A Word About Recycling with Ollie Maier

Although I dislike having to continue bringing up how the coronavirus is affecting our lives, including recycling, both here and abroad, as long it remains, it is the news. Thus, I hope this information, taken from the Plastics Recycling Update newsletter, is interesting and informative to you.

First off, we’ll go to a governmental agency, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It is encouraging all Americans to recycle materials from their households and properly dispose of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

They emphasize that recycling isn’t just good for us by reducing waste headed for the landfills and saving energy, it also supplies materials for many of the manufacturing companies.

“Right now, there is a critical need for raw materials in the manufacturing supply chain, especially paper and cardboard," an EPA spokesperson said. This is understandable with all the business closures and limited operations which means less recycled material is available.

As more are staying home and getting more deliveries in cardboard boxes, the EPA encourages these empty, broken-down boxes to be recycled where possible.

They ended their message with a "heartfelt thanks" to all of America's recycling workers for providing this essential service.

Now going to what some states have started to do. Connecticut retailers have begun again to accept deposit containers on a limited basis and plans to go to full service early next month. However, while some states are following their lead, not all are.

Here is what a few other states are doing including some which haven’t yet begun to reverse restrictive measures. California launched a 60-day suspension in April on the requirement that retailers redeem containers. Iowa did a similar thing. Maine is in that category too. And Massachusetts suspended enforcement indefinitely.

Michigan extended their policy through May. New York, while not dropping it, will not pursue enforcement of it. Oregon intends to drop enforcement at the end of this month. And Vermont, while keeping it, will not use enforcement.

But the United States is not the only place the coronavirus shutdown has had an impact. A lack of public recycling due to it has also caused significant struggles for European plastics reclaimers.

“Reclaimers are ceasing production because of current market conditions," the Plastics Recyclers Europe (PRE) organization said recently. "They’re facing a lack of demand for recycled resins because of closures of converting plants, record low prices for prime plastic and decreased global economic activity.”

Because of these problems, the PRE is asking the European Union (EU) and its individual countries to include recycling in their recovery plans. They believe if things don’t improve, plastics recycling will cease to be profitable, hampering the attainment of the EU recycling targets and putting in jeopardy the transition towards circular plastics.

Let’s pray that things soon get back to being more normal and all the many problems the coronavirus is causing will lessen. With that thought, do have a great week.

Ollie is a local citizen concerned with the environment and helping others. A retired Air Force fighter and instructor pilot, he is a graduate of Leadership San Marcos and received his degrees at Texas State University where he worked on staff before totally retiring. For questions or comments, he invites you to call him at 512-353-7432.