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It is very encouraging that not only are businesses involved with recycling, looking for better ways to improve methods both to extract more materials from the waste stream and save money, but that universities are also getting involved by doing research into problems with possible solutions.
In an article from a recent Resource Recycling newsletter, a $1.8 million grant from the National Science Foundation to support research into better separation of metals in consumer electronics was announced.
The money is going to the University of Pennsylvania which is working with scientists from a number of other universities.
The research of these scientists will look to develop lower-cost methods of recovering electronic-scrap metals, especially the rare earths, gold, platinum, palladium and others. They will also try to find ways to reduce the energy required plus the pollution and greenhouse gas emissions caused in current metals recovery processes.
“Society is looking to science for solutions to real-world problems,” the article read. They feel an ultimate goal in recycling such existing materials is to create circular supply chains, using such materials over and over again.
Switching subjects, I also found what I thought was another interesting article in the newsletter, since most of us recycle paper and cardboard.
“Every year, the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) releases the U.S. paper recovery for recycling rate," the article read. "The annual figure informs us how much recovered paper is being used to create new products in a given year and is also an important indicator of how much paper and paper-based packaging is kept out of landfills after use.”
They had great news. In 2018, the U.S. paper recovery for recycling rate increased to 68.1%, more than double what the rate was in 1990 and the highest U.S. paper recovery rate ever recorded, according to the article.
Not only that, but more good news in that the recycling rate has been at or above 63% each year for the past decade.
However, the paper industry’s goal is to exceed 70% paper recovery through recycling by 2020. And while they are trying to achieve that, they are also looking for ways to improve the quantity and quality of paper recovered.
Although a couple of years ago China stopped importing many recovered materials, including scrap and unsorted waste paper, we find the U. S. markets for recovered paper were very resilient. Since that time,the U.S. paper industry has increased its use of recovered paper to make new products by 3.8% and announced manufacturing capacity expansions that will use additional recovered paper.
Our U.S. recycled paper recovery was successful as it is market driven, according to the article.
“Supply, demand and global economics all play a role in how much paper is ultimately recovered for recycling, because recovered paper markets are driven by the same dynamics that characterize the broader economy.”
In this paper recycling effort, the AF&PA, working with The Recycling Partnership, created a public-private partnership. Since the Recycling Partnership has worked in more than 1,000 communities across the nation, it has helped in making residential recycling even more successful.
Research conducted several years ago showed communities could improve the performance of residential recycling systems by adapting such practices as:
• Accepting more kinds of paper and paper-based packaging in residential collection.
• Implementing weekly recycling collection.
• Investing $1-$2 per household in consumer education.
• Including recycling education in schools’ K-12 curriculum
Other ways included:
• Setting voluntary recycling goals.
• Avoiding restrictive regulations on managing recyclable materials.
• Promoting better access to curbside and/or drop-off residential recycling collection.
• Encouraging citizens to make sure items are clean and dry before they are put in the recycling bin to minimize contamination.
With the goal of increasing paper recycling to 70% by 2020, I just pray politics doesn’t get involved: “Your party wastes more than mine does." I know achieving that rate will require the team effort — working together.
Till next week, do have a great one...
--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 or email [email protected].
