Recycling reduces energy use, conserves materials and pollutes less than throwing items in a landfill. No, it won’t fix global capitalism. But it could make you a better activist.
I don’t understand why we can recycle plastics #1 and #2 only if they are bottles. There are plenty of other containers that are also made of #1 and 2.
Hi Dave, My understanding from a recycling robotics engineer is that the sorting machines can't easily distinguish between #1 #2 from some of the other # types. They can't turn everything around until they can read the chasing arrow and number. It has to do with optics. I guess the screwtop is easier to distinguish.
If we could get manufacturers to get on the same page, it would help. eg., don't use the other types of plastics. There is a U.S. Plastics Pact to phase out unrecyclable plastics. (Heard about it on ScienceFriday. sciencefriday.com/segments/problematic-plastics/ ) It can't come soon enough. IMHO
I don’t understand why we can recycle plastics #1 and #2 only if they are bottles. There are plenty of other containers that are also made of #1 and 2.
Hi Dave, My understanding from a recycling robotics engineer is that the sorting machines can't easily distinguish between #1 #2 from some of the other # types. They can't turn everything around until they can read the chasing arrow and number. It has to do with optics. I guess the screwtop is easier to distinguish.
If we could get manufacturers to get on the same page, it would help. eg., don't use the other types of plastics. There is a U.S. Plastics Pact to phase out unrecyclable plastics. (Heard about it on ScienceFriday. sciencefriday.com/segments/problematic-plastics/ ) It can't come soon enough. IMHO