Last week’s blog post discussed plastic waste and how much
plastic is consumed and not reused in the United States. As mentioned last
week, only 8% of total plastic waste
was recycled in 2010. Thirty one million tons of plastic was generated on 2010,
which means that roughly twenty-eight tons of plastic was placed in a landfill
or other area where it is unable to be reused. Of course, recycling rates vary
for different types of plastic–such as PET, or #1 plastics and HDPE, #2
plastics–at twenty-nine and twenty eight percent respectively. Some good
questions to ask are: why isn’t more being done to change the level of plastic
that is placed in landfills? Why aren’t people taking charge of recycling and
trying to close the loop on recycling plastic? How do we get from production,
consumption, and disposal and then back to production?
In order to close the loop on recycling plastic, a company
called MBA Polymers™ has developed a technology that turns plastic waste into
sterilized, melted, pelletized, and remolded plastics (Tolve 38). This process
takes 90% less energy than creating a new plastic material, also known as
virgin plastic. But households, individuals, and businesses in the United
States only recycle 8% of the plastic waste we produce. So we produce more new
plastic at a less efficient energy consumption rate and for a higher price.
That doesn’t make sense! Let’s turn the tides and start using
“cradle-to-cradle” outcomes instead of “cradle-to-grave” results. By using a
cradle-to-cradle (or recycling loop) mentality, we can keep plastic waste out
of the landfill and start recycling the plastics we have already produced to
decrease our reliance on petroleum and natural gas, both non-renewable resources.
This is a lot of information to take in and you might be
wondering, “I’m just one person how can I make a difference?” We must remember
that we are not alone in this movement towards plastic recycling! MBA Polymers™
processes this plastic waste but there are other important companies flourishing
in the U.S., RecycleBank and Greenopolis. These two companies are just two of
many that are basically designed to collect recycled plastic and aluminum
products. They are able to make a profit on the waste they collect, reuse this
waste and put it to use over and over again. Both RecycleBank and Greenopolis have begun partnering
with approximately 10,000 retail partners across the nation (which is how they
are able to profit from recycling) so when you recycle at their kiosks, you
receive rewards points towards anything from restaurants to car rentals.
While recycling should be second nature in our country, there
is now an incentive to recycle plastics. Greenopolis and RecycleBank are
both assisting in this creation of incentives. GreenParkStore is also committed
to using recycled plastic products that are sustainable in our furniture. We
seek to provide the highest quality outdoor furniture, while supporting our
nation and supporting our environment. Below are a couple of products we have on our website that help you decrease your carbon footprint AND allow you have to have a stylish backyard area. Let your friends know about GreenParkStore
and what we are passionate about and show them some of our articles about what
they can do to be passionate about our environment as well!
Below are a few links where you can learn more about
recycling in your community (or your friend’s communities!), whether you have
curbside pickup, or if there is a kiosk like Greenopolis near you to start
earning rewards points. Thank you for your support and readership as well as
your support in the plastic recycling movement!
Be sure to check out our blog for next week about
re-inventing plastic, part 3 of this blog post!
