Recycling a detriment?

[SyncMaster763]

I was watching Penn & Tellers Bullshit! and they did an episode on how recycling was pointless and actually costs consumers 100's of millions yearly. Any compelling evidence that their claims are false?

[boozehound420]

Its different everywhere.

For example, on the show the only thing they said was worth recycling was aluminum cans. You get payed for it, therefor theres a demand and its worth it. Well here in BC we get payed for glass and plastic aswell, both go to local processing plants for recycling.

There points on how paper recycling isnt fully necessary changes for different areas. But for the most part paper does come from tree farms. Not necessarely like what they showed in the picture. But here after clearcutting a certain mountain you plant the trees. And if you want to mill the new trees for paper you can do it a couple years. Where as if you want it for wood you have to wait a longer. Plus majority of paper comes from leftovers from the milling process. Sawdust, cutoffs etc. So all in all it seems its just diverting the process to a new industry.

[buttthrax]

Yeah I saw that one. They're pretty much right. Metal is the only thing worth recycling moneywise. A lot of jurisdictions use prison labor for recycling, it's just busy work "create-a-job" bullshit.

Glass is the dumbest. I took an environmental science class and my professor was a big hippie and even he said recycling glass is stupid because its just melted down sand. Like the world doesn't have enough fucking sand.

[buttthrax]

Its different everywhere.

For example, on the show the only thing they said was worth recycling was aluminum cans. You get payed for it, therefor theres a demand and its worth it. Well here in BC we get payed for glass and plastic aswell, both go to local processing plants for recycling.

There points on how paper recycling isnt fully necessary changes for different areas. But for the most part paper does come from tree farms. Not necessarely like what they showed in the picture. But here after clearcutting a certain mountain you plant the trees. And if you want to mill the new trees for paper you can do it a couple years. Where as if you want it for wood you have to wait a longer. Plus majority of paper comes from leftovers from the milling process. Sawdust, cutoffs etc. So all in all it seems its just diverting the process to a new industry.

But you've got to consider the overall net profit/loss. Your government is probably shelling out money just for the purpose of encouraging recycling. It doesn't mean there's a real profit. Some asshole bureaucrat decided that recycling is important enough to throw tax money down the drain. But that's socialism for you. Eco-fascist socialism.

[boozehound420]

But you've got to consider the overall net profit/loss. Your government is probably shelling out money just for the purpose of encouraging recycling. It doesn't mean there's a real profit. Some asshole bureaucrat decided that recycling is important enough to throw tax money down the drain. But that's socialism for you. Eco-fascist socialism.

No, the processing plants i mentioned are businesses. There not government run. Somebody owns it, buy the glass, recycles it and sells it for a profit. You can make lots of money doing shit like that, your buying peoples garbage. So you get it for pretty fucking cheap. Same goes for plastic. Now i have no idea if the process of recycling glass is better for the envirnment then starting from scratch, when considering emmisions given off. But it keeps it out of landfills i guess.

The government run garbage transfer stations even make money this way. They charge us to come and dumb garbage there. With seperate areas for glass, they inturn sell it to glass recycling places.

[MasterPython]

I know alot of things are not worth recyling money wise but apparently paper is not worth recycling for the enviroment either. They need extra chemcals to get the old ink out. And they have forest management worked out reasonably well in North America so there are actual more trees than there have been in a long time.

[easeoflife22]

I thought the whole idea of Glass bottles is that they're re-usable. The can wash them and refill them, which is a lot cheaper than making new ones. They're not really worth melting down to make new bottles.

If anything is stupid, its pennies. Copper mining is an extremely polluting industry, and it costs 3 cents to make a penny worth 1 cent. They should be simply eliminated and prices should be rounded up or down to the nearest nickel.

[buttthrax]

I thought the whole idea of Glass bottles is that they're re-usable. The can wash them and refill them, which is a lot cheaper than making new ones. They're not really worth melting down to make new bottles.

If anything is stupid, its pennies. Copper mining is an extremely polluting industry, and it costs 3 cents to make a penny worth 1 cent. They should be simply eliminated and prices should be rounded up or down to the nearest nickel.

Pennies are made mostly of zinc now.

[Trousersnake]

It depends - you think glass bottles get broken down to become...new glass? I can tell you that it becomes that high visibility road covering 'stuff' because the old glass reflects light from headlights well.

