Why is it that i can find lots more to recycle in my house hold waste, then the council will actually take?

Question

i.e stuff that they won't take to recycle; plastic carrier bags from supermarkets. yogurt pots, aliminum, some plastic packaging from meats etc. makes me mad that there more stuff to recycle yet the will not take it,.grrrr

Answer 1

They do surveys on what recyclable items that takes up the most space in landfills, and this is what they determine that they will recycle  to free up space in the landfills,

Answer 2

They should really be recycling aluminum: this is one of the most easily recyclable materials and can be recycled indefinitely.  It is also valuable.

Contrary to what one of the answers said, recycling materials does generate money.  Acceptable items in recycling programs depends on market value, that is, which materials manufacturers are purchasing and reusing to make new products..  Recycling facilities get a certain amount per ton for the materials. However, they have to have a steady and large source of the same types of materials.  Some materials just have no market value, and some materials are too difficult to manage.

In Western Massachusetts, this includes many plastics, such as Styrofoam; flower pots; plastic bags/film; toys; black plastic; egg cartons; and CD & VCR cases. Pizza boxes and paper towels may contain food residues that prohibit recycling. Paper recycling should always be kept clean and free of food or organic matter. Napkins, paper towels, and tissues should not be put in recycling bins because the fibers in these products are very short and they do not make a good quality recycled content paper product. Egg cartons and glossy boxes that show white strands when torn (frozen food, butter boxes) are not recyclable (in Western Massachusetts) because paper manufacturers find it difficult to use these grades of paper.

Other materials can get tangled in sorting or baling equipment, such as buckets and other items bigger than 2 gallons, hangers, scrap metal, and plastic bags. Lids and medicine bottles can fall through bales. Spray and aerosol cans are hazardous and can blow up when baled. Bottles that contained motor oil, pesticides, or other hazardous substances cannot be recycled due to chemical residues in the bottles. Ceramics, baking dishes, plate glass, light bulbs and mirrors are not recyclable with glass bottles and jars because they have different melting temperatures. Scrap metal is too large to bale, so although it is recyclable it is collected separately.

Recycling facility operators also ask that you do not put recyclables in plastic bags. Opening the bags slows down the workers at the recycling facility. Bags also get hung up on the sorting machinery and create a huge litter problem because they blow outside of the facility.

If you call your local waste provider and ask these directions directly, you might find out more or find out that certain things may now be recyclable.  Technology is always improving so some things may now be recyclable.

Answer 3

Recycling costs money.  If they want to increase the things that are recycled they will have to cut back someplace else, or raise taxes.

Answer 4

Most recyclable materials cost too much to recycle so local governments have to decide whether to subsidize the recycling or provide basic services. If you think they should recycle more, get involved in local politics and get policy changed. But it's a trade-off and every dollar (or euro) spent to recycle this way is one less you can spend in other ways.

Aluminum and paper are recycled at most recycling centers, some plastics as well, but the list gets shorter once it no longer turns a profit. Without a subsidy or law requiring it, a lot of recyclable material just goes to a landfill. Passing a law without giving a subsidy is no more than theft so do both.

Answer 5

Flatten your "recycleable" material so it takes up minimum space.

Use your neighbours bin if spare room there.

Dump the remainder in local street bins.

Problem solved.

You have contributed by utilising the spare and wasted space in other bins prior to collection.

Answer 6

Because some cities just DON'T think about little things they could do to help recycle.

Answer 7

Hi There,

At some Publix stores around town, you can recycle their plastic bags as well as any styrofoam (meat containers, egg cartons, to-go boxes etc.  Hope that helps a bit!