| Author |
Message |
    
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 4528
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 4, 2004 - 9:35 am: |     |
Ah, I remember the good old days of checking each plastic jug or bottle for the recycling code in a dark and cold garage.
"Those were the days my friend, I thought they would never end...."  |
jgberkeley
Supporter
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 3457
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, February 8, 2004 - 8:29 pm: | |
Now I am confused.
I tested the system.
I dumped my recycle in with my normal trash.
On my trash pick up day, my trash was not taken with a polite note that recycle material must be removed, seperated and placed on the curb on my recycle day pickup.
Now what is going on?
This is stupid.
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic. |
Reflective
Citizen
Username: Reflective
Post Number: 296
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, February 8, 2004 - 9:46 pm: | |
M Mead, the Towmship Administrator, should be able to quickly clarify the current re-cycling policy for Maplewood.
Seems like what is on paper is erroneous, misleading, and creating serious misperceptions among these readers, including myself.
Mead should post the policy, and if the reality is different from policy, she should identify the differences.
I'd hate to think we have been wasting our time with good intentions which don't make a dimes' worth of difference. Except to make the re-cycle zealots feel good.
Last - Joan, The CBAC would be a great group to determine the economics of today's re-cycling. A lot has changed from the heady, early days when communities like Maplewood, used to get rebates for separating paper, glass, and aluminum. Wasn't much, but we knew it was worthwhile. |
clkelley
Citizen
Username: Clkelley
Post Number: 97
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Monday, February 9, 2004 - 8:59 pm: | |
I just came across this thread and I have to say that I am outraged.
I'm not terribly "into" local politics, but I'm ready to go don some buttons and bumper stickers and start a march somewhere.
This isn't about money, it is about doing what is right. AND I too have had trash refused because of recyclables being mixed in - even had the recyclables removed from my bags and thrown on my driveway!! (I didn't put them in there, my ex-cleaning lady did.)
And to think - what they do with my recyclables is mix them in with the trash! I don't remember being this mad about ANYTHING for a very very long time.
OK, I'm taking a deep breath. First step, letter to M. Mead and Waste Management. Next steps TBD.
I want my stuff recycled, d***it. |
TK South Orange
Citizen
Username: Tk_south_orange
Post Number: 49
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 11:59 am: | |
I've noticed (the few times i've been up and out so early) that in SO the trucks dump all plastic and glass together... |
Reflective
Citizen
Username: Reflective
Post Number: 300
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 4:48 pm: | |
clkelley:
Any feedback on Maplewood's recycling policy from M Meade? |
jfburch
Citizen
Username: Jfburch
Post Number: 1295
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 6:12 pm: | |
So does Waste Management have the M'wood recycling contract now?
I thought one reason we had to do all the separating was that several different small companies were contracted to take different kinds of recyclables and in the past I saw various collectors come 'round. I haven't had a chance to pay attention lately.
Other places I've recycled one could put out much more mixed stuff (typically one bin for containers and one for paper) and it was sorted at a recycling facility, which a big outfit like WM should have. And in which case we could stop pointless sorting.
That doesn't explain mixing it with regular garbage pickup though. |
cbbk
Citizen
Username: Cbbk
Post Number: 7
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, February 10, 2004 - 10:26 pm: | |
At the last TC meeting they had someone from the DPW give a presentation on the current status of our recycling program. The TC is about to award the contract for the pick-up service. But, they have to decide if we should continue to recycle the plastics because the cost for that service was over $100k.
If I heard Fred correctly, South Orange pays a fraction of what we pay for the pick up service. I didn't hear an explanation of why this is the case. Did anyone else see the meeting? I think the TC will be deciding the faith of our plastics and who will get the contract at the next TC meeting. Does anyone know who is in charge of the recycling in town or should I just call Ms. Meade? |
clkelley
Citizen
Username: Clkelley
Post Number: 104
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 5:53 am: | |
Reflective:
I just printed out the mail yesterday (paper mail), won't actually get sent out until today! So I don't expect to hear back for a week at least. I'm actually sending it to Michael Bishop, who is the Director of Public Works and coordinator of recycling, and cc-ing to Michele Mead. I drafted a separate letter to Waste Management, but all will be cross-copied on the letters.
But cbbk raises a good question. I've seen Waste Management trucks picking up both regular garbage and recyclables, but don't trust the timeframe of this memory - I'd better call the township before actually sending my letters to make sure I have my facts correct before sending them out. I'd hate to have WM get back to me with "Maplewood? Oh yeah, we had the contract for them a few years ago."
