Earlier this week I was disheartened to hear (NPR, "Falling Prices Take a Toll on Municipal Recycling") and read (DetNews-Green,"Bottom Drops out of the Recycling Business") about how the lack of demand for recycled resources is having a tremendous negative impact on the value of these resources. And it's sure to have as great a negative impact on the environment as well.
Recycling is probably one of the few ways most individuals feel they can participate and make a difference in our environment. You feel good when you do it. You're doing your part.
So what happens now? Recyclables that once were a revenue stream are now becoming a cost. When PET (plastic bottles) goes from $300 to $20 a ton, its profitability plummets. And when paper mills are charging recyclers to unload their post-consumer paper, profit becomes a cost -- and companies can't do that for long. Some have already closed drop-off locations.
So where will your recycling go? You know. The landfill. And that makes me want to cry.
