The Mechanics of Recycling: The December issue of Popular Mechanics has an interesting, wide-ranging article analyzing the economics and environmental impact of curbside recycling programs. The overall take-home message is that curbside recycling has been proving its worth, both environmentally (by a clear, wide margin) and economically (by a narrower but steadily growing margin).

 

One big caveat, though: The Popular Mechanics article evidently was conceived and written before the recent commodity market meltdown, which has sent prices plummeting toward zero. It´s impossible to predict what effect this market downturn will have on the economics of recycling. The key factor will be how long this great depression in commodity prices drags on.

 

Recycling Boxes -- BIG Ones: Slate has posted a story-slideshow showing how communities across the country are reusing abandoned Wal-Marts and other big-box stores by turning them into museums, schools, flea markets and churches. It´s fascinating stuff. People´s ingenuity and resourcefulness never cease to amaze me.

 

Good News From Way Up Yonder: This just in from our Cosmological Toilet-to-Tap Bureau: The international space station crew has managed to fix the station´s faulty urine recycling machine.

 

Space station commander Mike Fincke announced the successful repair job by saying, "Not to spoil anything, but I think up here the appropriate words are ´Yippie!´ "

 

To which a Mission Control wag replied, "There will be dancing later."

 

 

Pete Fehrenbach is managing editor of Waste News. Past installments of this column are collected in the Inbox archive.

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