Reverse Vending Machine Update

I receive multiple calls from the public asking about or complaining about those machines at grocery stores that collect ourbottles and cans. The larger stores have them as a way to minimize the labor associated with the redemption of deposit containers as well as a means to keep the contaminants out of the store itself. In theory, this is sound. In practice however, the public is loud and clear about their distain for the machines that breakdown frequently, are filthy, inaccuate, and over busy. And things are only going to get worse.

These machines are known as Reverse Vending Machines and there is no sign of getting away from them. They are all over the world and are the preferred method of collection by state-run and privately held recycling programs nationwide. When they malfunction or cannot read a barcode this does NOT absolve them from taking containers back. They are still required by law to accept clean, identifiable containers that are sold in their store.

Coming up on January 1, 2009 water bottles will be added to the list of containers requireing a deposit to be redeemed upon return to the store. This will be a boon to recycling efforts considering that the current rate of water bottle recycling is in the low 20% range while soda containers are in the high 80% range. The nickle deposit has proven a great incentive for the diversion of this material from the landfill. With the inclusion of water bottles, the lines look to become a bit longer.

But have no fear, I do have some tips for you when dealing with returning containers for deposit.
· Do not wait too long before returning containers. Shorter trips make for better experiences.
· Return your containers to the store you bought them at to lessen the load on the handfull of stores with machines.
· Do not crush your containers.
· Do not fill them with cigarettes or chew.
· All stores selling deposit container MUST take them back (with conditions).
· To avoid returning them all together, donate them to a local youth group.

If a store tries to deny you the ablility to return containers under the rules set forth by the Oregon Bottle Bill, contact the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) to register a complaint. They are the enforcement arm of the bill. You can contact Jan Smith with the OLCC at 1-800-452-6522 to file a complaint.

Don’t forget that together we can reduce our waste and “Trash Douglas County Less!”

For more information on reducing your waste, call on me or visit us online at http://www.recyclepower.org/ and to see this blog in print, pick up your current copy of the Douglas County News!

School's Out For Summer

Now that the kids are around and underfoot, now would be a great time to capture their energy. They are coming off a busy school year where I hoped they learned about the 3R’s of recycling; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. You could easily sit down with them and develop a new recycling program at your home or update your existing one. Here is what I suggest.

For those of you who self-haul (75% of the county), the simplest thing to do is get 4 big garbage cans. With your kids, label the first one “Clean Paper”. This is where all your newspaper, cereal boxes, magazines, junk mail, and any other scrap paper goes. The second mark “Clean Plastic”. Here you will put your bottles, tubs, lids, trays, hangars, toys, etc… all of which is free of food and oil. The third simply mark “Metal”. Here is where your tin cans and aluminum goes. For the last one, mark “Glass Bottles and Jars”. Simply rinse your bottles and jars and place carefully in the can.

Once this is done you are ready to go!

Now, on you regular weekly garbage trip to the transfer station (aka “the dump” or “landfill”), simply grab the bin or bins that are full and ready to go. When you get to the transfer station you will find places to put the four materials described along with all your cardboard, yard waste, motor oil, car batteries, and plastic bags all for recycling!

Don’t forget that together we can reduce our waste and “Trash Douglas County Less!”

For more information on reducing your waste, visit us online at www.RecyclePower.org

Say No to Foam

It is the cheapest, lightest, strongest, and most wasteful packing materials out there. It can look like blocks, peanuts, sheets, and even cups and trays. Polystyrene, also known by its more popular name brand Stryofoam is the world’s favorite packing materials. Polystyrene (PS) is part of our everyday lives and is hard to avoid.

PS is made from oil or natural gas, primarily out of Canada and is not a renewable resource. It is harmful to animals when ingested and never, ever biodegrades in a landfill or in the open air. It is 95% air and takes up room in our garbage bins and landfills costing us extra money on disposal. When burned, PS turns into a toxin known as dioxin is created and thus pollutes the air with a world class “super toxin” associated with birth defects. PS is not recyclable locally, and due to the fiscal restraints associated with transporting a product made of mostly air, it cannot be shipped to Portland for recycling.

So how do we eliminate PS from our lives? It becomes challenging for sure. We must first decide that the negative impacts associated with PS are more important than the convenience it provides. Then we simply avoid it as best we can. Here are a few tips:

• Bring your own coffee cup and offer durables to others.
• Take PS peanuts to your local shipper for reuse.
• By used electronics to avoid the packaging.
• Bring your own take out containers.
• When given a purchasing choice, choose plastic instead. It can be recycled.
• Buy paper goods and compost the waste paper.
• Ask for alternatives when ordering or purchasing.
• Be a conscious consumer.