Ever pick through someone's weekly trash?

[goeduck]

The confusion over what plastics are recycleable is understandable since it is very hard to educate the public and the employees working at the landfills. This link is pretty much what I go by

Recycling Guide to Caps, Lids and Tops — ecoRI News

 

[ultrarunner]

A huge issue here is California CRV

When the deposit redemption started... most large markets had a parking lot kiosk where customers would exchange CRV items for a voucher to use in the store...

Have not seen a single one in my area for a very long time...

This pretty much leaves a few commercial/industrial scrap buyers... where Granny is in line with dump trucks off loading...

Yet... California continues to collect the California Redemption Value from each container... especially bottles of water.

Aluminum cans have the highest rate of redemption but this was the case well before the CRV program was started!

 

[aczlan]

A huge issue here is California CRV
When the deposit redemption started... most large markets had a parking lot kiosk where customers would exchange CRV items for a voucher to use in the store...
Have not seen a single one in my area for a very long time...
This pretty much leaves a few commercial/industrial scrap buyers... where Granny is in line with dump trucks off loading...
Yet... California continues to collect the California Redemption Value from each container... especially bottles of water.
Aluminum cans have the highest rate of redemption but this was the case well before the CRV program was started!

That is odd, around here every Walmart and most of the other grocery stores have self service kiosks that you feed the bottles/cans into and get a slip to use at the register. There are also standalone "redemption centers" that do pretty much the same thing. IIRC, most of the kiosks in stores are made by Tomra.

Aaron Z

 

[ultrarunner]

That is odd, around here every Walmart and most of the other grocery stores have self service kiosks that you feed the bottles/cans into and get a slip to use at the register. There are also standalone "redemption centers" that do pretty much the same thing. IIRC, most of the kiosks in stores are made by Tomra.

Aaron Z

Hundreds of California recycling centers shut down – The Mercury News

Recycling rates decline as California recyclers shutter

 

[Industrial Toys]

So what do rich people that feel such activity is beneath them do? Say, they don't have staff for this? Here, such people would just throw everything in the trash, but I'm guessing that would get you on Death Row in CA.

 

[teejk]

So what do rich people that feel such activity is beneath them do? Say, they don't have staff for this? Here, such people would just throw everything in the trash, but I'm guessing that would get you on Death Row in CA.

I lived in an area that adopted strict recycling rules. We had to sort and dispose of accordingly...the penalty was a $1/per bag that went into the "trash". Then we moved to Connecticut where the rules were basically the same. Then we moved to Switzerland for a few years where the rules were the same other than the penalties were much harsher (garbage police but that's Switzerland and it was not limited to garbage...loud music, jay-walking etc. were also in play). Then we moved to London where all those rules went "poof"...recycling was a non-issue and not even an option. Two more moves later (NY and back to Wisconsin) there is no sorting. It might be that the demand for the products is non-existent or the "stuff" is sorted at the collection facility (what a nice job that must be).

 

[ultrarunner]

All depends... had garbage inspection when I lived in Austria... it was almost a cult and really full compliance... it was almost like a religion.

In the SF Bay Area we also have garbage police as well as smoke police and any number of other authorities... such as letting soap and road dirt go down a storm drain from washing your car.

By law, I am required to provide minimum level of garbage service to every residential property I own or manage... and as such I am fully responsible for the waste stream...

So if a tenant or some unknown individual places items for collection in the wrong cart... it is noted and billed as contaminated which is billed as Garbage in most cases... the fee starts about $40 for having the wrong item in the wrong cart.

The time when life was simple has passed... just today I had to help sort garbage for one of my elderly neighbors and for Mom... plus with the holidays service ran one day late...

With the best of intentions they always come up short... or as outlaws.

Grease must go in Green Yard Waste but must be in a paper container...

Mom keeps putting grease in an old soup can and in the garbage... so I have to heat up the can to pour out the grease and put it in a paper carton and then put it in with the grass clippings.

A stained cardboard Pizza Box CANNOT go to recycling... it must go the Green Yard Waste

Only plastic of the approved type can go into the Grey Recycle Container... and must be food grade.

Wood can go into the Green Waste only if not painted or treated...

If painted or treated if goes to the Burgundy Container for Land Fill... wood about a certain size is prohibited even if is fits in the cart.

Used Motor Oil can go out for collection ONLY in the WM container provided... no other containers are acceptable... such as 5 gallon paint buckets.

Household Batteries must be placed on top of the Burgundy Container but no Lithium Batteries or non-household types.

No Appliances/Electronics allowed in any container...

No Building Materials in allowed in any container...

No Potting Soil or Dirt allowed in any container...

One of the ladies put broken glass in the glass recycling but was cited... only beverage glass containers allowed... window glass or picture frame glass in her case was a violation.

And the list continues... sad part is with Mom is she really tries and is always getting it wrong...

As to smoke... just the other day she had a small fire in the fireplace... it was a no burn day and your are suppose to signup to get smart phone notification or log on to find out... most of my senior friends have no means to do this...

 

[Industrial Toys]

For some of those tenants you speak of, getting $40.00 would probably be like getting blood out of a stone.

We used to have a multi stream system and now single stream. I guess they gave up. I still sort my garbage and wash out soda and other dirty cans. It's easier to store until p/u which could be a month or two for me. A good amount of plastic gets used to make heat and start brush piles. Without enforcement, I have seen people just get to a point where it's too much bother in their busy and problematic lives.

In a way, I wish packaging was heavily taxed. Charge $1.00 for every Tim Hortons Cup!

Some time ago I was shocked. MacDonalds had various holes to place different garbage. The Young pimply faced team member told me it didn't matter, as everything went in the One Garbage!

 

[ultrarunner]

Never been able to collect from a tenant... the problem is proof... and unless I see it or set up a game camera... not much I can do... AND it is real problem of scavengers and midnight drops... you put out your can the night before and who knows what happens during the day... official pickup is from 6 am to 6 pm on collection day...

I'm suppose to implement multi-stream recycling at work... the cardboard, paper, plastic has been in place for a long time...

The food one is a problem as employees and visitors are suppose to scrape their plates into the proper slot... my "Out" so far is several documented request for Wast Management to provide the outside container for food wast and so far nothing...

 

[Industrial Toys]

I often just dump questionable material into the dumpsters of customers with their blessing. Small bags of kitchen garbage like foil and chip bags go into the recepticals at gas stations or downtown locations. I NEVER have regular garbage for p/u, just recyclables.

I know it's all about belief systems, but few things irritate me as much as not eating what's on your plate. I have good friends and was just horrified when she told me, "we don't do leftovers" and everything just goes in the garbage!