Recycling is using a product more then once...So if I buy a glass bottle of tomato ketchup, then keep the bottle and fill it up with new ketchup from plastic containers its being recycled, and the plastic containers can be cut into say shelter for a sapling.

buttthraxs hippie teacher talking about glass is a fucking moron much like every teacher thinking they know what's happening in the real world, and considering where he gets his dubious 'education' from I'll leave it up to you to determine how smart butthrax is.

[buttthrax]

buttthraxs hippie teacher talking about glass is a fucking moron much like every teacher thinking they know what's happening in the real world, and considering where he gets his dubious 'education' from I'll leave it up to you to determine how smart butthrax is.

Holy shit you're an asshole. Not all bottles are created equally. They toss all brands, shapes, and sizes of glass bottles in the recycling bin. They're only sorted by color, that's it. They don't fucking reuse them idiot. This isn't 1920 you goddamned pea brain stooge.

You're just fucking useless. Seriously shut the hell up already.

[MasterPython]

They don't fucking reuse them idiot. This isn't 1920 you goddamned pea brain stooge.

They re-use beer bottles. That's why they are sometime scratched up straight from the box.

[Trousersnake]

Holy shit you're an asshole. Not all bottles are created equally. They toss all brands, shapes, and sizes of glass bottles in the recycling bin. They're only sorted by color, that's it. They don't fucking reuse them idiot. This isn't 1920 you goddamned pea brain stooge.

You're just fucking useless. Seriously shut the hell up already.

Hahaha seriously...what? Read everything again. For someone who can't put their stupidity down to marijuana use...you're insanely fucking stupid!

You said it's not practical to break glass down...Go on, read it again if you're not scared of revealing to yourself that you're a moron...yes I have confidence in even you understanding this no matter how stupid a person is they could understand this.

I don't know firsthand about MasterPython's statement but hell works in my favor so whatever.

[KwinnieBogan]

Its different everywhere.

Quoted for truth.

Also, here I know that bottles that aren't damaged are reused, otherwise they are melted down.

[buttthrax]

Hahaha seriously...what? Read everything again. For someone who can't put their stupidity down to marijuana use...you're insanely fucking stupid!

You said it's not practical to break glass down...Go on, read it again if you're not scared of revealing to yourself that you're a moron...yes I have confidence in even you understanding this no matter how stupid a person is they could understand this.

I don't know firsthand about MasterPython's statement but hell works in my favor so whatever.

This has got to be the most homosexual shit I've ever heard of.

"Hahahaha liek wut. dud w33d makes me t3h smart. its c00l to b retarded dats y i wurk for t3h guvermit"

Fuck off you incoherent moron.

[Trousersnake]

But you've got to consider the overall net profit/loss. Your government is probably shelling out money just for the purpose of encouraging recycling. It doesn't mean there's a real profit. Some asshole bureaucrat decided that recycling is important enough to throw tax money down the drain. But that's socialism for you. Eco-fascist socialism.

I'll just go ahead and say that whenever the subject of over-consumption is brought up you're the first one to say "it gives someone a job" and now in the light of a pro-environment standing point you do a complete backflip and point a finger saying it's unnescessary trying to take a jab back.

You're fucking wrong. It speaks for your character when all you do is try to be is an extreme anti-environment person even if it means you have to talk shit and pull this nonsense out of your ass you pathetic sack of shit. Pretty typical of a keyboard badass :rolleyes: What is the point? Trying to get people to think you are all extreme and controversial or something. No one gives a shit.

If you really did take an environment class what a fucking waste of time it was because you know dick about everything, I can't blame you though because your teacher knew nothing. But then what do you expect of the American education system? Wait did I say something bad about America? Hell you best be saying I'm just another person on the anti-America bandwagon you weak fuck.

Piss off you dumb fuck.

[buttthrax]

I'll just go ahead and say that whenever the subject of over-consumption is brought up you're the first one to say "it gives someone a job" and now in the light of a pro-environment standing point you do a complete backflip and point a finger saying it's unnescessary trying to take a jab back.

You're fucking wrong. It speaks for your character when all you do is try to be is an extreme anti-environment person even if it means you have to talk shit and pull this nonsense out of your ass you pathetic sack of shit. Pretty typical of a keyboard badass :rolleyes: What is the point? Trying to get people to think you are all extreme and controversial or something. No one gives a shit.

If you really did take an environment class what a fucking waste of time it was because you know dick about everything, I can't blame you though because your teacher knew nothing. But then what do you expect of the American education system? Wait did I say something bad about America? Hell you best be saying I'm just another person on the anti-America bandwagon you weak fuck.

Piss off you dumb fuck.

