Can Do: Practicing the 3 Rīs is often simply a
matter of "want-to" -- of enthusiasm, creative thinking,
legwork and elbow grease. Case in point: this
article from the
Charleston [W.Va.] Daily Mail about recycling programs
being put into place at the Kanawha County Solid Waste
Authority.
In recent months the authority, under the guidance of
director Norm Steenstra, has come up with creative ways to
recycle pretty much you-name-it: plastic bags, wooden
pallets, glass, plastic utensils, straws, beverage lids,
CD jewel boxes, foil blister packs, bubble wrap, plastic
toys, truck bedliners, books, outdoor playsets, water
coolers, large appliances ...
In other words, everything under the sun. Well, almost.
Steenstra said the authority hasnīt yet figured out what
to do with a few types of material -- rubber, electronics,
Styrofoam, paint cans, batteries and propane tanks. But
give them a few weeks. Theyīre working on it.
Outfoxing The Weasels: The Associated Press ran
an interesting
story the other
day about bottle-bill statesī recent efforts to thwart the
Kramers and Newmans
of the world who bilk taxpayers by smuggling beverage
containers across state lines to collect illegal deposits.
Bottle-bill states are trying all sorts of schemes to
foil the scammers -- coding or stamping containers so
reverse vending machines can reject those brought in from
other states; limiting maximum daily refunds; setting up
debit-card-like accounts that require personal ID for
bottle returns; and patrolling border towns with state
officials working undercover.
It all sounds like a lot of expensive trouble to go to,
the AP reports that bottle-bill states say itīs worth the
effort:
Despite the problems, Michiganīs recycling rate for
cans and bottles is a successful 97%. Other states that
have bottle-return laws also like the results. "Itīs not a
perfect system. But as far as the intended environmental
impact, it seems to be doing pretty well," said Bill Blum,
program planner with the Iowa Department of Natural
Resources. "Containers get picked up. We recycle more than
three times any of our neighboring states."
Pete Fehrenbach is
managing editor of Waste News. Past installments of this
column are collected in
the Inbox archive.
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http://www.wastenews.com
