 Oct 2007 23:31:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/10/recycling-part-3-further-lessons-from-davis-street-transfer-center/#comment-433 Thank you so much for your post on what actually happens to the waste we put out by the curb! I was disturbed to read that cans and bottles that are in plastic bags are just thrown away. This is horrible, but for the past 3 years I have been taking home a bag of cat food cans from my job at a veterinary hospital, and putting them out (in the bag) on top of my recycling container! I called my local waste company today and, sure enough, the bags are just tossed in the trash!! I want to cry to think of all that waste, and wasted effort. I'll move on though, much better informed thanks to you. Now I need to become more informed about the bagged, shredded paper I have been blithely tossing in the recycling dumpster over by the school... Thank you so much for your post on what actually happens to the waste we put out by the curb! I was disturbed to read that cans and bottles that are in plastic bags are just thrown away. This is horrible, but for the past 3 years I have been taking home a bag of cat food cans from my job at a veterinary hospital, and putting them out (in the bag) on top of my recycling container! I called my local waste company today and, sure enough, the bags are just tossed in the trash!! I want to cry to think of all that waste, and wasted effort. I’ll move on though, much better informed thanks to you. Now I need to become more informed about the bagged, shredded paper I have been blithely tossing in the recycling dumpster over by the school…

]]> By: terrible person http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/10/recycling-part-3-further-lessons-from/comment-page-1/#comment-432 terrible person Thu, 11 Oct 2007 23:30:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/10/recycling-part-3-further-lessons-from-davis-street-transfer-center/#comment-432 "Queen of trash"...that sounds like an idea for a Halloween costume!<br/><br/>Either that, or Oscar the Grouch! (Not that you're grouchy, but he sings "I Love Trash"...) “Queen of trash”…that sounds like an idea for a Halloween costume!

Either that, or Oscar the Grouch! (Not that you’re grouchy, but he sings “I Love Trash”…)

]]> By: Marcie http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/10/recycling-part-3-further-lessons-from/comment-page-1/#comment-431 Marcie Thu, 11 Oct 2007 21:23:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/10/recycling-part-3-further-lessons-from-davis-street-transfer-center/#comment-431 Beth Thank You so much for all your recycling information. It has truly opened my eyes MORE to being aware of what and how I'm recycling. As someone who lives in Washington State (the everGREEN state) we recycle a lot, but obviously its not enough....<br/>I think I'm going to do more research about the recycling in my area so I can be SURE I'm recycling properly. Beth Thank You so much for all your recycling information. It has truly opened my eyes MORE to being aware of what and how I’m recycling. As someone who lives in Washington State (the everGREEN state) we recycle a lot, but obviously its not enough….
I think I’m going to do more research about the recycling in my area so I can be SURE I’m recycling properly.

]]> By: Radical Garbage Man http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/10/recycling-part-3-further-lessons-from/comment-page-1/#comment-430 Radical Garbage Man Thu, 11 Oct 2007 19:02:00 +0000 http://fakeplasticfish.com/2007/10/recycling-part-3-further-lessons-from-davis-street-transfer-center/#comment-430 I see from one of the anonymous posters that you now have at least 2 trash workers as fans. Congrats! A few more and you'll be well on your way to coronation as queen of trash! I see from one of the anonymous posters that you now have at least 2 trash workers as fans. Congrats! A few more and you’ll be well on your way to coronation as queen of trash!

]]>