We here in Canada have been spoiled for too long. We have been sending containers of plastics to be be recycled to other less developed countries to be sorted and processed as best they can. That era has ended. We can no longer send our garbage, which is in my opinion very good.
We must take care of our own garbage!
As recycling plants in this country are having trouble operating at little, no profit or taxpayers money, my idea or suggestion would be to have our prisons (prisoners) do the work. Sorting what we throw out.
As cities no longer want to adsorb the costs of recycling this would be a great alternative.
Because of how our shipped containers are filled the work is dirty, somewhat degrading and at times dangerous as we have been careless with our discards for too long. We are a very spoiled irresponsible people.
Our Federal and Provincial Governments should look at this option/proposal very seriously.
Other options are to draft every single able bodied citizen of all ages (no children) to do the work for a few weeks. That will show us how we should better prepare our garbage.
Other options is to open in every neighborhood, or per certain # of people a local recycling sorting depot.
The biggest issue other then the material itself is the carelessness condition of how some people put their recycled garbage out for collection. All of my life I would wash out the containers (cans, jars, plastics) before I put them in the Blue Box. As I did not put them out every week I carefully stacked all the same types together, saving a lot of space.
Working as a superintendent and just walking by the blue boxes on the streets ready for collection, I saw that many containers are not washed or even rinsed. This gives the recycling industry more work. It is also a breading ground for other life forms. In Toronto the raccoons love to rummage through the boxes as the smells are intoxicating to their snouts.
The washing and sorting of different types of recyclables starts at home.
I always tied all of the junk mail and newspapers together to make it easier for those down the lines thus saving paid work(salaries) and energy.
What good is old tossed out paper if it is full of tomato sauce and oils?
I was never a litter bug. The same holds true today. While in Haiti, I buy a “Pate” that is presented/wrapped in a small plastic bag as it is sometimes hot and oily. After my feast, as they are very good, I save the bag and when I get home, rinse it out after I have finished my dishes. I let it dry. Whence dry I place it in a bag. Once a month or so I stuff all the soft plastics in empty pop bottles. With those bottles I intend to incorporate into building walls (A few countries do this. Look on the Internet to find the sites).
All the political party leaders in every country where recycling exists should spend a week doing this! Give them a hands on idea with what we are dealing with.
This is not only a Green job, but a must do.
Seriously..
KingGDerome
Project 10 Billion 