HAHAHHA. Look at you squirm. This really is a lot of fun.

Go ahead, shit your pants some more. LOL @ faggot.

[Trousersnake]

Please do tell us why would I squirm? I've had you figured out for ages now. These imaginary ideals of yours, these silly political stances you say you have, they are disjointed - they can't work when you have them so mismatched.

When I say jobs should be axed where they end product they provide is unnescessary you jump up and down saying it'll cost jobs, where you think jobs should not exist it's a governments fault for allowing them to exist...for creating them even.

I finally come back at you with more then just an interjection to your claims and you are reduced to nothing, I'd find it funny too but the pathetic-ness of what you have brought to the table is just too much.

Please do just go away, the only thing you are good at is critcising sports people to people who think it matters in the slightest.

[buttthrax]

Please do tell us why would I squirm? I've had you figured out for ages now. These imaginary ideals of yours, these silly political stances you say you have, they are disjointed - they can't work when you have them so mismatched.

When I say jobs should be axed where they end product they provide is unnescessary you jump up and down saying it'll cost jobs, where you think jobs should not exist it's a governments fault for allowing them to exist...for creating them even.

I finally come back at you with more then just an interjection to your claims and you are reduced to nothing, I'd find it funny too but the pathetic-ness of what you have brought to the table is just too much.

Please do just go away, the only thing you are good at is critcising sports people to people who think it matters in the slightest.

Awww look at the little emo baby. Are you going to cry? Do you need your diaper changed?

[Real.PUA]

The main cost of recycling is the transporation required to move all this shit around. One thing they don't account for though is the cost throwing this shit away if we didnt recycle and the landfill space required. I always ask the recycling opponenets to just show me a complete study before they go around trying to change the system.

[jimany]

. Well here in BC we get payed for glass and plastic aswell

Actually your money is first stolen when you buy the bottle, then they give it back when you return it;)

[Trousersnake]

Actually your money is first stolen when you buy the bottle, then they give it back when you return it;)

True to anything really as in everything you buy takes the cost of packaging into consideration for the end cost. Would you rather get your money back through a deposit system...or having to throw it away in your garbage for an additional cost (garbage charges)?

[stupid noob]

Fucking hippies.

[static_firefly]

I wouldn't say its not cost effective, some of the paper recycleing plants here in Aust are privitaly owned and rakeing in a fortune in cash.

[Trousersnake]

I wouldn't say its not cost effective, some of the paper recycleing plants here in Aust are privitaly owned and rakeing in a fortune in cash.

I live close-ish to the most water conserving paper and cardboard mill in the World...its a VISY Pulp and Paper mill. The second best mill of its type in the world (water use) is 4 times worse then it yet that one is 10 times better then any other.

Or so I've been informed.

[Bazzle]

Holy shit you're an asshole. Not all bottles are created equally. They toss all brands, shapes, and sizes of glass bottles in the recycling bin. They're only sorted by color, that's it. They don't fucking reuse them idiot. This isn't 1920 you goddamned pea brain stooge.

You're just fucking useless. Seriously shut the hell up already.

In Morocco they reuse all the fucking bottles...with varying degrees of cleanliness.

[moonmeister]

I think the silliness in this thread is quite representative of the public's knowledge of the solid waste stream generally.

They were shipping this glass hundreds of miles only to have it end up in the dump. Now they just crush it & put it in their own dump.

Glass posing a challenge to recycling

By Wanda Laurin
Peace Citizens' Recycling Society
Tuesday May 15, 2007
Glass is posing a challenge to recyclers. As it comes from quartz sand, and there is truly no shortage of quartz sand in the world, then the main reason to recycle would be to keep it from taking up space in the landfill. Unfortunately, the recycling costs associated in time, effort and transportation make it unsuitable for the recycling stream. The only real use for recycled glass in Alberta is the beads of glass that are added to the paint used to mark lines on highways. As the paint crew passes once a year over Alberta highways, the amount of recycled glass for these lines is not beyond the supply potential. In fact, the supply of glass far exceeds the need.
What to do with all this unwanted glass? Perhaps it would be an opportunity for a glass making industry here in the north. Perhaps the glass can be reused before it reaches the recycling bin. The glass can certainly be washed out and used for containers in one’s home – which I must admit, I am doing more of since I’ve been reading articles on the leaching of chemicals from old plastic containers!

