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A Word About Recycling

Sunday, October 25, 2020

Today we’ll talk about several subjects taken from a recent Resource Recycli newsletter, plus somethin I found about donating blood. (I’m up here in Minesota where it’s snowing right now.)

We’ll start by mentionin a draft of the U.S. Enviromental Protection Agency National Recycling Strate was published last week. The aim of this plan is to foster a “stronger, more resilient and cost-effective recycling system.

The plan was developed with input from federal, state and local governments, plus more than 260 leaders who signed u to help during America Recycles Day. This is “… a group which includes virtually every prominent recycling industry association and numerous paper plastics, electronics and other material recycling firms.”

Acknowledging that U. processing infrastructure “has not kept pace with t rapidly changing recyclables stream,” the strategy suggests key action areas to boost U.S. processing capabilities.

The strategy of the plan includes “… creating a national map of current recycling infrastructure spanning collection centers, MRFs, reclaimers, paper mills, glass processors and more; identifying key needs for domestic infrastructure; better publicizing public and private funding opportunities and incentive programs to enhance infrastructure; continuing to fund technology research; promoting design-for-recyclability to manufacturers; and developing a national system of recycling definitions, measuring standards, targets and performance indicators.” (All good ideas.)

Switching subjects by going north to Canada, an interesting note on the steps its Minister of Environment and Climate Change has announced. These steps will be taken to achieve zero plastic waste by 2030. They are aimed at protecting wildlife, their waters, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create jobs.

They are taking this action with stats showing that plastic is polluting their rivers, lakes, and oceans, harming wildlife, and generating microplastics in the water many of them use and drink. We find, every year, Canadians throw away 3 million tons of plastic waste. Of this, only 9% is recycled.

Based on this knowledge, their government wants to ban six common items. They are plastic checkout bags, straws, stir sticks, six-pack rings, cutlery, and food ware made from hard-to-recycle plastics.

So how common are some of these items? It appears Canadians use up to 15 billion plastic bags every year. They also use close to 57 million straws daily. (Even with a population much smaller than that of the United States, these are not small numbers.) They will join over 35 other countries around the world which have already banned certain single-use plastics These countries include the UK, France and Italy.

Changing subject again, this time to something more personal. Although it is a different form of Recycling, donating blood fits the Reuse principle. It is reused by someone else who may need it to live. Since I donate a number of times each year (I want to give something back for God giving me such a good life), I discovered an interesting item concerning donating which is now another good reason for me to do it.

An article in the American Journal of Epidemiology stated that in a review of blood donors, they found that those who donated regularly had 88% FEWER heart attacks. It commented that “So donating can not only save the lives of others, but your own life as well.” (And donating does not hurt, plus is healthy as your body generates new, fresh blood. So, if you haven’t been doing it, why not consider it?)

Till next week, do have a great and healthy one…

San Marcos Record

(512) 392-2458
P.O. Box 1109, San Marcos, TX 78666