There are many issues that complicate recycling. There are many different types of plastics. The possible uses and available processing methods differ. There's the matter of sorting them, minimizing impurities, transport costs, energy of processing, issues with various toxic materials.
At least five years ago an electronics/metals/scrap/recycling dealer I spoke with told me he was shipping his monitor scraps to the central valley (California), near Kettleman City I believe. He'd mentioned that there was a plant able to process the plastic from computer monitor cases into oil. I doubt that it is a cheap way to get oil, and it probably can't produce huge amounts of it, but it is a good alternative to putting scrap in a landfill. California collects a recycling fee with the purchase of monitors/TVs which goes to subsidize processing later. I'm not sure if the conversion is cost effective without the subsidy, but it seems the right thing to do regardless.
I believe there's another processor near Victorville California. I heard they actually get quite a bit (over fifty cents a pound) for c.r.t. glass. It contains a large amount of lead.
Dealing with our wastes can be dangerous business.
I have to laugh and cringe when Huell keeps scooping up and pouring c.r.t. glass sand with his hand... no doubt throwing a bunch of lead dust in the air. Opps!!
Comments
There are many issues that complicate recycling. There are many different types of plastics. The possible uses and available processing methods differ. There's the matter of sorting them, minimizing impurities, transport costs, energy of processing, issues with various toxic materials.
At least five years ago an electronics/metals/scrap/recycling dealer I spoke with told me he was shipping his monitor scraps to the central valley (California), near Kettleman City I believe. He'd mentioned that there was a plant able to process the plastic from computer monitor cases into oil. I doubt that it is a cheap way to get oil, and it probably can't produce huge amounts of it, but it is a good alternative to putting scrap in a landfill. California collects a recycling fee with the purchase of monitors/TVs which goes to subsidize processing later. I'm not sure if the conversion is cost effective without the subsidy, but it seems the right thing to do regardless. I believe there's another processor near Victorville California. I heard they actually get quite a bit (over fifty cents a pound) for c.r.t. glass. It contains a large amount of lead.
Dealing with our wastes can be dangerous business.
http://www.aboutlawsuits.com/california-cluster-birth-defect...
Huell Howser on PBS has had a number of shows relating to different kinds of recycling
http://www.calgold.com/green/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xo2Pl7UxbNo
I have to laugh and cringe when Huell keeps scooping up and pouring c.r.t. glass sand with his hand... no doubt throwing a bunch of lead dust in the air. Opps!!