Paul Grey introduced our speaker, Rodd Preamble, Recycling/Safety Manager for Sanitary Services Company, Whatcom County Recycling.
Rodd spoke of local, national, and international recycling challenges and opportunities we are facing. Locally, through increased education and awareness, we have made good progress. He advocated better use of the drop bags for collecting thin plastic bags found at grocery stores, and possible use of paper sacks by homeowners whose papers being recycled might otherwise blow out of their bins, dusting their neighbor's lawns and bushes.
Nationally and globally, the value of products being recycled has dropped drastically, necessitating collection and recycling price hikes to local residents to cover the decline. In some cases, products that previously could be sold, we now have to pay to recycle.
China has put bans on importing most recycled materials, curtailing US exports and creating a glut of material to be recycled in the US.
Rodd also discussed the amount of wasted food and the local efforts being made in the restaurant and grocery businesses to find outlets for this food.
At the end of his talk, Rodd gave some guidelines for plastic recycling - Recycling numbers, “the ones in the triangle,” 1, 2, & 5, recycle well; whereas 3,4,6 & 7 (PVC, thin films, Styrofoam and softer squeeze bottles) do not.
Overall, Rodd feels that we are making progress, but stressed the need for continued awareness of the challenges.
