The economic downturn has turned to making even our good deeds worthless. It's one thing to ruin our investments, another thing altogether to ruin our good feeling about doing the right thing.
According to the New York Times, the recycling industry is now sitting on mountains of material which they cannot sell and is being forced to either store it until someone wants it or haul it to landfills.
Recycling is an industry driven by profits just as any other. While not wasting is honorable and good, there wouldn't be recycling programs if there was not a paying market for the stuff. When I took a day trip to the St. Louis recycling separation plant in Earth City a couple of years ago, the cost principle explained to us was that aluminum drove the entire program. If it was not for aluminum, there would be no recycling program, the value of that metal was so high it made paper and glass returns work.
Glass is now holding its own in recycling prices, but for the most part, sadly, it is cheaper to dump than recycle.
More cities and counties should incorporate strong recycling programs into their waste management programs.
It is good for the enviroment and reduces the cost of this service to the taxpayers. Much more needs to be done in this area.
Posted by: Ron | December 08, 2008 at 08:42 AM