I do have some degree of doubt about all this as the WM page indicates that they are able to do automatic sorting of recyclables, as jfburch points out. If that's the case, and WM is indeed our "recycling" provider, then we're doing a lot of sorting for nothing!
Once I actually send them I'll post copies of the letters here. And of course keep you posted when / if I hear anything back.
My schedule is packed pretty solid today, but I hope to get these calls in and get the letters out today. I'm quite serious about follow-up. Oh, I'm cc-ing to the News-Record too - don't know if they're too big on investigative journalism, but I'll bet they've got a bright-eyed reporter who would consider taking this up. Or at a bare minimum, publish a letter to the editor. Again reasons to fact-check first - I don't want to look like a crackpot.
You know, I happened on this thread because I was looking for a way to recycle my cereal boxes. Not possible here, even if you take them to the dump. I was also looking for something about hazardous waste disposal - the fact that this is only one day every year, and you have to haul your butt to God only knows where, is a great incentive for people to throw toxics down the drain. This seriously p***es me off. (I know, that's an Essex County issue, not Maplewood. But still.) The recycling leaflet indicates that the Environmental Advisory Committee (or something like that) meets the fourth Wednesday of every month. Even though Wednesday evenings are problematic for me and I would need to get a babysitter, I think I just may show up this month. |
jgberkeley
Supporter
Username: Jgberkeley
Post Number: 3462
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, February 11, 2004 - 10:35 pm: | |
Since I started this, and since I am on the CBAC, I thought that I should add some information that I learned.
We seem to have and the Township pays for a recycle program as is required by law. That includes tin, paper and glass. Plastic is another story.
Currently, given the price of recycle plastic, it is better to burn it in the trash, so it is dumped in the trash.
Just an update as I understand it.
Later,
George
Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic. |
Dave
Citizen
Username: Dave
Post Number: 6378
Registered: 4-1998
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 12:45 am: | |
I understand NYC could save $35 million a year by NOT recycling. That's big bucks. The problem is keeping people in the HABIT of recycling, so when it turns profitable again people won't need to be "re-programmed" to source-separate. Also having a big incinerator in the county that can accommodate really cheap burning and needs to import waste to be profitable doesn't help with the equation. |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 4631
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 7:39 am: | |
That still doesn't explain why Waste Management is dumping newspapers into the regular garbage as observed by Mrs. K and others. |
clkelley
Citizen
Username: Clkelley
Post Number: 108
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 8:54 am: | |
Or why my plastic was refused in the regular trash. Thrown on my driveway. (I stress again that my cleaning lady put it there ...) |
Reflective
Citizen
Username: Reflective
Post Number: 306
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 9:09 am: | |
clkelley:
Great followup and I think your post here will help clarify the state of maplewood's recycling policy.
Pls get on the advisory committee, you will make a difference. A breath of fresh air, you know.
Last, with all due respect to the comment above about keeping people in the habit of recycling even tho NYC could save $35 million annually, that is just a classic example of pc zealot behavior think. It's a dumb concept. When it becomes profitable and results in tax savings, people will jump back on the program.
None of us have the time to do meaningless tasks. |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 2117
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 10:25 am: | |
But Reflective, it's not just about profits. Garbage collection isn't supposed to make money anyway. How we treat the environment is a good test of our ethics, since we won't necessarily make money off it directly. That is why it's right to recycle at a monetary loss.
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
|
Joan
Citizen
Username: Joancrystal
Post Number: 2425
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 4:39 pm: | |
If we all used less packaging, reused glass containers, worked to get ourselves removed from bulk-mailing lists that we didn't really want to be on in the first place, reduced our delivered- by- snail mail subscriptions to those publications we actually need hard copies of, etc., there would be a lot less trash to recycle. The town would save on recycling items where the process is not cost effective and the impact from not recycling, should the above cited observations be accurate, would be a lot less.
The best way to preserve the environment is to produce/use less waste material in the first place. |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 2129
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 4:41 pm: | |
As for mail, we got what we asked for. We wanted less junk in snail mail, and we have spam in our email. Lots of people and companies are saying it is choking the overall usefulness of email itself.
I agree that there is too much packaging, though. Recycling is not a panacea, it's a stopgap until we can think of something better.
