recycling myths

Community recycing in eugene is a feel-good fairy tale that squanders energy driving trash around.

Curbside recycling of glass, paper, cardboard and milk jugs makes sense, but efficiency is impaired when people dont follow directions. Storing recycling between runs to the transfer facility attracts vermin.

Bottle drop requires expensive bags and tokens. LTD doesnt allow people to transport bags

Is Recycling Cheaper Than Landfill? (With Cost Comparison)Part of human nature is the ability to produce large amounts of trash and waste materials. While many people and cities around the world are realizing the impact that large amounts of trash can have on the planet, they aren’t quite sure how to solve the problem. Landfills are in place in cities everywhere, but […]

www.eugene-or.gov/Faq.aspx?QID=799

I’ve heard that recycling is getting sent to landfills. Is this true?

With a few small exceptions, the items that are accepted in home recycling in our region are still getting recycled. More items may have to be disposed if markets for them disappear. If recyclables do go to a landfill, it would be as a last resort, for the fewest items possible, and for the shortest amount of time possible.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a list of all recyclers that have requested to dispose of materials. It can be found on the Recycling Markets page.

Reducing packaging and repurposing are more effective strategies.

7 Reasons Why Reusing and Repurposing is Better than RecyclingFor those of us looking to care for the planet, we need to get back to reusing. And, when items can’t be reused, we need to find ways to repurpose them.

Placing items that are not accepted in to the recycling bins can cause significant issues:

It adds costs to the system because it must be sorted out.
It causes safety hazards – like when plastic bags get caught in the equipment and workers must pull them out.
It makes other recyclables less viable to be sold to manufacturers.
It won’t get recycled.