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People are terrible at recycling

post #1 of 27
4/27/11 at 3:59pm
Thread Starter 
The system for organizing trash here is pretty simple. Garbage goes in cans, paper and cardboard go in a blue box and all other recyclables (plastic, metal, glass) go in a green box. Yet every time I go to drop off my trash I see some moron has mixed them up. I completely filled up the paper box with cardboard one day, only to come back 10 minutes later and find someone had jammed five wine bottles in there. How stupid can you get? I also routinely see people in the street throw McDonald's wrappers and gum into recycling bins and newspapers in the trash, even when they're right next to each other. The problem, afaik, is that when recyclables are mixed together like that they are thrown out rather than re-organized; it's just too much effort to sort through it all.
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post #2 of 27
4/27/11 at 4:07pm
In San Francisco we have these trashcans downtown where the top section, a little cage, is for recyclables and the can below is for trash. Having these sorts of things make us feel like we are a good city full of conscientious people. Problem is that the garbage men, now known here as "Recologists" (WTF?) come by, slide out a panel on the bottom of the recycling cage and let it all fall down into the garbage. Oh well, we still feel superior.
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post #3 of 27
4/27/11 at 4:10pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by holymadness View Post
The system for organizing trash here is pretty simple. Garbage goes in cans, paper and cardboard go in a blue box and all other recyclables (plastic, metal, glass) go in a green box.

Yet every time I go to drop off my trash I see some moron has mixed them up. I completely filled up the paper box with cardboard one day, only to come back 10 minutes later and find someone had jammed five wine bottles in there. How stupid can you get? I also routinely see people in the street throw McDonald's wrappers and gum into recycling bins and newspapers in the trash, even when they're right next to each other.

The problem, afaik, is that when recyclables are mixed together like that they are thrown out rather than re-organized; it's just too much effort to sort through it all.

WTF? Those are worth 20 cents a piece if you take them back to the beer store around here!
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post #4 of 27
4/27/11 at 4:17pm
I was recently informed by my garbage men that wood is not recyclable. Oops.
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post #5 of 27
4/27/11 at 4:20pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by iammatt View Post
In San Francisco we have these trashcans downtown where the top section, a little cage, is for recyclables and the can below is for trash. Having these sorts of things make us feel like we are a good city full of conscientious people. Problem is that the garbage men, now known here as "Recologists" (WTF?) come by, slide out a panel on the bottom of the recycling cage and let it all fall down into the garbage. Oh well, we still feel superior.

The Bay Area peoples are enlightened!!!!11!!
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post #6 of 27
4/27/11 at 4:22pm
My new employer (a bank) goes through sooo much recyclable material and just throws it all away. I was actually laughed at when I asked where the paper went. "Uh, the trash. It all goes to the same place." I'm gonna get support, figure out logistics, and then bring it up at the next opportunity.
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post #7 of 27
4/27/11 at 4:22pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by iammatt View Post
In San Francisco we have these trashcans downtown where the top section, a little cage, is for recyclables and the can below is for trash. Having these sorts of things make us feel like we are a good city full of conscientious people. Problem is that the garbage men, now known here as "Recologists" (WTF?) come by, slide out a panel on the bottom of the recycling cage and let it all fall down into the garbage. Oh well, we still feel superior.
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post #8 of 27
4/27/11 at 4:28pm
I'm a religious recycler. Probably my finest habitual domestic skill.
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post #9 of 27
4/27/11 at 4:32pm
On my street the local government is so fucked up that only the even numbered houses get to recycle. Those of us on odd numbers just get large wheely bins.
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post #10 of 27
4/27/11 at 4:38pm


Quote:
Originally Posted by Blackhood View Post
On my street the local government is so fucked up that only the even numbered houses get to recycle. Those of us on odd numbers just get large wheely bins.
One would hope that they expect people on the odd numbered side of the street to take their bins across the street for pickup. Maybe they just didn't tell anyone.
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post #11 of 27
4/27/11 at 5:30pm
Seeing how I live by the water and have all sorts of critters in the back yard I just toss all my leftovers off the balcony. I may not make my neighbors happy but those ground hogs, possum, raccoons and skunks sure are. But I got my own version of recycling.
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post #12 of 27
4/27/11 at 5:38pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by robin View Post



Uhm, a hippie throwing himself in front of a bus if I don't recycle is NOT an incentive to recylce.
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post #13 of 27
4/27/11 at 5:46pm
Supposed to put my food scraps into separate (that cost money) plastic bags - I just put them into the (that also cost money) regular trash bags. This country is literally built on landfill and trash so who gives a fuck, I won't be living here and I hope my progeny are smart and rich enough to get out if they're still here. Nobody should crucify me for throwing biodegradables away however I want, they should focus on not letting peasants have 10 liter trash bags with which to use to trash things they don't need to. Multply all of this if you want to know how its gonna be like with your new ruler, China.
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post #14 of 27
4/27/11 at 5:54pm
I recycle. Paper and cardboard in one trash can, food etc in a biodegradable bag (provided free of charge) and the rest goes in a regular plastic bag. I'm supposed to recycle metal and glass as well, but I have to admit that I occasionally throw it with the regular garbage, unless I can recycle old bottles and get cash for them. (It's like $0.2 per bottle, but it's enough to make me recycle them)
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post #15 of 27
4/27/11 at 5:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Artisan Fan View Post
My preconcieved notions are occasionally congruent with reality!!!!11!!

FTFY
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