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
|
mrmaplewood
Citizen
Username: Mrmaplewood
Post Number: 107
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 4:44 pm: | |
So if it gets thrown in with the trash (by the recycler) and we are paying the recycler for his trouble, why should we go to this expense, not to mention our trouble, of seperating it out for them? If it is getting thrown out eventually, we should cut out all the shenanigans and save time and money. Ethics has nothing to do with this. |
Tom Reingold
Citizen
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 2130
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 4:45 pm: | |
I must have said it badly. We should pay for recycling, and we should get the recycling we are paying for.
Tom Reingold the prissy-pants
There is nothing
|
sac
Citizen
Username: Sac
Post Number: 949
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, February 12, 2004 - 8:26 pm: | |
A different recycling question - I recently purchased a shredder after becoming convinced of the risks involved with throwing sensitive documents (credit card offers, account info, etc.) into the trash or recycling. So now I have mounds of itty bitty paper that ought to be recyclable. However, I only tried once to put it out in the recycling bin .... what a mess! So, does anyone sell some sort of recyclable paper bag for "shreddings" so that a neat package could be put out on the curb? (I know we have "burn bags" at work and I don't think that they are actually "burned" ... something like that perhaps?) |
clkelley
Citizen
Username: Clkelley
Post Number: 115
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 10:36 am: | |
I just got off the phone with Michael Bishop, the Director of Public Works for Maplewood. He was very nice, and he explained the following to me:
1) Plastic and paper recycling are still being done. However, they do get put into a regular trash truck. That's just how they collect them - they don't go to the landfill with regular trash. They aren't "mixed in" with regular trash though, although it might look like that.
The other stuff goes into the special trucks with the divided areas for glass, cans, etc.
2) Plastic recycling is being reconsidered because of the cost. However, plastic would still be separated. Instead of going into making new plastic though, it would go towards fuel generation. Essentially the power plants would burn the plastics for fuel. There is a company that buys plastic for this purpose. I don't know much about this technology, but I'm going to try to find out.
Hope this sets everybody's mind at ease.
There are three openings on the Environmental Advisory Committee, if anybody is interested. |
Reflective
Citizen
Username: Reflective
Post Number: 308
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 10:42 am: | |
clkelley
I hope you are considering one of those positions, and bobk or mrsk should consider taking one as well.
Thanks for taking the time to follow and clarify the recycling policy. |
bobk
Supporter
Username: Bobk
Post Number: 4655
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 10:48 am: | |
Mrs. K still swears that the newspapers went in the truck with the regular garbage. I have seen regular trucks picking up paper only, but this appears not to have been the case after the storm. |
Reflective
Citizen
Username: Reflective
Post Number: 310
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 10:57 am: | |
Another reason for joining the Env Adv Com is to be close to these issues and work to improve the policies as necessary.
Membership also conveys legitimacy in pursuing these types of questions.
And most importantly, another citizen and, by extension, his/her group of friends gets closer and more knowledgible to activist participation in improving maplewood.
|
clkelley
Citizen
Username: Clkelley
Post Number: 118
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 10:57 am: | |
Maybe they got wet and therefore useless, or something? Or maybe they get put through the magical WM sorter machine. We allegedly have that at my workplace, and we just toss everything including paper into our trash cans in our offices, but we are told that the paper gets separated and recycled. (My secretary, who is even more of a greenie-type than me, found all this out - she's a doll.)
I am sure that Mrs. K knows whereof she speaks. But speaking with Mr. Bishop, I am less worried - it sounds as if there is a continuing commitment to recycling. I don't smell any kind of consipiracy, you know?
But still worth finding out. The mind is curious. |
clkelley
Citizen
Username: Clkelley
Post Number: 119
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Friday, February 13, 2004 - 10:58 am: | |
Hey reflective, thanks for the vote of confidence, I'm thinking about it. (need to work out cheap / free babysitting though.)
How about you? Are you on the committee already? Maybe you should fill one of those three slots, too. |
Habanero2
Citizen
Username: Habanero2
Post Number: 41
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 8, 2004 - 8:02 pm: | |
Now I don't feel so guilty about never recycling. And I make tons of trash too (lots of cans and bottles, sometimes some oil or medical waste).
"You kids today have it easy. When I was a kid everything was HUGE. My dad was nearly four times bigger than me. You couldn't even see the tops of counters.... Then gradually everything became smaller until it was the manageable size it is today." |
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