As the Building Committee for the new Eco-Recycling Centre (hopefully opening in the summer of 2008), were discussing new items to bring into the recycling stream right here in Peace River, the topic of glass came up. No recycler in Alberta wants to deal with glass. It is much more expensive to "recycle" than to just put aside.
Glass being an inert substance, causing no harm to the environment if it is just left alone, is only a problem because, one, it takes up landfill space, and two, it is a sharp and dangerous object when broken. Well, then, the answer would simply be to reduce its space and put it in a safe space so its sharp edges wouldn’t harm anyone! Instead of handling it, packaging it, and shipping it away, just crush it, reduce its space, and put it in the closest possible, safe location (our landfill!), to rest for eternity, or until there is a shortage of sand in the world.

[boozehound420]

Actually your money is first stolen when you buy the bottle, then they give it back when you return it;)

Fuck your right, I forgot about that.
So the consumer is being forced to pay for recycling. Hopefully its buisnesses paying for the transportation once we bring them to recycling depots. And not the government.

One good thing I can see from the recycling program we have for glass, plastic and aluminum cans is it keeps them of the street. If there was no incentive for people to keep there cans, bums to pick them up etc. There would be mountains of garbage on the sides of roads. With union lazy fucken government over payed employed workers cleaning it up.

[OdayJuarez]

Here, I'll make this easy:

Sandwhich powdered glass between cardboard made from recycled paper-> give it away to homeless people as a building material-> save money from treating frostbite and hypothermia in hospitals.

Start with the distrobution center in the middle of the city, and move it towards the edge a little bit at the time and lead the homeless people about 5 miles out of town in a valley where no one has to look at them to a designated Bush-ville. Pied Piper Style.

Can I get some civil engineers in the hizzous?

[Sententiae]

Here, I'll make this easy:

Sandwhich powdered glass between cardboard made from recycled paper-> give it away to homeless people as a building material-> save money from treating frostbite and hypothermia in hospitals.

Start with the distrobution center in the middle of the city, and move it towards the edge a little bit at the time and lead the homeless people about 5 miles out of town in a valley where no one has to look at them to a designated Bush-ville. Pied Piper Style.

Can I get some civil engineers in the hizzous?

I know I should feel bad about laughing my ass off on that one.

Anyway, to the topic: Isn't it more beneficial to recycle over having such things sit in a landfill? I'm not claiming to know a lot about environmental science (my preference is anthropology and sociology) but it seems to me that anything recycled is a step above taking up space. Maybe I'm wrong, I see a lot of people talking about the potential damage of the recycling process.

So I have to ask, is the potential damage from recycling some objects worse than the potential damage from not recycling said objects?

[moonmeister]

Glass, at least, is inert.

[OdayJuarez]

It's not like it didn't come from the ground in the first place. Cover it in topsoil and all you did was some overly complicated landscaping.

Burrying trash is a tradition that goes back to when the cavemen barried their spare dinosaurs in tar pits to keep hell warm. Everyone knows it's heated by a blanket of decomposition.

300 years from now, when all non-renewable resources are scarce as hell, they'll mine old dumps and it'll be an everything ore. Huge refinery cities built around old dump sites. Stick everything in a blender, put it in a centrifuge, and go from there. Fractional distilation. The works.

[Soda_Can_Sniper]

Is paper and glass still less cost effective to recycle when you consider collecting, sorting, and shipping all the new materials in?

As evidenced by this thread, I guess there are those that deem it's effectiveness based on economic, and those who base upon environmental value.

[OdayJuarez]

Is paper and glass still less cost effective to recycle when you consider collecting, sorting, and shipping all the new materials in?

As evidenced by this thread, I guess there are those that deem it's effectiveness based on economic, and those who base upon environmental value.

The environment argument is stupid. Get on google maps and look at the aerial photos zoomed out. There's not shortage of places to put it, and the EPA makes sure it doesn't fuck up the environment. It's resource hoarding, not waste.

In 100 years or so it'll be one of the few things our children will thank us for. Recycling is wasteful consumption of energy since we're doing it at a net loss when we could just as easily do it in 100 years for a net profit.

[lifejunkie]

I was watching Penn & Tellers Bullshit! and they did an episode on how recycling was pointless and actually costs consumers 100's of millions yearly. Any compelling evidence that their claims are false?

I know metal and glass are very profitable, but I'm not too sure about paper and plastics.

[stupid noob]

I know metal and glass are very profitable, but I'm not too sure about paper and plastics.

In some places newspapers can be brought in just the same as cans would be, and traded for cash depending on weight.

[shit_load]

Do you need your diaper changed?

Hit me up with one of those.