I am all in favor of recycling everything we can. The problem seems to be
that every time anyone proposes a recycling program the NIMBY's come out in
force. Not all that long ago we had a trash to energy plant here in North
San Diego County, ready to go until they decided to build the San Elijo
housing area near there. The County ended up selling off the plant's
equipment for pennys on the dollar.
I remember reading - many years ago - about a program in New York state
where they had a plant for grinding up about everything that came thru the
system. They said that the machine slowed down a bit momentarily when it
encountered something like a truck axle or an engine crankshaft. The
description was something like a giant garbage disposal. Everything was
ground up and then sorted by first floating off the light substances which
were then dried and used for fuel.
The remaining substances were then run thru progressively hotter ovens to
remove the pot metal (this was before they used aluminum for so many things)
lead, copper, etc, and then the ferrous materials were removed by magnets.
The remaining slag was then broken up and sold for road paving and building
blocks. The smoke was washed by water spray and the chemicals were then
removed for other uses. The report at that time was that this recycling
plant was the only government run money making operation in the state.
If this could be done all that many years ago, why don't we do something
similar now? Oh, I forgot - I already answered that question. The NIMBY's.
Bill Eade
----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Main Discussion List for KPLUG" <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 20, 2006 10:19 PM
Subject: Re: Don't just toss that TV
On Wed, Sep 20, 2006 at 12:28:02PM -0700, Tracy R Reed wrote:
William Eade wrote:
>Yeah - and the last update that I saw on prohibited items for the trash
>also included VCR tapes. I guess they consider ferric oxide (rust) a
>hazardous material too.
I suspect VCR tapes are prohibited because they really should be
recycled instead. I know it's fun to talk about "those stupid
environmentalists who don't even know what rust is" but it's not
realistic.
I've talked to a few alleged environmentalists who believe in
symbolic gestures and in sacrifice for its own sake. They don't
_care_ what rust is. I don't think they're typical, luckily.
...
It's all about thermal depolymerization. This technology could really
save us. I don't understand why it isn't being pursued more actively.
...
I'm guessing that thermal depolymerization is much like making
charcoal or metalurgical coke, but that the byproducts resembling
natural gas, crude oil, and coal tar are somewhat less useful.
While the process is probably a good idea, it might appeal
neither to people who are environmentally sloppy and cheap,
nor to people who have a visceral objection to anything resembling
an oil refinery. If the process is done carelessly, I presume
it is about as hazardous as a poorly run oil refinery, making
objections much more than visceral.
IMO, the task is to get a better result than by just throwing out the
plastic and gaining dump space by hauling trash further and piling
it higher.
Stewart Strait
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