I’ve always like many of us in Castlegar, taken a bit of pride with recycling, thinking I was doing my part in global warming. I did some digging and talked with some people involved with the recycling program and that with some research taught me a couple things. I will not use anyone’s name of position with the government as they were candid and hesitant in answering some questions. You’ll have to take my word on this stuff or at least do some research if you have questions.
Paper and cardboard are recycled.
Glass is crushed and put in the landfill for use as a filter. The glass is like plastics, too many colours, too many different types of glass so you can’t feasibly melt it down. There are a few usages for glass but noting relative in comparison to what we don’t use.
Electronics: I worked at Cominco and saw huge piles of electronics waiting to be processed. I don’t know how that’s going but might suggest that the tiny amount of metals recovered would be a waste of time compared to ore. When I retired the piles just kept getting bigger. Cominco charges a processing fee for all materials they smelt.
Plastic is a world nightmare, look now at the oceans. In the past China with so much land allowed people to pay them to take their plastic garbage. Canada was one of many countries paying China. Not sure but some other desert vast land countries may be doing some of China’s work. The reason the plastic is a problem is for the same reason as glass, only worse. China has stopped taking plastic so now Canada has to take care of their own garbage. Where it’s going I don’t know, but a land mass like this wouldn’t put a dent in our land.
Bob White
Castlegar