sarcan

[AlbertaFarmer5]

We need to do something to reduce the amount of waste we produce.

We cant just keep burying it for ever. How about we start forcing the use of bio-degradable packaging where ever it is possible. Macdonalds is heading that way.

Recycling is going to cost money but the alternative is also expensive and dangerous in the long term. Filling the dump or the oceans with toxic waste is stupid.

Chuck, we actually agree on something. Reduce and Reuse need to be priorities, recycle should be a last resort, and has to take into account the true life cycle energy costs.

I once did some research on garbage composition. The vast majority of it is biodegradable to start with. There is virtually unlimited farmland that is in desperate need of organic matter. There is already an easy way to separate out ferrous metals. That leaves non-ferrous metals and plastics to be removed, possibly manually, as homeowners already do in the name of recycling. Glass could be crushed, till it is almost sand again. Prohibit toxic chemicals in garbage. Then spread it into farmland. The food waste and yard waste component is actually quite high. So is paper, cardboard and wood( C-N ratio is a little high though).

Then there is no need to haul it around the world, or segregate all the different products. Burn as little energy as possible in the process of returning the organic portion back to the land where it is needed, and in many cases(food waste) it came from.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

We need to do something to reduce the amount of waste we produce.

We cant just keep burying it for ever. How about we start forcing the use of bio-degradable packaging where ever it is possible. Macdonalds is heading that way.

As a bonus, the biodegradable packaging likely will come from an agricultural product.

[sumdumguy]

We need to do something to reduce the amount of waste we produce.

We cant just keep burying it for ever. How about we start forcing the use of bio-degradable packaging where ever it is possible. Macdonalds is heading that way.

Recycling is going to cost money but the alternative is also expensive and dangerous in the long term. Filling the dump or the oceans with toxic waste is stupid.

If you really cared about energy consumption, this useless exercise would be the first on the chopping block.

[Guest]

We need to do something to reduce the amount of waste we produce.

We cant just keep burying it for ever. How about we start forcing the use of bio-degradable packaging where ever it is possible. Macdonalds is heading that way.

Recycling is going to cost money but the alternative is also expensive and dangerous in the long term. Filling the dump or the oceans with toxic waste is stupid.

yes I agree chuck ! this is one of the biggest problems earth has . I hate seeing the plastic in the oceans . the excess plastic and packaging that you see on consumer products , that people don't need in the first place , is criminal

[beaverdam]

Why is there so much garbage in the ocean? Maybe the countries we're paying to take garbage or to recycle the garbage, simply take the money we're paying them to do this dirty work, and then push the shit off the barges midway across the ocean? Who would ever know. Ever been on a cruise, you can see another ship 5-10 miles away, but you'd have no idea if they were throwing garbage off.(even less so if you weren't in the Caribbean, but rather in the middle of our big oceans.
Maybe those poor counties that take our garbage do go through it, but maybe after they're done picking out anything useful, they send it out to sea, really why would they want the garbage and the contaminates after they've salvaged it.
I know it can't be coming from the US or Canada, because the cities and counties that border the coastlines are all leftist and are aaalllwaaaaays so concerned about the environment that they would never allow such a thing, unless of course it's their own sceptic sewer and bodily waste.

[chuckChuck]

Hell must be freezing over! We all agree! LOL

This is where we may disagree. We are going to need consumers to drive this. If they don't do it governments are going to have to force sensible reductions in packaging and force manufacturers to use materials that are not harmful or can easily be recycled. It is going to cost more but what is our choice?

I think Sweden uses some waste streams to produce electricity.

Biodegradable products and food waste can be used to make fertilizers. And human waste as well, if we have a system set up to handle it.

[foragefarmer]

Robert"

so heard on radio Manitoba doesn't have a recycle program ?


We don't have a Sarcan type of recycling, where you get refunds on containers (pop bottles, cans etc) but there is recycling. We do have a built in levy for many recyclable containers, but the only refunds you can get is on beer bottles and cans.

My home town has a drop off depot for recycling which is than taken to the R.M dump which serves as a collection point for all surrounding towns. At the R.M dump there is metal collection, used electronics, batteries, used oil etc etc.

We drop all used herbicide jugs at a collection point as well.

In a major center such as Winnipeg there is weekly recycling picked up