When we put our plastic bottles etc. outside to be recycled do they actually recycle them?

Question

As the waste collectors cart your recyclables away, you’re suddenly hit by some terrible questions: Where do those materials go once they're picked up? Will they will actually be recycled? How do you know they’re not just going to end up in a landfill?

Answer 1

Yes it will be recycled unless it gets contaminated by a lot of thrash a lot of a--holes put in the recycle bins or bags .  There are always some people that are so ignorant they want to sabotage anything worthwhile.

Answer 2

Why on earth would they set up a separate collection system if they weren't going to recycle them?

If it's your city waste management system, they are regulated by the city, who would certainly know if recycling wasn't happening.

Plus, many plastic bottles have a return fee; in other words, they make money by sending them back.

Answer 3

yes and no it ruins the enviorment still

use these websites to help.....

http://www.thegreenguide.com/

http://www.treehugger.com/gogreen.php

http://www.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/2007...

Answer 4

Depends on if there are enough recyclers around to make use of the plastic otherwise the excess goes in the fill.

Answer 5

NO they don't all get recycled!!  A lot of people think that just because they put plastic bottles in the bin they are recycled.  In many areas plastic bottles with  spouts like Gatorade bottles, water bottles etc, are not recycled and get thrown out,  but if the tops were only removed they would have been recycled.  It also depends on your area, is it a recycling centre with people working or is it a factory where a big machine sorts the items?  In my area we have a huge and I mean huge machine that sorts all of our material, but 20% of it does not get recycled because some things get stuck in other things so it all gets thrown out, and some dumb people put their stuff to be recycled in plastic bags and anything in a bag does not get recycled.  

It may also depend on the number in the triangle, some places only recycle a certian type of plastic and any other type goes in the landfill.

Answer 6

Well yea if u put it in the recylcle thing!

Answer 7

I'm in recycle transportation business. I go to facilities, like Waste Management, Allied waste etc,  where they recieve mixed recycle from Seattle metro area. The mixed recycle get dumped on the ground, big bucket loaders dumps it into a conveyer system. Along the conveyer system there is labour, some 5-15 people, trying to separate as much as possible. The news print that comes out contains news paper and the rest of the cans, plastic, other metal, that this labour don't catch. The mill that recieve the baled news paper, processes the fiber out of the recycled newspaper and the rest of the "garbage" will come out from the process, contaminated and only good for the land fill. For every 15 fully loaded 53" trailers with baled news paper, the mill have to send 2 fully loaded containers with, garbage, mostly plastic bottles, glass and metal to landfill. Se 4 min video from the mill.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAPQCnnLy...

A lot of the mixed recycling never get into separation process. It just get baled with it all mixed, and exported to China, or other low labour cost  contries.

Obviously mixed recycling dont work as good as we tax paying citizens think. Recycling is a profitable business for Maste Mangement, Waste Connections, Allied waste, Smurfit Stone and others, but their profits are coming from our tax- and utility bills. On top of that the paper mill have to finish up a bad recycling system and pay millions a year to separate and ship recyclables to land fill.

A recycling system, with a cash deposit/cash refund, like california, probobly reduces the the land fill portion to nearly 0 %. I used to live in SAC CA, and I loved that system. If I didnt wanna go to recycle center with my load, the kids picked it up for me, and made the profit. GO FOR THEM, they learned that recycle items have a value, and have to be taken care of with respect.

Answer 8

yes they will!!!

Answer 9

Yes, I'm pretty sure they do.

Answer 10

They do in our town.

Answer 11

well, to b SURE theyr being recycled, just drive ur recyclables to the place along with a couple neighbors if u want

Answer 12

Recyclers mostly take it to the center for sorting and storage, then sell it to people who take the recycled goods, in this case plastic bottles, and make it into t-shirts, carpet, etc.

The one thing that is NOT recycled is plastic grocery bags, like when you take them back to the store to put in the "recycle" bin. They are stored until someone can figure out what to do with them.

The best suggestion I have for you is to try to reduce instead of recycle, because even though your goods may still be going to make new products, it still requires energy and puts out carbon and pollution.

Good luck!